Wolverines Look To Rebound At Home Opener This Sunday

Stephen Vorum and the Western Pennsylvania Wolverines home opener is this Sunday.

By Thomas Leturgey

Don Wayne prowls the basketball court, clip board in hand. The owner and head coach of the Western Pennsylvania Wolverines has a lot going on during the first part of the new American Basketball Association (ABA) season.

Formerly the Beaver County Indians, the Western Pennsylvania Wolverines were supposed to provide a new image for Wayne’s team. But with that rebranding, Wayne had a difficult time landing a home base in Beaver County and has decided to take the team to nearby Triadelphia, West Virginia.

In the opening game against the Pennsylvania Starz on November 5, the Wolverines scored first in the game and remained competitive throughout the opening moments of the contest. However, many members of the Starz have played together for years, and Gilmore Cummings’ new squad has something to prove to the ABA.

Wayne wanted his team to play a competitive game and they played hard for all four quarters. The final score, 164-92 would have been much more dire if it hadn’t been for the club’s resilience.

Western Pennsylvania Wolverines owner/head coach Don Wayne (l) appeared on Pittsburgh Sportsline with host Al Levine (c) and co-host "Smokin'" Jim Frasier.


Stephon McGinnis started the game strong and scored 10 of his 16 points in the first 12 minutes. Millien played a steady game throughout and ended with 15 points. Marcus Mason had a strong fourth quarter and finished with 14.

Kaevon Pugh was starting to make his presence felt before an arm injury left him on the bench in the second half. And Marcus Millien, who is a promising young guard, had an injured ankle, but was able to return and provide some late-game offense.

The Wolverines had a promising, young squad. Dyami Fox produced throughout and ended with 12 points. Steven Vorum, who won an ABA Championship with the Steel City Yellow Jackets, also debuts with the team after spending last weekend at a basketball camp in Florida. In fact, the team is quick and it’s easy to see that they will gel.

This weekend, the Wolverines play Detroit’s Team Network. Wayne’s club fared slightly better than the Wolverines in a season-opening loss to the Starz, 178-110. Team Network is 0-2 after losing to the Akron Aviators last weekend, 180-158.

Wayne is asking all fans and prospective fans to come out this Sunday, November 19, 4:00 p.m. at Highland Sports Complex in Triadelphia, West Virgina. Tickets are on sale now. Visit https://wpawolverines.com/ticketsandschedules or visit your favorite player or staff for tickets.

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Number 17 Ranked Wolverines Travel This Weekend After 159-127 Home Win

Image
The Western Pennsylvania Wolverines after last weekend's 159-127 win. Photo courtesy of Wolverines. By Thomas Leturgey Now that the turkey has been trimmed and leftovers lovingly placed in Tupperware for take-home, the American Basketball Association (ABA) weekend is back in action. On Sunday, Don Wayne’s #17 ranked Western Pennsylvania Wolverines take the 4.5-hour trip to take on the Wyoming Clutch in the northeastern quadrant of the Commonwealth. The Wolverines won last week against Team Network, 159-127. Originally, that put Western Pennsylvania’s club at a 1-1 record, but the ABA suspended the Pennsylvania Starz for playing inside Pittsburgh’s city limits, a market reserved for the on-hiatus Steel City Yellow Jackets. At the beginning of the season, both the Wolverines and Starz were designated for play in Beaver, Pennsylvania. So, the Wolverines were rewarded with a backdated win. Among the highlights of last week’s home victory of Stephon McGinnis making history by hi...
Read more

Illness & Injuries Plague Wolverines, Limit Teams To One Half, 78-31 Loss

Image
 by Thomas Leturgey Traveling long distances for American Basketball Association (ABA) games on the weekend have always been difficult. The modern-day ABA is a working man's league and that oftentimes means players are in demand for their life sustaining day jobs on Saturdays and/or Sundays, and traveling four hours one way, play a game and come back is problematic. Add seasonal illnesses and the Thanksgiving holiday, and the #17 ranked Western Pennsylvania Wolverines are at a disadvantage. Don Wayne's club took the 4.5-hour drive to Wyoming Clutch in northeastern Pennsylvania with only five players. Even with the ABA's relaxed penalty policy, five players playing 12 minutes a quarter for four sessions is a tough task. Plus, when they play a team that's as resilient and talented as Wyoming Valley's, the chances of a win was tough. The Wolverines arrived with Stephon McGinnis, Cliff McNair, Randy Whitley, Dyami Fox and Desmond Saunders. And Fox was injured last week ...
Read more