Yellow Jackets Win 202-78, Need To Make Up Games For Any Playoff Bid

Kenny Holmes led with a season-high 61 points. Photo by Raymond Durkin.

By Thomas Leturgey

On a snowy Sunday, January 19, seven members of the Steel City Yellow Jackets, along with coaches and a couple of staff members and three local officials made their way to the cold and snowy confines of A Giving Heart Community Center in the Allentown neighborhood within the city of Pittsburgh. Perhaps more impressively, five players and Monica Belanger the coach of Team Network traveled all the way from Detroit (about 4 and a half hours) to play in Pittsburgh.

The team was delayed by about two hours getting to the Steel City and tip-off had to be pushed back; however, Ace Pippen’s team desperately needs to play game as the 2024-2025 campaign quickly winds down.

Members of the Yellow Jackets practiced as Team Network hadn’t yet made its way to Allentown. Forward Justin Hamilton, who is having the best year of his career as a defender and rebounder, continued to take left-handed shots from the foul-line and beyond.

The “Silent Assassin”, Jay Washington, took turns shooting and passing with his teammates, while “Agent Zero” Kenny Holmes leisurely did the same on the other side of the court.

Before the game, Holmes announced, “I’m gonna put up 70.”

But first, the two clubs had to tip off.  

In the opening moments of the game, The Yellow Jackets’ Job Brown missed a three-point attempt but smiled. On the other end of the court, Team Network did the same, without the smile.

As the early seconds ticked off, both teams had a difficult time finding the next. Washington was fouled and hit two free throws to put the Yellow Jackets on the board. Team Network’s Jason Harris hit a three to momentarily take the lead. Washington was back with a bucket to go up 4-3. The Yellow Jackets didn’t look back.

The Yellow Jackets started to cruise as Brown, Washington and Holmes started to click. Washington hit a three pointer and Cliff McNair joined in the scoring parade. With the back court of Brown, Holmes and Washington (who landed an impressive reverse slam right before the end of the quarter) running the offense, the Yellow Jackets led 38-16 at the end of the first quarter.

Terrance Holloway hit a jumper to start the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets always play tough defense and they put the pressure on Team Network. The earned a turnover/3D opportunity that saw Justin Hamilton launch a shot from behind the top of the arch. While that didn’t fall for the home team, it did allow Holmes and company to catch a breather. Brown hit a three, then Agent Zero, then Brown again. That gave the Yellow Jackets at 54-19 lead with 7:23 to go in the half.

With Team Network down to the minimum five players, any foul-trouble could mean more…trouble. Eric Woods scored four fouls very early on. In a case such as this, any fouling offender would need to stay in the game; however, consequence would be shooting fouls for those…fouled.

The home club pushed forward, and it was 80-41 at the half.

Normally, halftime is 15 minutes. On Sunday, both teams agreed to stop at a 5:00 break.

As soon as play began, Washington missed a shot, but Holmes and Cliff McNair each tallied three pointers. Holmes in particular would go on a three-point spree. After his third of the third, the Yellow Jackets were up 103-45. It was a 23-4 stretch with 6:46 to play.

Undaunted, Team Network continued. Throughout the game players would blow into their hands as heat was tampered by the conditions on the outside. They played hard and were not lying down. None of their players were able to take a respite.

At the end of the third, Pittsburgh was up 143-58. Holmes said the team was shooting for 200.

The Yellow Jackets, which generally has a deeper bench, only had Holloway off the pine from the starting tip. Tayon English did arrive late and suited up for some fourth-quarter play.

Brown and McNair started off the fourth, and Holmes added another three to extend the unanswered lead to 154-58. It was 159 before Javon Harris hit a jumper for Detroit.

Washington scored on a turnover/3D for three and hit another impressive slam dunk to stretch the lead to 166-60.

All of the Yellow Jackets participated, including English who hit a lay up to make it 186-70. For a while it looked like all shooters were losing their touch and the Yellow Jackets may not make it 200; however, English connected on a turnover/3D for three and added another two.

With another turnover/3D in action, Holmes jumped from behind the three-point line and nailed a 4 pointer. That was 200! He had attempted another from half-court earlier in the game for a possible 5 but fell short.

Only a few seconds were on the clock when Cliff McNair was injured during a tussle for the ball, but was seemingly okay.

English scored the final two points and on the final possession, Kenny Holmes dribbled the ball down court and let the time expire without taking a shot. The Yellow Jackets won, 202-78.

Tyshawn Chapman had 26 for the visitors and Delshawn Phelps contributing 25 for Team Network.

Holmes didn’t quite hit his pre-game prediction but ended with a season-high 61. Job Brown actually had a stronger first quarter than Agent Zero but trailed off. He ended with a season-high 48. Jay Washington had what has become a typical game and ended with 34. Cliff McNair ended the game with a season-high 27 points. Terrance Holloway had 12, with Justin Hamilton and Tayon English each posting nine points.

According to Pippens, that brings the Yellow Jackets to 4-2, 4-0 in the division. This season, more than any other, the Yellow Jackets have been hampered by bad weather and opponents that have folded.

The Yellow Jackets were supposed to have played 14 games by this junction of the season. They’ve played six games. The #1 ranked team, the Chicago Fury, are 13-0 and #2 team, the Buffalo Extreme, are 14-0. The Yellow Jackets held tight against Buffalo but lost on the road, 95-79 back in early November and lost 113-109 at home for their only two losses of the season.

At the beginning of the comeback campaign the Yellow Jackets seemed poised to face a strong Central “Blue” Division, consisting of six teams. The Michigan Blaze and now the Port Huron Cougars have dissolved or folded. That leaves only the Yellow Jackets, Team Network, the Columbus Wizards and Akron Aviators.

According to ABA President Joe Newman, Pippen’s team needs to play a lot in January and February to qualify for a Top 25 post. The Yellow Jackets were a pre-season “team to watch” based on its 2022 National Championship, but the eXtreme stood in their way.

The scoreboard can't handle a score that big. Photo by Thomas Leturgey.

The Yellow Jackets are scheduled to return to action this Saturday night in Pittsburgh against Blue Division rivals the Akron Aviators. The Yellow Jackets defeated Akron in Ohio, 143-96 right before the holidays.

There are five games currently on the schedule, which would bring a grand total of 11. Pippens has said he is on the telephone, trying to add games to the scheduled before the playoffs. The finals are April 4 and 5 in St. Louis.