Backboard Shattered, But Yellow Jackets Win Over Ohio Kings

The aftermath of a Corey DeBerry dunk. Photo courtesy of Ohio Kings.

By Thomas Leturgey

The Steel City Yellow Jackets leapfrog over the Ohio Kings in the American Basketball Association (ABA) standings after a controversial and unique ending to their game last weekend.

As of November 24, the Ohio Kings were ranked #6 in the ABA’s weekly poll with a 5-0 record, and the Yellow Jackets (5-0) catapulted to #9 after finally playing enough games (and defeating the defending champion Chicago Fury) to qualify.

That lead to the November 29 showdown between the Kings who were behind the Nashville Aces in the Red Division – Alpha Conference and the BLUE Division – Alpha Conference leading Yellow Jackets in Pittsburgh.

Ace Pippens’ team, led largely by a whole new group of players, has still performed to the Yellow Jackets’ standard. Guards Dylan Cormier and Kenny Holmes have both come on strong in the early going of the season. Earlier this season both players scored more than 60 points in a game.

As the game got started, neither team was hitting many baskets. And while the Yellow Jackets can score with the best in the ABA, it’s their defense that has made them a perennial playoff contender. At the end of the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets were down 31-26. Holmes only scored one free throw and JaShawn Brooks posted 10 for the home team.

But Holmes came alive in the second quarter, scoring 19 points. Brooks and James Jackson each had six points to help outscore the Kings 39-28.

Kenny "Agent Zero" Holmes. Photo by Raymond Durkin.

In the third quarter, Agent Zero continued with his momentum, scoring 22 points. The Yellow Jackets were up 40-31. At the end of the third, the Jackets had an impressive 110-85 lead.

Then in the fourth quarter, the Kings started to come alive offensively. Holmes hadn’t scored a single basket in the final frame.

The Kings were outscoring the Jackets with 7 minutes to go in the game when Virgil Lackey raced down the court, pivoted around Brooks and passed the ball on one hop to 6’10”, 265 lb. Corey DeBerry. The center quickly charged through the paint, the ball high in his right hand. DeBerry’s feet hardly left the hardwood when he dunked the basketball. And shattered the glass in the backboard.

The dunk was not violent, and he didn’t hold onto the rim. Shocked, players hopped in disbelief as fiberglass fell onto the floor.

That immediately ended the game 118-106 with 6:51 to play.

Initially the Yellow Jackets were given the truncated win. But with Ohio closing ground and with 6:51 remaining on the clock, the game was not decided by at least some means.

Ultimately, ABA officials gave both teams a win. Technically, the Yellow Jackets were victorious, so they jumped to #6 and the Kings dropped to #7 in the standings, dated November 30.

In the game, Holmes led all scorers with 43 points. Cormier and James Jackson each had 20. Brooks contributed 18 points, Tim Jackson added 9 with Alonzo Murphy providing six points and Markis Rivera adding one three-pointer in the first quarter.

Pat White led the Kings with 18 points. Eight players scored for the Kings in the game.

The Yellow Jackets are home this weekend with two games at A Giving Heart Community Center. Pippens’ team is blessed with 6 home games in their first 8 games. This weekend they take on the Rochester Ballers Saturday night and New York City Raptors in a Sunday matinee.

The Yellow Jackets defeated the Ballers 157-107 in New York in mid-November. Cormier had 52 points in the game, Holmes 38 and Brandon Johnson 34. The Buffalo Extreme at 7-0 is the #1 team in the ABA. They are expected in Pittsburgh to play the Yellow Jackets on January 24.

A new backboard is expected to be installed before then.