Pennsylvania Starz, With Cummings, Reddic, & Scott At Helm, Win ABA Debut

by Thomas Leturgey

A new venture into the American Basketball Association (ABA) in Western Pennsylvania got off to a great start Sunday afternoon as the Pennsylvania Starz beat Detroit’s Team Network 178-110.

The new franchise features many players from the Steel City Yellow Jackets, which announced plans for a one-year hiatus earlier this year. Included in the brand-new Pennsylvania Starz is owner and head coach Gilmore Cummings, as well as co-captains Tone Reddic, Sr. and Claude Scott, Jr.

The opening tip of the game went to the visitors, but practically everything else went well for the Beaver, PA based PA Starz. Guard Brandon Johnson, who played a significant role in the ABA last season for Pittsburgh’s team scored the first points for the new team, with a three-pointer. And team owner, head coach and point guard Gilmore Cummings added another a few seconds later to expand an early lead to 6-0. Anthony Jordan answered with a triple of his own in the opening moments, but that’s the closest Team Network would get all afternoon.

Reddic, who earlier this year announced his retirement from professional basketball after the Yellow Jackets lost in the playoffs, was eager to return with his long-time friend. He got off to a quick start by blocking a shot from Team Network and following that up with a jumper to make it 8-3. And after a quick media time out, slammed home his first dunk and seconds later a finger roll lay up to make it 12-4.

It took both teams a while to find any kind of rhythm in the early goings of the contest. Detroit’s Del Phelps was an early threat to keep scoring alongside the Starz. By the end of the first quarter, the Starz were up by a modest 29-13.

Toward the end of the first 12 minutes, Team Network started to get a look at twins Tim and James Jackson for the first time this season. The duo, which have grown into a great, cohesive unit in recent years, started to gel throughout the first half.

Toddy Johnson and Brandon Johnson also scored in the early going of the second quarter.

Troy Simons, who has traveled extensively to play basketball, returned to Western Pennsylvania to really make a statement in this game. He scored an incredible 21 points in the second quarter.

Scott, Reddic, and Cummings all contributed in the second quarter and Shawnee Howard closed out the first half with a finger roll to extend the lead to 76-47.

The third quarter saw the Starz continue to extend their lead by outscoring the competition 51-30.

Jason Arrington, who had a productive campaign in the Yellow Jackets championship year, came on in the third quarter here. Brandon Johnson and Reddic continued to flourish. Reddic hit a three-pointer to extend the Starz lead to 99-58 with 7:00 to go in the third, and moments later charged the lane and scored on a finger roll to go 101-58.

It was 127-77 at the end of the third.

Team Network brought only nine players and the Starz had 13. This is where fresh legs helped the Starz. While Detroit’s club fought until the very end, they were outmanned here.

Earlier in the game, Reddic crashed hard to the floor and briefly left the game; however, when he returned, he was seemingly unfazed. He continued to play hard in the contest with less than two minutes to go in the game.

The Starz played with gusto until the very end with Toddy Johnson hitting a 3D three pointer with seconds to go in the game.

The final score was 178-110.

“We were a little sluggish to start out,” said owner/coach Gilmore Cummings after the game. “We had the first game jitters.”

“Troy Simons is a big addition,” said co-captain Claude Scott Jr. after the win. As for the team play, he said, “Once we get some practice, we will be a lot better.”

“We had a nice little chat,” said Reddic about returning to the league this fall. “I have two sons now. This is about play to get paid.”

Simons led with 32 points. In a game where all 13 Starz players scored, newcomer Kyle Sekelsky was second on the afternoon with 17 points, Toddy Johnson with 16; Tone Reddic and Brandon Johnson both added 15. James Jackson had 14, Tim Jackson posted 11. Amaru Caldwell and Jason Arrington both had 13.

Claude Scott had 11, George Mike IV contributed with nine, Shawnee Howard had seven and Gilmore Cummings had four in limited play.

The Starz are scheduled to play in Beaver next Saturday.