Halloween brought tricks and treats to the American Basketball Association (ABA) Central Region Blue Division in the two official games and an exhibition contest involving a total of four Blue Division teams to give fans their ABA fix in Week 3.
How did it all play out? We’re glad you asked!
(Please be clear that these are UNOFFICIAL scores. We are confident in their accuracy, but they are NOT official scores.)
Don’t wait around for an ABA Central Region Red Division wrap-up because all four teams in the Red Division were idle in Week 3.
In the Blue Division, the Hoosier State Instigators (0-2) and the Naptown Pirates (2-0) were both idle.
Indiana Shuckers at Indiana Legends
The Indiana Legends hosted their home opener on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the Indiana Shuckers came knocking. Both of these Blue Division teams were seeking their first victory of the season.
The Shuckers arrived in New Castle, Indiana with only six players — Joe Byrd, Jordan Hatchett, DJ Brown, Traven Laws, Malakai Goodman, and a man we think might have been Willie Morris, according to Shuckers owner Scotty Mollet.
The Legends, meanwhile, had nearly their entire lineup available during this one.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with the Legends gaining a lead of around 10 points several times, only to have the Shuckers come storming back each time to tie it up or take their own lead.
At halftime, the Legends led 68-53; however, that lead felt anything but safe.
Then came the third quarter.
The Legends unleashed 51 points in the third frame as the Shuckers Six wore down, and it was smooth sailing to the final buzzer for the home team to secure a 157-119 victory and move to 1-1 on the season.
Mike Saunders, Jr. had an absolutely ridiculous stat line for the Legends: 48 points, 8-for-11 from 3PT range, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals.
David Froedge added 21 points, Jackson Gowdy contributed 20 points, and Jevean McDuffey (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Quinn Williams (12 points, 10 assists) each turned in double-doubles.
No stats are available for the Shuckers (0-3), but we would guess Joe Byrd to be their leading scorer based on what we witnessed.
We called this game, and you can watch the game video here.
Western PA Wolverines at Steel City Yellow Jackets (Exhibition)
The reigning Blue Division champion Steel City Yellow Jackets, victims of some of their early-season opponents ceasing operations at the last minute, had an exhibition tune-up against the Western PA Wolverines in Pittsburgh on Oct. 31.
No need for us to reinvent the wheel when the Yellow Jackets did a great job of posting their own game recap!
It was an exciting afternoon of basketball as two of Pittsburgh’s professional basketball teams, the Steel City Yellow Jackets and the Western PA Wolverines, came together for a friendly rivalry exhibition game at A Giving Heart Community Center.
With the regular season just around the corner, this exhibition matchup gave both teams an opportunity to evaluate their talent, build team chemistry, sharpen their skills, and identify areas for improvement before the official season opener.
While both teams came ready to compete, the afternoon was about more than basketball. It was an opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, share some laughs, and celebrate the love of the game. But once the ball was tipped, the friendly competition was ON!
FIRST HALF: A BACK-AND-FORTH BATTLE!
The opening quarter was nothing short of a shootout! Both teams came out firing, exchanging baskets and refusing to give an inch. At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied 30–30.
The second quarter brought more of the same intensity, with neither team able to pull away. The Wolverines managed to take a slim two-point advantage into halftime, leading 59–57.
SECOND HALF: THE YELLOW JACKETS TAKE CONTROL!
Coming out of halftime, the momentum shifted!
The Wolverines appeared to take their foot off the gas in the third quarter, managing just 11 points. The Yellow Jackets took full advantage, tightening up their defense and turning up their offensive pressure. They outscored the Wolverines 23–11, taking an 80–70 lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter brought another competitive stretch, with the Wolverines putting up 22 points in an attempt to close the gap. However, the Yellow Jackets weren’t letting this one slip away! They answered with 26 points of their own, securing an impressive 106–92 exhibition victory.
STEEL CITY YELLOW JACKETS – SCORING LEADERS
Every Yellow Jacket finished in double figures, showcasing a balanced offensive attack!
#14 Allayassa Bray – 28 points
#23 Shawndale Jones – 21 points
#5 Jefferson Moorefield – 19 points
#8 Justin Batts II – 14 points
#3 Turk Tillman – 12 points
#4 Terrance Holloway – 12 points
The Yellow Jackets (0-0) open their 2026-27 ABA season on Nov. 7 at home against the Akron Aviators.
Windy City Inferno at Indiana Lyons
On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Windy City Inferno from the ABA Central Region Black Division visited the Indiana Lyons in a battle between two highly successful teams in the ABA.
The Lyons wasted no time taking control of this one, holding a 33-17 lead as the first quarter came to a close. They never looked back, moving to 2-1 on the season with a 113-97 triumph in the Lyons Den.
Jordan Hidleburg led the scoring charge for the Lyons as he often does, turning in 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals.
Mike Gills had an eerily similar stat line with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and a block. The big man was 5-for-6 from 3PT range.
Neshawn Brooks tallied 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals while Steven Rogers completed the four-pronged Lyons attack by contributing 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
For the Inferno (0-2), Robert Stanford (22 points, 11 rebounds), Isaiah Fleming (20 points, 12 rebounds), Charles Echols (15 points, 10 rebounds), and Jarvae Tate (14 points, 13 rebounds) all registered double-doubles, but it wasn’t quite enough as Windy City continues their quest for their first win of the season.
The Lyons are in second place in the Blue Division. They’re on the road in St. Louis next weekend for games against the Missouri Capitals and the St. Louis Spirits of the ABA Central Region White Division.
Lil Z Sports live streamed the Lyons-Inferno game, and you can watch the video here.
