Reddic's Big Game Leads Jackets to Victory

The Steel City Yellow Jackets played their final home game of the 2016/2017 regular season yesterday as they faced the Cleveland AM Pro'ers yesterday at the Neighborhood Academy. Antonio Reddic would have a game for the ages scoring 52 points and leading the Yellow Jackets to a 137-134 victory.

The final playoff push is here in the American Basketball Association and the Steel City Yellow Jackets are right in the thick of things in the final week of the regular season. With two more games to go, the Yellow Jackets started their final playoff push with a game against the Cleveland AM Pro'ers at the Neighborhood Academy yesterday.

It was a high scoring offensive affair but, in the end, the Yellow Jackets would be the ones who would come out victorious winning by the final score of 137-134. Each team had their own offensive star who absolutely went off in the game and it made for exciting basketball throughout the night. The crowd was energized and ready to go and the two teams were excited to do battle.

This was a close ball game throughout and each team's star of the night was firing on all cylinders early on. For the Yellow Jackets, it was Antonio Reddic putting up 15 points in the first quarter alone. On the opposite side of the court, Jesse Hardin was having some offensive success of his own as he busted out 14 points in his first quarter of play. It was exciting to watch and it led to the Yellow Jackets leading 34-27 after one quarter of play.

In the second quarter, while Hardin slowed down a little bit, Reddic continued doing his thing as he added 20 more points to his total in the quarter. The only other Yellow Jacket who even came close to Reddic's production was Lawrence Baker who hit four three pointers in the first half. The Yellow Jackets defense played well in the second quarter shutting down Jesse Hardin, however, Simon Kucharewicz posted 15 points in the quarter to keep it close. 

Thanks to a high scoring game, with minimal fouls, the first half flew by and the teams went into the locker room with the Yellow Jackets leading 74-64. Last time these two teams met earlier in the season the Yellow Jackets dominated the game winning by the score of 124-111. This time it would be an epic fight to the finish that pushed the Yellow Jackets and the Pro'ers to their limits.

Antonio Reddic would lead the Yellow Jackets in scoring going into half time posting 36 points. Reddic's season high prior to yesterday's game was 40 points, but his day was just getting started for the Yellow Jackets. He would be followed by Lawrence Baker, 12 points, and Jason Arrington, 6 points. For the Pro'ers, Jesse Hardin was having a great offensive day as well as he put up 23 points in the first half. He was followed by Simon Kucharewicz, 15 points, and Jamil Dudley, 10 points.

The offensive numbers continued to climb for both teams in the third quarter and some new faces started to rack up points. For the Yellow Jackets, Lawrence Baker continued to get on the board as he quietly put up seven in the third quarter of play putting his total for the evening up to 19 points. On the Pro'ers side of the ball, Morgan Jones collected a bucket and two three point shots to raise his total to 16 points on the night. With the lead sitting at 113-100, the Yellow Jackets would collect their largest lead of the night against  the Pro'ers.

The final minute of this ball game left fans sitting on the edge of their seats. The Yellow Jackets lead 136-134 with one minute showing on the clock when the Pro'ers called a time out. There would be two more timeouts and the Yellow Jackets defense remained stingy keeping the score the same with just 20 seconds remaining. Then the Pro'ers committed four consecutive fouls to bring Isaiah Prince to the foul line with 10 seconds remaining. Prince would go one for two at the line to make the score 137-134.

With ten seconds left and the Pro'ers down by three, they got the ball into Jesse Hardin's hands. Hardin already had 44 points on the night and had hit eight three pointers up to that point. He pulled up at the three point line with six seconds to go and put up the shot. It would hit off the rim too strong and fell into the hands of the waiting Yellow Jacket defense. All the Pro'ers had left was a desperation half court shot by Hardin as time expired but it ended up going over the hoop ending the game.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets were lead by a break out performance from Antonio Reddic who demolished his season high scoring 52 points on the night. He was followed by Lawrence Baker, 22 points, and Bobby Swartwout, 15 points. Jesse Hardin had a big game for himself as well on the night as he lead the Pro'ers with 44 points. He was followed by Morgan Jones, 28 points, and Simon Kucharewicz, 20 points.

With the win, the Yellow Jackets improved to 13-8 on the season and finished out the home half of their 2016/2017 regular season with a record of 10-3. They were the number 21 ranked team in the country coming into action this week and with the win, and one more game tomorrow, the Yellow Jackets are looking to solidify their spot in the American Basketball Association playoffs for the third year in a row.

Steel City Player of the Game: Antonio Reddic

With all of the offense for both teams on the night, one man stood out among the rest and that was Antonio Reddic. Not only did he eclipse his season high in scoring on the night, he demolished it by putting up an astonishing 52 points against the Pro'ers. Reddic has been working hard all season long consistently leading the Yellow Jackets in scoring and he did that and so much more the night before. With the way Reddic has been playing this season, we knew he would put on a show in the final home game of the regular season and he did just that with his 52 point effort.

Up Next:

The Steel City Yellow Jackets wrap up their 2016/2017 regular season on the road today when they travel to William and Mary College to take on the Fredericksburg Grizzlies. The Grizzlies come into the game as the number 17 ranked team in the country, so it will be a tough task for the Jackets. They will be looking to improve upon their 3-4 home record and get a victory to cap off the 2016/2017 regular season.

Dre Anthony Uses Role Models to Drive Professional Career

Role models have always been a big part of Steel City Yellow Jacket Dre Anthony's life. He has had a role model who has helped him along the way at every level of basketball and now he wants to be a role model for the next generation of basketball players here in Pittsburgh.

Everyone has someone that they look up to in life for help and guidance in everything they do. Whether it be the big names like Michael Jordan and Albert Pujols or someone who lives just down the street, these role models are all quintessential parts in helping us chase our dreams. Steel City Yellow Jacket Dre Anthony was fortunate enough to have three of these role model type figures who helped him in making his dreams of a professional basketball career become a reality.

Anthony’s love for the game of basketball started when he was eight years old seeing his uncle playing on the streets of Pittsburgh. Anthony said he was always intrigued by the idea of playing with the older kids and it is what always pushed him to be a better basketball player.

“Probably around eight years old is when I started playing [basketball],” said Anthony. “I had a lot of stuff going on so it kept me out of trouble. My uncle was playing and I always wanted to be around the game because I wanted to be around him.”

As Anthony got older and started maturing in the game of basketball, he got a rare opportunity that would introduce him to his second great role model in his life. Going into his junior high school years, Anthony and his family moved into the Penn Hills school district. Penn Hills was just coming off of a state championship, lead by head coach Jim Rocco, and Anthony picked the brain of Rocco to help him in his basketball career.

“I was fortunate because when I moved into Penn Hills school district in junior high school they were fresh off of a state championship,” said Anthony. “My high school coach Jim Rocco really took time to work with me over the years and stuff like that. I was fortunate to have a coach that wanted to work with me.”

All of that hard work with coach Rocco would pay off for Anthony in his high school years. He would end of being a three year starter for the Indians where he averaged 15 points per game. He was also a star in the classroom as well as he was on the High Honor Role in each of his four years with Penn Hills.

Anthony says that having a role model like coach Rocco has not only made him the player he is on the court today, but also the man he is today. He learned both lessons on and off the court from Rocco that made his transition into college basketball a little bit easier.

“[Having coach Rocco] prepared me for stuff like leadership, character, and off the court stuff,” said Anthony. “He taught me to see myself as an investment and really just working on my craft everyday and keep getting better. By the time I got to college I was prepared for a lot of different things, it was a challenge but I was ready to take them on.”

After high school, Anthony’s basketball career was put on hold as he sat out for a couple of seasons. He took on a full time job as a mail handler at the North Side Post Office before beginning the college search. After some time away from the game he ended up going to the Community College of Beaver County where he says head coach Dwayne Walker took a shot on him.

That shot turned out to be one worth taking as Anthony helped lead the team to a 26-1 record including being ranked number one in all of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men’s basketball. Anthony averaged 22 points per game in that season and was named a Second-Team All-American at point guard.

He would then take his talents to USC Aiken in South Carolina where he averaged 13.6 points per game and four rebounds a night. Finally his college journey would take him to Clarion University, where he finished up his college career earlier this season. In his one season with Clarion he would lead the team in field goal percentage shooting .443 and would be second in scoring with 387 points.

Jumping from school to school helped prepare Anthony for the road ahead in professional basketball.  Anthony says that all of the moving around he did at the college level helped him prepare for the fast-paced life style that a professional basketball player has to endure on a daily basis.

“It was a transition because when you go through different teams and different personalities you kind of get used to change,” said Anthony. “I was just used to moving around. I did have some familiar faces and stuff as my junior college coach was on my staff last year when I came home, but it gets you ready to move on the fly and its one of those things that helps you prepare.”

His third great role model has helped him in his professional career here in Pittsburgh with the Steel City Yellow Jackets. Anthony is very close with teammate Lawrence Baker and that is what got him connected with the Yellow Jackets. Anthony says he came out to support Baker during games and when a spot opened up he took advantage.

“Lawrence Baker is like my big brother,” said Anthony. “I looked up to him and he has taken me under his wing overt the last five or six years. Seeing that he was playing [for the Yellow Jackets] I came out and supported him at games. I was set to go to Italy to play overseas but then things fell through, so this was an opportunity that he introduced for me. And then Coach Ace whenever a spot opened up he let me join the team and be a part of this organization.”

Anthony’s uncle, Coach Rocco, and Lawrence Baker have all been big role models in Anthony’s life and all three are the reason he is where he is today. Now that Anthony is playing professional basketball with the Steel City Yellow Jackets, he wants to be a role model for the hundreds of basketball players here in Pittsburgh who are looking to play at the next level.

“It’s special because a lot of people don’t know that this was a basketball city at one point and time,” said Anthony. “Historically there are a lot of great players that come out, but I just think a lot of guys get looked over. It’s giving us an opportunity to show that we do have talent here in Pittsburgh and maybe it can help out some of the younger guys coming up in the near future.”

Anthony has been a big pick up for the Yellow Jackets this season and was instrumental in their recent five game winning streak that brought them up to the number 18 team in the country. He has been a consistent member of the starting five since joining the team in January and he looks to leave his mark not only for himself, but for the players who will eventually follow in his foot steps.

Steel City Yellow Jackets Weekend Matchup Cancelled

The Steel City Yellow Jackets were supposed to travel down to Baltimore to take on the Baltimore Hawks this evening. However, the game has been cancelled leaving the Yellow Jackets stagant this weekend.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets and Baltimore Hawks were scheduled to continue their rivalry this evening in Baltimore, Maryland. However, due to reasons beyond the Yellow Jackets control, This evening's game between the two has been cancelled giving The Yellow Jackets a week to recover before the final week of regular season action in the American Basketball Association.

The Yellow Jackets came into the weekend looking to rebound from a 133-127 loss to the number one team in the country that snapped a five game winning streak. The Yellow Jackets had fought hard in that contest but unfortunately just came up short.

The Yellow Jackets entered the weekend as the number 18 ranked team in the country with a record of 12-8. They were up four spots from last week's ratings as they are trying to make a final push for the ABA playoffs. They were helped out by a season high five game winning streak that put them in the number 18 spot and they will have to wait a week before trying to improve their ranking.

Next Saturday February 25th will be the last home game of the 2016/2017 regular season as the Yellow Jackets are set to take on the Kalamazoo Cobras. The two teams were scheduled to meet earlier in the season but inclement weather was the culprit in cancelling that contest.

The Yellow Jackets have played some of their best basketball at home This season where they hold a record of 9-3. They like to have the home crowd behind them and it gets them going in the ball game. This team is full of offensive studs including Antonio Reddic, Gilmore Cummings, and Lawrence Baker. Each guy has made big contributions to this year's team and they will look to continue to make an impact as the team heads for the playoffs.

If you haven't gotten a chance to already, come on out and support your Steel City Yellow Jackets in their final home game of the 2016/2017 regular season. Tickets are ten dollars for adults and five dollars for students. It will be a night of excitement as the high powered Yellow Jacket offense looks to finish The regular season off on a good note. Come on out and Catch the Buzz.

Arrington Continuing Family Tradition In Steel City

For Steel City Yellow Jacket Jason Arrington, basketball has always been a big part of his family. Arrington has now turned that family tradition into a professional career right here in Pittsburgh with the Steel City Yellow Jackets.

Family. These are the people in your life who are always there for you and lead you on the right path to succeed. Whether they are related by blood or not is inconsequential as they are always there for you and always want what’s best for you. In many families, traditions are passed down from generation to generation with the older generations passing their skills and talents on to the younger generations as they try their best to continue the family legacy.

For Steel City Yellow Jacket Jason Arrington, basketball was that family tradition that was passed down.  Arrington is the youngest of four children and every single one of them played the sport of basketball. His father introduced him to the sport and it is something that has stuck with him since he has been four years old.

“[Basketball] was a family sport,” said Arrington. “My uncles always took me to the hole, no mercy. Once they started it, it trinkled on down through the family tree. My father and my Uncle O’Neil [introduced me to the game]. Uncle O’Neil set the record and now I have gone farther than he has [in my basketball career].”

As the youngest of four children, Arrington had many role models to look up to as he was growing up and maturing in the sport of basketball. All three of his older siblings played the sport and Arrington picked up tips and tricks from watching them play that he has emulated leading to his success at the professional level today.

“[All of my siblings] played before me,” said Arrington. “Even my sister played, she’s the oldest out of all of us. She was the first then both of my brothers played. They didn’t score as many points but just seeing them play I wanted to always be better.”

Arrington used these tips to help him start his high school basketball career. Playing with his uncles and the rest of his family made him a more complete player and he used that at Norfolk Christian High School in Norfolk, Virginia. Leadership was a staple of Arrington’s high school career as he was the team captain and always tried to push the other players on the team to be the best that they possibly could be.

Arrington was determined to play basketball at the next level after high school, but the college search proved more difficult then Arrington had hoped. Being from the small town of Norfolk, Virginia, Arrington says there weren’t a lot of scouts looking for guys and it effected his search for the right college for him.

“The college search was pretty hard,” said Arrington. “It’s pretty tough being from Virginia you don’t get too many scouts, It’s a tough city to get out of. But, I went to Hampton U and I went to the Apprentice School out of Newport News. I always played hard, but I kept moving from college to college so I never got settled really.”

No matter what basketball program Arrington was involved with, he tried to leave his mark. He would start out his collegiate basketball career at the Community College of Beaver County, where he started to get some more consistent playing time. He led the team in steals during the 2005/2006 season when he accumulated 109 while also finishing the season second on the team in scoring with 410 points and 15.7 points per game.

He would then transfer to The Apprentice School where for the first time in his college career he became a star on a team. He was the second leading scorer for the Builders scoring 403 points and averaging 13.9 points in his one season. He was also the most consistent free throw shooter going 88 for 118, .746, from the charity stripe.

Moving around as much as Arrington had to during college made basketball that much more difficult. Arrington says that each school you go to, you have to do your best to impress the coaches and get a feel for how they run things. With moving around all the time, he had to do this on a yearly basis and it was tough for him sometimes.

“Trying to make your place is tough,” said Arrington. “Coming in the first semester you’re just trying to get a feel for the game, get the feel of the team and the coaches. Then by second semester you’re in there. But, then coach is not really looking at you, you’re playing your hardest and then you have to try to transfer to another school and do the same thing over again. It’s pretty hard especially when you are trying to get to the next level whether it be overseas, ABA, or the NBA.”

Arrington’s countless hours of hard work and constant moving around at the college level would finally pay off when he got out of college. Arrington says he got in contact with Tony Hodges, a player for the Steel City Yellow Jackets at the time, and Antonio Reddic, who Arrington knew from seeing him play at Aliquippa. They started talking and got Arrington a try out for the team and the rest is history. One of the main things that Arrington noted was from the time he joined the Yellow Jackets, the leadership was great and it helped him gel with the team.

“Once I saw leadership through Gilly [Gil Cummings] and LB [Lawrence Baker] it clicked pretty easily,” said Arrington. “You see leadership and you start to follow that then you see people who are genuine, it’s easy to click with that.”

Arrington spoke very highly of the leadership surrounding the Steel City Yellow Jackets team and in particular Antonio Reddic. Arrington says that Reddic is the one who sets the bar for the style of play that you want as a Yellow Jackets and everyone is working to achieve that level of success on the court.

“Reddic is a man among boys,” said Arrington. “He’s willing to just pick up the game now for a year, two years he is awesome, amazing. He’s always hustling, plays hard, and never takes a play off. It’s something to look at and something to always be proud of and something to work hard for because he sets the bar high.”

Arrington feels right at home playing here in Pittsburgh with the Steel City Yellow Jackets. He follows his family legacy of playing basketball and making the most of every one of his opportunities. Whether it be on the bench or on the court he tries to keep his teammates going and encourage them in any way he can. He believes that with hard work and dedication the Steel City Yellow Jackets will be able to grow and one day they will be bigger than ever.

Isaiah Prince Making Most of Humble Beginnings

Steel City Yellow Jackets guard Isaiah Prince came from humble beginnings and has turned it into a professional basketball career in the city he loves. He was a star at both Imani Christian Academy and Edinboro University and is now staring in the American Basketball Association

The basketball courts on the east side of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are the stomping grounds for many Pittsburgh natives every year. Thousands of players have found the sport of basketball here and turned it into a professional aspiration. Isaiah Prince was no different. He would always admire the older kids as they played the game and it pushed him to be the best player he could be. He was always the younger kid on the court and he tried to use that as motivation to better his game to get on the same level as the older kids he was competing against.

Through this experience, Prince found the sport of basketball and has been playing it ever since. A self-taught basketball player, Prince would work tirelessly at the sport always being the youngest on the court. In his third grade year, he was already playing on the fourth grade basketball team showing what skills he had.

“[My basketball career] really started when I was around third grade playing on the fourth grade team,” said Prince. “I grew up on the east side of Pittsburgh and I started on the basketball courts outside Collinwood. Just seeing the older people play, some of them boys inspired me to play.”

He took inspiration from many players on these back courts with him throughout his childhood and into the high school years. Prince played his high school basketball at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In his senior season with the Saints, Prince would lead the Saints to a 19-3 record. He ended up scoring 1,136 points over his four years with the Saints as well as earning all-conference honors in his junior and senior years and was the conference MVP as a senior.

Despite all of the success he was having at the high school level, the college search was no walk in the park for Prince. Coming from a small school he had to work from the bottom up to get his name out there. He spent two years at community college before he found his perfect fit with the Edinboro University Fighting Scots.

“Coming out of high school the college search really wasn’t there for me because I came from a little school,” said Prince. “I really had to build my own foundation. I did two years at community college, Community College of Butler County, and then Edinboro found me. I left my print on every program that I left.”

Edinboro would be no different. He played for two seasons with the Fighting Scots and accumulated a career 874 points, 225 rebounds, and 140 assists. He lead the team in scoring in each of his two years with the Scots and twice won All-PSAC honors. He also ranked third in the PSAC in steals in his junior season with 53 and averaged 32.2 points per game for his career.

Edinboro is also where Prince made his first connections with the Steel City Yellow Jackets. Prince and current Yellow Jacket Gilmore Cummings both played for the Fighting Scots and Cummings was one of Prince’s good friends. After the Yellow Jackets first season, Cummings gave Prince a call and set him up for a tryout.

“[I made my first contact with the Yellow Jackets through] Gil Cummings,” said Prince. “We went to Edinboro together and that was one of my good friends up there. When he started the team the first year I wasn’t around because I was overseas. The second year I came back and got in contact with him and you know the rest is history.”

Prince, Cummings, and current Yellow Jacket Antonio Reddic had all played against each other before growing up in Pittsburgh. Because of the age difference they would never be playing on the same team, but Prince relishes in the opportunity to play with them today. He continues to learn the game of basketball from them and he says that it helps him grow as a player every single day.

“It’s been a good experience because you know we always played pick-up ball together and they were older than me so I never really got the chance to play with them,” said Prince. “After it all came together it’s a good experience I am happy to get on the court with them. They teach me a lot of things because their older and wiser, so I might be young and athletic but them boys teach me a lot.”

Prince has learned valuable lessons both on and off of the court with the Yellow Jackets. On the court he learns from the teammates around him and the competition. However, off the court he has a great mentor as well in Head Coach Averill Pippens. Prince praises Coach Ace’s efforts both for the team and for the community in general and it has helped him earn a respect for that as well.

“Coach does a lot for this whole team,” said Prince. “He really impacts his community as well, and his heart is full of gold. You know I can’t ask much more from that guy.”

Being from Pittsburgh, Prince loves having the opportunity to go out and represent the city on the basketball spectrum. He moved around a lot throughout his college career and it caused his friends and family to not be able to come to his games as much. However, now here in Pittsburgh they don’t miss a beat and can come see him night in and night out while he represents the city.

“It means a lot [to represent this city],” said Prince. “You know my friends and family they might not have been able to make it to one of my games because I played far away in college. For them actually to be able to come out and see me night in and night out is a moment to cherish.”

Prince comes from humble beginnings and those humble beginnings have turned into a great professional basketball career that turned into a trip overseas and now a stint in his home town. No matter where Prince goes or what he accomplishes he always brings it back to that beginning playing on the streets with the older kids and what it taught him about playing smart and playing hard.

“It’s tough on the streets,” said Prince. “The competition level was there and I was playing against the athletic kids and everything like that. Then you know we just had that go getter mentality on the streets and it just carried over.”

That go getter mentality has been a driving force for Prince throughout his playing career and he uses it now to help the Yellow Jackets succeed. He has worked his way up to one of the starting five on this year’s team and has played a big role both offensively and defensively for this team. With his determination and intensity, he looks to help take the Yellow Jackets to the American Basketball Association playoffs for the third season in a row.

Yellow Jacket Come Up Just Short in Loss to Number 1 Ranked Team

The Steel City Yellow Jackets were on the road Sunday night to take on the top ranked team in the American Basketball Association, the DMV Warriors. Last time these two teams met it was a close game, and this time was no different. However, it would once again be the Yellow Jackets on the losing end as they fell 133-127.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets picked up a big win on Saturday night when they knocked off the number nine ranked Richmond Elite 139-122. It was their fifth straight win and the team was flying high as they went on the road to face their toughest task of the year taking on the number one ranked team in the country, the DMV Warriors. The Yellow Jackets only had a record of 3-4 on the road coming into the contest, but this match-up had a history that made things look bright for the Yellow Jackets.

Steel City and DMV met once earlier in the season at the Neighborhood Academy back on November 26th. The Yellow Jackets were at that time the number 17 ranked team in the country and the Warriors were ranked number three. It was a highly contested ball game and would literally come down to the final second. The Yellow Jackets lead by one with 3.5 seconds showing on the game clock and the Warriors would hit a game winning three point shot at the buzzer to take a 129-127 victory. The Yellow Jackets were back and looking for revenge on Sunday.

It would end up being another tightly contested ball game between the two teams as the Yellow Jackets continued to spread the ball around and showed why they are ranked in the top 25. At half time the Warriors only had a slim four point lead over the Yellow Jackets and the team felt that they were more than just in this ball game, they felt that they had a chance to win.

At the half way point, the Yellow Jackets were lead by Antonio Reddic's 18 point effort. He was followed by Dre Anthony, 12 points, and a three way tie for third as Lawrence Baker, BillyDee Williams, and Gil Cummings all had eight points. For the Warriors it would be lead by Brian Smith and his 15 point effort. He was followed by Andrew Washington, 14 points, and Calvin Lee, 12 points.

This team has fought hard through adversity all season long and Sunday was no different. They stuck to the game they know and used it to their advantage. Gil Cummings, Antonio Reddic, and Lawrence Baker have lead this team all season long and they helped to put their guys in a good position early on tonight. Coach Ace has helped to motivate his players to be the best that they can be and that was evident once again on the court tonight.

The game was shaping up much in the same way the game earlier in the season had played out. It was a back and forth game throughout the early portions of the game. The teams would be tied going into the locker room as both would try to make the necessary adjustments for their teams to come out on top. It would be a hard fought finish and unfortunately the Yellow Jackets would end up on the short end of that one.

The second half today was another hard fought battle for both teams. It was back and forth offensively all night long, which is something you can expect with two of the top teams in the American Basketball Association squaring off. The score was tight late in this one as with four seconds showing on the clock the Warriors lead 131-124.

Then a foul was called on Dre Anthony that brought DMV to the line as they would try and ice the game. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, they were able to do just that as they sank both of their free throw attempts. The Yellow Jackets would score the last bucket of the game as Anthony would hit from three point range at the buzzer but it wouldn't be enough as the Yellow Jackets fell 133-127.

The Yellow Jackets were lead on the day by Antonio Reddic as he found him self in the 30 point range once again finishing with 34 points on the night. He was followed by Dre Anthony, 22 points, and a tie for third as both Baker and Williams had 14 points on the night. For the Warriors, Andrew Washington would score a team high 31 points on the night. He was followed by Dylan Cormier, 29 points, and Brian Smith, 24 points.

With the loss, the Yellow Jackets drop to 12-8 on the season and their road record fell to 3-5 away from the Neighborhood Academy. However, the weekend was still a win for the Yellow Jackets as they took on two of the top teams in the ABA and ended up out scoring them by a combined total between the two games of 261-255. That goes a long way in telling you just how good this Yellow Jackets offense is and the potential they have as they head towards the playoffs.With a great coach at the helm in Ace Pippens, solid veteran leadership in Gil Cummings, Antonio Reddic, and Lawrence Baker, and a great corps of young talent this team is going to make some noise in the playoffs.

Steel City Player of the Game: Antonio Reddic

Antonio Reddic was back at it again up above the 30 point mark for the second straight game as he led the Yellow Jackets in this one. Reddic has performed very well in these high pressure situations all season long as he fuels his teams energy. Reddic has scored 30 or more points 12 times this season and has been one of the key offensive pieces for this team all season long.

Up Next:

The Steel City Yellow Jackets are on the road all next week as they look to get back to their winning ways after having their five game winning streak snapped. First they will continue their Pittsburgh/Baltimore rivalry as they head down to Baltimore to take on the Hawks. Then they take on the Trenton Cagers the very next day completing their weekend on the road. The next and final home game of the regular season comes on Saturday February 25th when the Yellow Jackets square off against the Kalamazoo Cobras. The playoffs are approaching quickly so be sure to Catch the Buzz.

Yellow Jackets Knock off Number Nine Team in the Country in WIn

The Steel City Yellow Jackets have played some big games this season, but none came bigger than last night's 139-122 victory over the number nine team in the country the Richmond Elite. The Yellow Jackets improved to 12-7 with the victory and increased their winning streak to five games in a row.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets are making one final late season push to make the American Basketball Association playoffs. The stage was set yesterday for a big match-up as the Yellow Jackets, who have played very well at home this season, welcomed in the number nine ranked team in the country the Richmond Elite. A win for the Yellow Jackets would go a long way in helping their positioning in the playoff picture, and they had a packed house with a high energy crowd.

The Yellow Jackets would answer the call and came up with a huge win defeating the Elite by the final score of 139-122. This  was by far the best game the Yellow Jackets have played all season as their offense was able to move the ball around and the defense turned one of the most potent offenses in the ABA into a one dimensional attack.

This match-up was tight right from the get go with both teams firing on all cylinders early on. Both offenses had their leaders step up early on as Antonio Reddic put up 14 points in the first quarter alone leading the Yellow Jackets to 37 first half points. For the Elite it would be Kevin Judon providing 11 points for his team on their way to scoring 32 in the quarter. You could tell right away this game was going to be tight throughout and the big set-up did not disappoint.

The second quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game, but we saw a shift on both teams when it came to their offensive possessions. The Yellow Jackets went back to what has been working for them all season long as they used good passing to get the ball around. In total, nine Yellow Jackets would get on the board in the quarter. On the Elite side of the ball, their offense was getting more and more one dimensional as Duvaughn Maxwell ran their offense in the quarter putting up 10 points. When all was said and done the Yellow Jackets went into the locker room with a slim 76-68 lead.

Antonio Reddic would lead the Yellow Jackets in scoring at the halfway point as he put up 20 points in the first half. He was followed by Dre Anthony, 15 points, and Khari Bess, 9 points. For the Elite, it would be Duvaughn Maxwell leading the way at half time with 19 points. He was followed by Kevin Judon, 18 points, and Bernard Alston, 9 points. This was a heated contest throughout and the second half was shaping up to be an exciting half of basketball.

The third quarter was a back and forth affair as both teams played strong defense and had potent offensive attacks. Antonio Reddic found the offensive groove that lead him to eight straight games of scoring 30 or more points on this night as he put up 11 in the quarter. This combined with Lawrence Baker's 13 points gave the Yellow Jackets 31 points in the quarter and the Yellow Jackets would lead 107-99 heading into the final quarter of play.

The Yellow Jackets defense stepped up big time in the third quarter and allowed the Jackets offense to take control of this game. Duvaughn Maxwell put up 12 points in the quarter, but that was all the offense the Elite could put together as they only put up 23 points in the quarter. For the Yellow Jackets, six different players combined to put up 30 points to help secure the 139-122 victory.

Antonio Reddic found his way back into the 30 point range after a couple games break as he lead the Yellow Jackets with 38 points on the night. He was followed by Lawrence Baker, 26 points, and Gil Cummings, 17 points. For the Elite, Duvaughn Maxwell would score a game high 39 points on the night to lead the team. He was followed by Kevin Judon, 24 points, and Anthony Wynn, 20 points.

Things got ugly after the final whistle blew in this one, but when all was said and done the Yellow Jackets picked up their fifth straight win and improved to 12-7 on the season. This game was the best all-around game for the Yellow Jackets on the season as they passed the ball well and played hard nosed defense when needed.. It showed that the Yellow Jackets can play with the best of them and went a long way in helping the team through their final playoff push.

Steel City Player of the Game: Antonio Reddic

Antonio Reddic found his way back into the 30 point range after a couple games in the 20's and that was enough to earn him the Steel City Player of the Game. He lead the Yellow Jackets with 38 points on the night and sparked this Yellow Jackets offense throughout the night. Reddic has been a big part of the Yellow Jackets success this season whether it be in the starting five or coming off of the bench. In his third season, Reddic hasn't slowed down a beat and he has showed night in and night out that he still has it.

Up Next:

The Steel City Yellow Jackets head out on the road to continue their weekend facing off with top 25 teams in the country when they face off with the number one ranked DMV Warriors. The Yellow Jackets will be looking to improve upon their 3-4 road record while trying to take down the top team. The last time these two teams met, it came down to a buzzer beater three point shot that gave the Warriors a one point victory. For updates on today's game you can follow along on the Yellow Jackets Facebook Page for all the action. As the Yellow Jacket continue their late season push, everyone is beginning to Catch the Buzz.

Yellow Jackets Continue to Rise In Power Rankings Riding Win Streak

The Steel City Yellow Jackets are currently riding a four game winning streak and are riding that streak right up the American Basketball Association power rankings. They are up one spot from last week's rankings as they sit as the number 22 team in the country going into a big weekend against two top 25 opponents.

As the 2016/2017 American Basketball Association regular season is beginning to come to a close, the Steel City Yellow Jackets are making a final push for a playoff spot as they try to make it for the third year in a row. They have made a big push to do just that lately as they have won four straight contests sweeping their games in each of the last two weekends.

Their hard work has paid off as of late as they are up one spot to the number 22 team in the country in this week's American Basketball Association Power Rankings after picking up two more wins at home against the Salisbury Bulldogs and the West Virginia Warlocks. It was a rather odd weekend for the Yellow Jackets in terms of game play because each of the teams they faced were short on players and it allowed the Yellow Jackets to see just how deep their bench was as they got a lot of work over the weekend.

It all started with a 135-117 win over the Salisbury Bulldogs last Friday night at the Neighborhood Academy. There were travel problems for the Bulldogs as they showed up late for the game, and they only had three players. The Yellow Jackets had to give them four players just to play the game. However, the Yellow Jackets were able to fight against the adversity picking up the victory and improving to 10-7 on the season. It was a combined offensive effort for the Yellow Jackets as eight of their 11 active players would score in double digits on the night with BillyDee Williams leading the effort with 26 points.

Then on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets invited the West Virginia Warlocks into the Neighborhood Academy as they looked to keep their winning streak alive. They were able to do just that as they picked up a 140-88 win. It was a similar situation to the night before where the Warlocks only had five players for the game, but the Yellow Jackets kept all of their players this time for the victory. Once again every Yellow Jacket got to play in this contest and everyone got on the scoreboard. Gilmore Cummings would be the leader in scoring with 22 points.

The key to the Yellow Jackets four game winning streak has been their offensive production. Over the last four games they have scored 135 or more points in every game, including scoring a season high 153 points against the Imperial National Crusaders two weeks ago. Not only has this been a good sign for this season, but for many seasons to come as the Yellow Jackets rookies have shown their worth over the last several weeks as well. The Yellow Jackets have used a spread out offensive attack all season long, but it has been especially prominent over the last two weeks.

Head Coach Ace Pippens set a goal in the beginning of the season to hold the opposition under 100 points in a game. Well, the Yellow Jackets did that last time out holding the opposition to a team low 88 points. It was the second time they have completed that feat this season, the first time was in a 95-93 loss to the Prince George's Valor. The defensive game is getting better and better as the season progresses, and if the Yellow Jackets want to make a deep playoff run it will be key to the Yellow Jackets success.

The Yellow Jackets have enjoyed recent success, but they have perhaps their toughest test of the season coming up this weekend. They will face off against two teams that are currently ranked in the top ten in the country. It starts on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Academy when they take on the number nine team in the country, the Richmond Elite. Then they will turn around and take on the number one team in the country, the DMV Warriors, on the road on Sunday. These two games are crucial for the Yellow Jackets on this late season push.

Joining the Warriors and Elite in the top ten are some familiar faces including the Windy City Groove and the Chicago Fury. The big change of the week is the South Florida Gold falling four places to the number 6 team in the country. The rest of the top ten looks like this:

       1. DMV Warriors (13-0)

       2. Chicago Fury (13-2)

       3. Windy City Groove (10-0)

       4. Austin Bats (12-1)

       5. Salina Saints (11-0)

       6. South Florida Gold (16-3)

       7. Orlando Waves (12-2)

       8. Jacksonville Giants (9-2)

       9. Richmond Elite (9-1)

       10. Atlantic Coast Cardinals (9-1)

The Yellow Jackets will be back on the court Saturday night when they take on the Richmond Elite at the Neighborhood Academy at 8:30 p.m. Tickets will be ten dollars for adults and five dollars for students. It is the second to last home game of the regular season so now is the time to come on out and Catch the Buzz as they close out their 2016/2017 regular season.

Jackets Win Fourth in a Row With 140-88 Victory

The Steel City Yellow Jackets continued their string of success last night as they defeated the West Virginia Warlocks by the score of 140-88. The win was the Yellow Jackets fourth in a row as they start to get hot towards the end of the season.

After picking up a win in Saturday night's game against the Salisbury Bulldogs, the Steel City Yellow Jackets were looking to win their fourth game in a row when they faced off against the West Virginia Warlocks at the Neighborhood Academy last night. They were able to keep the win streak rolling as they rolled past the Warlocks by the final score of 140-88.

This game featured some audities just like Saturday's game did. The Warlocks only had five players on their roster and with nobody to sub in and out they were stuck with those five for the entirety of the game. The Yellow Jackets would have to deal with a slow start in the beginning of the game as the Warlocks scored the games first seven points, but the Jackets would get back into this one And eventually take over the game.

This game was tight early on as the teams would go back and forth in the first quarter of play. Even though the Yellow Jackets missed a lot of shots early, they would find their shooting about half way through and it was back to the normal style of Yellow Jackets offense. Dre Anthony and Antonio Reddic each put up eight in the quarter to help give the Yellow Jackets a 30-22 lead after one quarter of play.

After a slow start, the Yellow Jackets would begin to pull away in this one as Juan Franklin paced the team with 11 points off the bench in route to scoring 37 in the quarter. After hanging with the Yellow Jackets early on, the Warlocks started to get tired and their offense faltered as they only scored 12 points in the second quarter giving the Yellow Jackets a 67-34 half time lead.

It would be Juan Franklin and Johnathan Logan pacing the Yellow Jackets at half time with 11 points each. They were followed by Antonio Reddic, 10 points, and Gil Cummings and BillyDee Williams who were each tied with eight a peice. For the Warlocks, it would be Adrian Summerfeild leading the charge with 14 points on the night. He was followed by Jevon Turner and William Harrison who each had 7 at the break.

The Yellow Jackets offense would continue to pour it on in the third quarter as they put up their second 40 spot of the year. This was due in large part to Gil Cumming's 15 point effort and four three point shots. Isaiah Prince would also add a pair of three point shots and the Yellow Jackets would find themselves ahead 107-61 heading into the last quarter of play. 

Even though the score was so lopsided, the message from head coaches Ace Pippens, for the Yellow Jackets, and Robert Duck, for the Warlocks, was the same, "Just keep playing." The fact that the Warlocks only had five players on their team would catch up to them as they were worn out and tired by the end of the game, but to their credit they did not quit until the final whistle.

For the Yellow Jackets it would be Gil Cummings leading the way with 22 points on the night. He would be followed by Johnathan Logan, 18 points, and Lawrence Baker, 15 points. For the Warlocks Jordan Thompson lead the way putting up 22 points on the night. He was followed by Adrian Summerfield, 20 points, and Tobias Dowdell, 18 points.

The win improved the Yellow Jackets mark to 11-7 on the season and gave them their fourth win in a row. They have played very well at home this season and they continued that streak increasing their record to 8-3 at the Neighborhood Academy. With only two home games remaining on the schedule, the time is now to come on out and support your Steel City Yellow Jackets.

Steel City Player of the Game: Gil Cummings

Thanks to a third quarter surge where he got four three pointers and scored 15 points, Gil Cummings was the leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets with 22 points and is the Steel City Player of the game. The veteran and team captain showed he still has it on the court in his third season with the Yellow Jackets and he continues to play well on the court whole helping to motivate his team day in and day out.

Up Next:

The Steel City Yellow Jackets play their second to last home game on the 2016/2017 regular season on Saturday February 11 when they take on the Richmond Elite at 8:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood Academy. Tickets will be ten dollars for adults and five dollars for students. As the Yellow Jackets make a late playoff push, be there to Catch the Buzz.