Steel City Yellow Jackets Journal

ABA First Team (West) All-Star Antonio Reddic, Sr.   by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond Today, the American Basketball Association (ABA) 1st Team All-Stars were announced, and one of the Steel City Yellow Jackets Co-captains made the cut. Antonio Reddic, Sr., who has been with the club since its beginning in 2014, was chosen as a starting Forward on the 1st Team West squad. Reddic has averaged 35 points and 8 rebounds per game. Along with Co-Captain Gilmore Cummings, Reddic has lead the Yellow Jackets to a 16-2 record in the 2021-2022 season.  Also on the team is Ryan Carter with the Number One ranked Chula Vista Suns, Team Trouble's Josh Allen, Chicago Flury's Armani Chaney, and Ohio Bruins' Jay Farrow. Only Ryan Carter, with 50 points per game, averaged more offense.  The Wyoming Clutch's starting Center Peter Alexis, who is set to come to Pittsburgh for the North East Regional Championship this Sunday afternoon, was picked for the 1st Team East squad. In additi...

  The Steel City Yellow Jackets celebrate at center court following their win over Binghamton. Photos by Thomas Leturgey by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond Nearly from the tip-off, the Steel City Yellow Jackets were in charge of their own destiny Saturday Night against the Binghamton Bulldogs Antonio Reddic, Sr. seemingly won the opening tip-off, but he was immediately swarmed by the Bulldogs and they all fell to the hardwood. The referees pulled everyone apart and had a second jump ball. This time, it was swatted right into the hands of Ace Pippen's squad. The Bulldogs did hit the very first bucket of the night in this Semi-Final game in the Northeast Championship bracket. Co-Captain Gilmore Cumming hit a triple to take the lead. And then another. And then another. It was quickly 9-2 Yellow Jackets with 9:50 to go in the first quarter.  Claude Scott, Jr. hit a jumper to extend the lead to 11-4 and then Co-Captain Reddic hit the first of his three-pointers of the evening...

by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond The Northeast Semi-Finals of the American Basketball Association (ABA) playoffs go through the Steel City this weekend as the Yellow Jackets take on the Binghamton Bulldogs. The Steel City Yellow Jackets are in their 8th season, 15-2, and preparing to take on the Binghamton Bulldogs in what promises to be a thrilling contest. Some 18 teams are still in contention for the five remaining slots, including 8 of the Top 10 teams in the ABA Power Rankings, which includes Coach Ace Pippen's club. The winners of this weekend's games will move on to the ABA Final Eight Tournament, which was recently moved from Kansas City, MO to Baltimore, MD from April 21 to the 23rd. Recently, Pippens had an interview with Kiki Brown on KDKA Radio.com's "What's Good in Ya Hood." "We made it to the divisional championship in our first year," Pippens said. "For the past six seasons, we've won 3 regional championships , made it...

  by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond The Steel City Yellow Jackets overcame a tight first quarter with a strong second 12 minutes to defeat the New York Hoop Dragons Saturday Night In Pittsburgh, 151 to 118. The evening began with a great rendition of the National Anthem by Daela Voice.  Ace Pippens' squad (Tone Reddic, Sr., Gilmore Cummings, Claude Scott, Jr., Brandon Franklin and James Jackson) and the Hoop Dragons (Brandon Thomson, Ramone Shy, Anthony Cox, Pace Shaw and Alex Mattina) deadlocked 28-28 in the first quarter at A Giving Place Community Center. Both teams were hitting jump shots, but playing better defense. Pittsburgh was committing more team fouls than the Hoop Dragons, 5 to 1.  Alex Cox hat a hot hand for the Hoop Dragons early in the contest, but the Yellow Jackets' Kenny Holmes had an outstanding game of his own.  The home team came alive in the second quarter, scoring 51 points to the visitor's 19 points. The Hoop Dragons made a run in the t...

  by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond The Steel City Yellow Jackets had little time to think about Saturday's loss to the Ohio Bruins. Sunday night, the club traveled north to Beaver County and cruised to victory, 156-112. Ace Pippen's club came out strong in the first quarter, with Co-Captain Gilmore Cummings starting off the scoring. Etholion Vennie had a three-pointer and Kenneth Holmes added a series of three-pointers in the opening quarter, but to be topped by Tim Johnson's four 3-pointers. The visitors lead at the end of first twelve minutes, 40-26. Beaver County's Indians came alive in the second-quarter, and out-scored the Yellow Jackets 28-25. Claude Scott, Jr. lead the scoring for the Yellow Jackets in that quarter. The Steel City squad exploded in the second-half and extended the lead by scoring 47 points to Beaver County's 32. Brandon Franklin hit an incredible 6 buckets from beyond the arc. Co-Captain Tone Reddic, Sr. also pumped in several three-p...

  by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond The Steel City Yellow Jackets traveled to Ohio Saturday Night for a much-anticipated game against the Ohio Bruins. The #3 team in the ABA (the week of February 14) fell to the tough Bruins 136-125. It was a great return for Kenneth Holmes, who lead all scorers, with 40 points for Ace Pippen's squad. Brandon Franklin added 24, and Co-Captain Tone Reddic, Sr. added another 22 for the visitors. Co-captain Gilmore Cummings and the always-solid Tim Jackson pumped in another 13 each. James Jackson had 8 points and Claude Scott, Jr. added. five.  The game was tight throughout the night, but the Bruins poured on 46 points in the fourth quarter alone to secure the lead. Bruins Coach Rob Davis' club was ready for the sting. Jay Farrow had 35 for the Bruins, and Gary Hoover added 24. Cameron Mitchell had 29 and Marcus Reineke had 17. With the loss, the Steel City Yellow Jackets fall to 14-2 on the season. The Chula Vista Suns remain the ABA's...

  by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond The Steel City Yellow Jackets got right back on the winning track after last week's loss in Baltimore. Friday Night at Woodland Hills High School, Ace Pippen's team came out strong against the Buchannon Bears and left with a 164-114 victory. Earlier in the season when the Yellow Jackets were running up scores, they would put 40 or more up in a quarter. They were nearly to that standard in Churchill, with 39,34, 56 and 35 in the four quarters of play.  The Bears took a quick 2-0 lead in the first seconds of the game before Co-Captain Gilmore Cummings hit a three-point-shot to make it 3-2. The Bears would never reclaim the lead. Over the next few minutes, Co-Captain Tone Reddic, Sr., Tim Jackson and birthday boy Jason Arrington all got into the scorebook. Jackson would score a trio of three-point shots in the first 12 minutes. At the end of the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets were leading by a healthy 39-16 score. When the second quar...