The Steel City Yellow Jackets are back in action this Saturday when they take on the number 21 team in the country in the Fredericksburg Grizzlies. The Yellow Jackets have not played a game since their contest against the Reading Wizards back on December fourth when they won by the score of 154-127.
It has been a while since the Steel City Yellow Jackets have taken the court, but they are back in action this Saturday at the Neighborhood Academy. Snow made travel conditions tough for the Yellow Jackets last weekend as both of their games got cancelled forcing them to remain stagnant for a week. However, they will have to harness their energy from the long layoff as they have a tough match up with the number 21 team in the country in the Fredericksburg Grizzlies.
The Yellow Jackets have played some tough, physical basketball games recently and have used the time to help rest their bodies and keep them fresh. It is a long American Basketball Association season and the Yellow Jackets need to have all hands on deck if they want to make their third straight playoff run since their formation back in the 2014/2015 season.
Last time out, the Yellow Jackets snapped a short two game losing streak as they defeated the Reading Wizards by the score of 154-127. It was the second meeting between the two teams and the Yellow Jackets were able to top the Wizards once again. The Yellow Jackets took control of the game early on jumping out to a 23-5 lead just five minutes and 25 seconds into the ball game. They would use this big lead to help propel them to their fourth win of the season.
Bobby Swartwout was the Steel City Player of the Game for his break out performance in which he scored a season high 20 points. Prior to that game, Swartwout had not scored more than three points in a game all season. The Yellow Jackets got contributions up and down their roster as six of their guys scored in the double digits on the night. Gilmore Cummings would lead the way offensively picking up 24 points and leading the Jackets to victory.
The most impressive part of the victory is that the Yellow Jackets did all of this without their star player in Lawrence Baker. Baker is currently second on the team in scoring with 124 points on the season and has been a key contributor to the Yellow Jackets success. He, along with veteran teammate and Yellow Jackets leading scorer Antonio Reddic, have kept this offense going at a high pace throughout the season.
Even though the Yellow Jackets did not play last week, they did move up in this week's power rankings as they are now the number 23 team in the country. However, their first game in almost two weeks will not be an easy one as they have to face another top 25 opponent in the Fredericksburg Grizzlies, who currently are the number 21 team in the nation.
The last time the Grizzlies took the court was on Sunday December 11th when they took on the RDC Vulcans. The Grizzlies would come out victorious as they picked up their fourth win of the season defeating the Vulcans 128-104. That win was enough to jump them up two spots in the power rankings this week going from the number 23 spot to the number 21 spot.
The Grizzlies are lead offensively by Quentin Jones who has 108 points on the season in his four appearances,and is followed by Tim Turner who racked up 75 points in his four appearances. Everyone on this Grizzlies team has put up at least 10 points so far on the season, so the Yellow Jackets are going to have to isolate the ball carrier and not let him get the ball to any of his teammates.
The Grizzlies are in their first year of existence in the ABA after being founded in February of 2016 by owners Karen and Vincent Henderson. They are lead by first year head coach Rick Wright as they are looking to compete in their first season.
The Yellow Jackets and Grizzlies will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Academy located at 709 N. Aiken Street in Pittsburgh, PA. Come out and support the Yellow Jackets as they will be hosting Health and Awareness Night. Tickets are 10 dollars for adults and five dollars for students and can be bought at the door. This will be the last home game of the first half of the regular season, so if you have not gotten the chance already, come on out and Catch the Buzz.
The Grizzlies are in their first year of existence in the ABA after being founded in February of 2016 by owners Karen and Vincent Henderson. They are lead by first year head coach Rick Wright as they are looking to compete in their first season.
The Yellow Jackets and Grizzlies will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Academy located at 709 N. Aiken Street in Pittsburgh, PA. Come out and support the Yellow Jackets as they will be hosting Health and Awareness Night. Tickets are 10 dollars for adults and five dollars for students and can be bought at the door. This will be the last home game of the first half of the regular season, so if you have not gotten the chance already, come on out and Catch the Buzz.
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