Jackets Drop Back and Forth Game to Enforcers

 

The Steel City Yellow Jackets kicked off their 2016/2017 season last night in a game against the Kentucky Enforcers. The Yellow Jackets put up 124 points on the night but it wasn't enough as they lost at the Barack Obama Academy by the score of 131-124.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets kicked off their 2016/2017 season yesterday as they took on the Kentucky Enforcers in their opening game of the American Basketball Association season. The Jackets played a competitive back and forth game, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the Kentucky Enforcers by the final score of 131-124.

The Yellow Jackets unveiled their new home court at the Barack Obama Academy located at 515 N. Highland Ave in front of the home crowd. The Yellow Jackets have made the playoffs in each of their first two seasons in the ABA, and are looking to get there for the third straight season in the 2016/2017 season. As part of the 50th season of ABA play, the ABA expanded to over 100 teams and the Kentucky Enforcers were one of those new teams.

The Yellow Jackets were lead on the court by their starting five in Juan Franklin, Jonathan Logan, Gilmore Cummings, Marcus Smith, and Lawrence Baker. The Yellow Jackets controlled the ball game for a majority of the time, but a late comeback by the Enforcers dropped the Yellow Jackets to (0-1) on the season.

The Yellow Jackets took the early lead in this one taking their largest lead of the ball game when they lead by 10 with 4:55 to go in the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets would end up leading 32-30 after one quarter of play. They would continue this lead into half time as they outscored the Enforcers 31-29 and went into half time leading by the score of 63-59.

The Enforcers would turn it up in the second half, however, as the Jackets would be outscored for the first time in the contest when the Enforcers scored 32 points, and the Jackets held on to a one point lead sitting at 92-91. The fourth quarter would prove why this was a match-up between the number 22 and 23 teams in the ABA.

The Enforcers would turn it on scoring 40 points in the quarter and building up an 11 point lead with :14 seconds to play. The Jackets would try to come back in the game, making the final Field Goal of the game with :04 seconds left, but it wasn't enough as the Jackets would fall by the final score of 131-124.

The Jackets played an exciting game in front of the home crowd to start out the 2016/2017 season. Juan Franklin lead the Yellow Jackets on the day scoring a game high 32 points and playing a total of 28:54. He was also six for seven from the free throw line. Antonio Reddic saw the most playing time for the Jackets as he played 31:13 seconds and scored 14 points. Marcus Smith lead the team in rebounds with six on the day.

For the Enforcers, they were lead by two 20 point days from Aaron Miller, team high 26, and David Mann, 22. Jeff Robinson saw the most action on the court for the Enforcers playing 42:34 of the game, and they were lead in rebounds by Miller and Ray Chambers who each grabbed nine rebounds in the contest.

Yellow Jackets Player of the Game: Juan Franklin

Juan Franklin grabs the Steel City Yellow Jackets player of the game award for the first game of the 2016/2017 season. He scored a game high 32 points in the contest in 28:54 of action. Franklin shot 50% from beyond the arc, two for four, and shot 86% from the free throw line, six for seven, on the day. He finished out the day pulling in two defensive rebounds to help the Yellow Jackets effort.

Up Next

The Steel City Yellow Jackets (0-1) return to action tonight as they continue their opening weekend when they take on the Reading Wizards at the Barack Obama academy. Tickets for the game are 10 dollars for adults and five dollars for children, plus if you purchased the 15 dollar weekend pass you have access to today's game as well. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as the Yellow Jackets look to capture their first win of the season.