Starz Defeat Wolverines 164-92 In Second Game Of Campaign

By Thomas Leturgey

The region’s two active American Basketball Association teams locked up Sunday night and the Pennsylvania Starz advanced to 2-0, with an impressive, 164-92 victory over the Western Pennsylvania Wolverines.

Don Wayne’s Wolverines came out fast and scored the first points of the game with Stephon McGinnis’ three-pointer. Troy Simons and Claude Scott, Jr. answered quickly to gain the 4-3 lead.

McGinnis had a good game, especially at the start. He and Dyami Fox would score and the Wolverines took the very early 7-6 lead. Scott and Todd Hughson scored for the Starz to take a lead they would never relinquish. Scott powered a dunk and Toddy Johnson added early points. Johnson would hit a triple and extend the lead to 20-7 with 7:02 minutes remaining in the first.

Both teams would trade buckets and Tim and James Jackson entered the game and started to make an immediate impact. James Jackson recorded 11 points and Tim added seven in the first 12 minutes. The Starz were up 45-19.

Todd Hughson, who was filling in for an excused Tone Reddic Sr., stole the ball from a Wolverine and set the second quarter on a positive note by scoring a bucket. The Wolverines hung with the Starz, hitting jumpers, but the Starz were playing as a cohesive unit. Brandon Johnson, who is making the most of his extensive playing time, added five points and a total of seven in the quarter. Johnson tossed a perfect alley oop pass to Claude Scott, who hammered home one of a few dunks in the game.

Team owner and head coach Gilmore Cummings entered the game and hit two three-pointers. Kyle Sekelsky came off the bench for five points in the quarter. The Starz extended their halftime lead to 81-41. Last week’s halftime lead was 76-47 for the Starz.

The Starz would extend their lead in the third quarter by outscoring the Wolverines, 45-24. It was an opportunity for the Starz to pass and work on team dynamics.

When the fourth quarter began, the team was up 126-65. The Wolverines did not give up, and the Starz continued to play prevent defense. Brandon Johnson worked overtime, scoring 15 points in the final 12 minutes. Cummings came off the bench for limited action and added a third three-pointer and a two-point jumper.

When the final buzzer rang, the Starz were up 164-92.

“This is one of the best games I played,” said Brandon Johnson after the game. “This is a good start to the season. We have a new energy.”

“It was a great game,” said James Jackson after the game. “It’s good to be getting back.” Both Jacksons agreed that they are clicking “way better” this season. James also noted that the duo have dedicated this season to the memory of their grandmother, Darlene Harvey, who passed away during the off season.

“This is a good team,” said coach and captain Gilmore Cummings. “We will have practice this week and get ready for the toughest part of the season that’s coming up.”

Wolverines owner and coach Don Wayne, who always speaks highly of Cummings, and the Starz, said “We did okay for the first game of the season.” Of course, he would like to have scored the victory; however, but he was appreciative that the team “played as a team.” He noted that the club has “a lot of college kids” on the roster. There are 15 members of his roster, and nine played Sunday. Kaevon Pugh suffered an arm injury during the game and didn’t return. Dyami Fox injured an ankle but returned to the court in the fourth quarter.

Brandon Johnson led the Starz with 30 points, James Jackson had 21 and Tim Jackson had 13. All 11 Starz players scored in double figures. Claude Scott, Jr. had 16. Kyle Sekelsky, who had 17 points in week one, added 15 in week two, mostly off the bench. Troy Simons, who led all scorers in the opener, added 15 here.

The Starz face their biggest test of the early season next weekend, when they face the ABA co-champions Burning River Buckets from suburban Cleveland, who lost on Sunday.