The Steel City Yellow Jackets put up impressive offensive numbers in their first win of the 2017/18 season when they beat the West Virginia Warlocks 146-118. Gil Cummings led the team scoring 24 points on the day as three Yellow Jackets each finished with 20 or more points on the night.
Pittsburgh's only professional basketball team, the Steel City Yellow Jackets, were back in action for their fourth season of play as they kicked off the 2017/18 season with a battle against the West Virginia Warlocks. The offense put up big numbers putting 148 points in the board in the teams 148-118 victory.
It was a little bit of a sloppy start for the Yellow Jackets, but as the game went on they got more crisp and found their grove. Co-Captains Tone Reddic and Gil Cummings lead the offensive charge in the first half as Steel City grooved to a 78-58 lead. Cummings was on fire from beyond the arc hitting four in the first quarter and following that up with a four pointer and another three in the second quarter. Reddic found his groove in the second quarter when he put up eight points to help pull Steel City out in front.
Cummings would be the team leader in points coming out of half-time with 19 and Tone Reddic was right behind him with 13. Isaiah Prince rounded out the top three with 12 points in the first half as the returners to this season's team were leading the way. For the Warlocks, Adrian Summerfield would lead the way with 20 first half points followed by Markos McGowan, 12 points, and Julian Thompson, 10 points.
Even though the Yellow Jackets had a big half-time lead, they would have to keep their foot on the gas to try and put the Warlocks away. They would come out and get the score back within just eight points on the back of Julian Thompson. Then Tone Reddic once again found his groove hitting eight points in that third quarter
In the fourth quarter the Yellow Jackets would get some big contributions from some of the newcomers to the 2017/18 team. Gerald Brooks who played a great second half under the net, was able to put up 10 points in the third quarter and collected a lot of rebounds. He was able to turn those rebounds into points which was a key factor for the Yellow Jackets being able to pull away.
Brooks was back at it again in the fourth quarter putting up six points and Tyrone Brinson put up eight points to secure the victory for the Yellow Jackets. The second half proved that this team has nice depth and can step up when one of their main stars has to go out of the game. Having that depth on the bench bodes well for Steel City as they move on in the season.
Gil Cummings would finish the game with the team lead in points scoring 24 on the night. He was followed by Gerald Brooks, who scored 23 points in his Steel City Yellow Jackets debut, and Tone Reddic, who finished with 21 points the 146 points scored by the Yellow Jackets is more then they scored at any point last season and shows the capabilities of this team on the offensive side of the ball.
Player of the Game: Gil Cummings
Today's Steel City Yellow Jackets player of the game is Co-Captain Gil Cummings. He finished the day with a team leading 24 points in the victory. Cummings was hot from beyond the arc hitting a team high six three-pointers and one four-pointer in the game. Cummings has been with the team since their first season four years ago and has seen this team grow throughout the years. Cumming's goal for this year is to bring the coveted ABA Championship back to Pittsburgh.
Up Next:
The Steel City Yellow Jackets have a big match-up next week against the number eight ranked team in the country against the DMV Warriors. It was originally scheduled as an away game but has since been switched to a home contest at A Giving Heart located at 816 Climax Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. Come on out for the exciting fourth season of Steel City Yellow Jackets basketball and Catch the Buzz.
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