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Backboard Shattered, But Yellow Jackets Win Over Ohio Kings

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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 i...
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Yellow Jackets Rocket To #9 In ABA

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The Steel City Yellow Jackets celebrate. Photo courtesy of the Steel City Yellow Jackets By Thomas Leturgey After a highly successful weekend, including retribution against the reigning American Basketball Association (ABA) National Champions, the Chicago Fury. Last spring, Ace Pippens’ team lost a Region Semifinal matchup to the Fury by a score of 100-86. The club has never taken any losses, especially those in playoff brackets, lightly. So, they have been looking forward to this chance all early season. The Fury (6-1 when they came to town) made their way to A Giving Heart Community Center in the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh Saturday Night. The game was tooth and nail throughout with both teams taking momentary leads. At the end of the first quarter, on the strength of Dylon Cormier, the Yellow Jackets had a 34-30 lead. Mike Williams’ club rebounded and outscored the Yellow Jackets 27-22 in the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets then came back with a 32-28 third qua...
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Yellow Jackets Defeat Columbus 136-103, Advance To Division Championship Next Weekend

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The Steel City Yellow Jackets gather at midcourt following their win against Columbus. Photo by Raymond Durkin. By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets are returning to the American Basketball Association (ABA) Divisional playoffs in Chicago. Ace Pippens’ club got by a competitive Columbus Wizards team Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh, 136-103. That was the Central Division, Blue Region championship game and the first playoff win for Pittsburgh’s franchise since 2023. Even before the contest, guard Job Brown was talking to his teammates about the importance of focusing on the task at hand. The team had played a scrimmage, warm up on Thursday night and the players felt that they had worked out some cinques in their collective game. “Defense wins championships,” said Pippens in the pre-game meeting. And it was defense that ultimately won the day for the Yellow Jackets. Phil Bledsoe, Sr.’s team is physically larger than the Yellow Jackets and they brought more players to ...
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Yellow Jackets, Led by Brown, Holmes And Washington Get By Rival Akron, 146-133

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Coach Ace Pippens talks to his club following the Yellow Jackets' 146-133 home win against the Akron Aviators. Photo by Thomas Leturgey By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets came from an early deficit, stretched a big lead and nearly let it slip away against a stiff Akron Aviators team Saturday night. The Central Region, Blue Division leading Yellow Jackets outlasted the Aviators 146-133 at A Giving Heart Community Center. The Aviators and Yellow Jackets are both competitive squads. Geographically, the teams are less than two hours apart and the Aviators were just in Pittsburgh for an interleague game with the Western Pennsylvania Wolverines at the Market House on the South Side. On Saturday, both teams were ready. The Aviators jumped out to a five-point lead before Job Brown hit three consecutive three-pointers to get Ace Pippen’s club back into the game. Anthony Coleman kept the gas on the Aviator’s early lead. It took Jay Washington to connect on a 3D opportun...
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Yellow Jackets Win 202-78, Need To Make Up Games For Any Playoff Bid

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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 t...
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Yellow Jackets Navigate Back To Win Column Over Aviators

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  Steel City Yellow Jackets guard Tayon English. Photo courtesy of Raymond Durkin. By Thomas Leturgey One week after a rare, 113-109 loss at home to the Number 2 ranked Buffalo Extreme, the American Basketball Association (ABA) Steel City Yellow Jackets hit the road to nearby Akron to face off against the Aviators. This was a showdown in the Central Region’s Blue Division of the ABA. Last week’s game saw tension following the game, as the Yellow Jackets have had a harder-than-usual beginning to their season. There have been controversial games that has forced the club to nearly “run the table” if they want to return to post-season play. Despite some wintery conditions, the Yellow Jackets made the 110-mile trek to Akron, ready to play. Ace Pippens’ team raced to a 27-17 first quarter lead before settling into a 63-40 advantage at the end of the first half. Guard Tayon English, who has become one the team’s leading three-point shooters scored 22 points in the first half wit...
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Yellow Jackets Get Back In Win Column Over Columbus, 116-103

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The Steel City Yellow Jackets celebrate after winning 116-103 Saturday night. Photo by Thomas Leturgey. By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets (2-1) got back on the winning track Saturday Night in Pittsburgh, but it did not come easy, 116-103 over the Columbus Wizards. It also appears that the Pittsburgh’ entry in the American Basketball Association (ABA) may have a new star shooting guard among its midst. On the strength of 14 points in the fourth quarter, Jay Washington lead all Yellow Jackets with 34. The Wizards came to play with a strong starting lineup. All five starters—Jay Farrow, Allante Gorham, RJ Fairrow, Phil Bledsoe Jr. and Branden Wilkins played key roles in keeping the game close all evening. That to that, sixth man Sean Rogers and Columbus brought a formidable team against Ace Pippen’s club. Job Brown and Kenny Holmes brought they Yellow Jackets up the court in the early going, and Jay Washington provided pivotal play. The Yellow Jackets led througho...
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