Click here to subscribe today or Login.
YATESVILLE — Several local personalities from the Greater Pittston area gave the New York Giants football team all it could handle on the basketball court.
Sports Fever, a sports memorabilia shop at the Viewmont Mall, hosted the Pros vs. Joes Charity Basketball game Sunday at Pittston Area High School. Several New York Giants were on hand to play the Joes in a basketball game with a portion of the proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sports Fever is owned by the Argo family from the Greater Pittston area.
Although the Joes were ahead most of the game, the Giants athleticism and size ended up being the difference in the 47-41 Giant win.
The New York Giants competing in the game included second-round pick Landon Collins, a safety from Alabama, and first-round pick Ereck Flowers, a tackle from the University of Miami. Other notable players were Damontre Moore, Bennett Jackson, Bobby Hart and Nat Berhe. The Giants were coached by former Super Bowl champion Stephen Baker.
Collins, in one of his first public appearances as an NFL player, did a lot of damage on the floor and was happy to interact with his fans.
“It was fun,” he said. “It was a terrific feeling to interact with the fans and show our competitiveness with each other. We were trying to show a good game and we didn’t want to get blown out. G-Men don’t get blown out.”
For the Joes, Pittston Mayor Jason Klush was point man of the team coached by former Super Bowl champion Odessa Turner. Sports Fever representative Dino Argo, Lackawanna College Dean of Students Dan LaManga, Pittston Area School Director Joe Kelly, Applebee’s representative Hunter Cook, the Sunday Dispatch’s Nick Wagner and Pittston Area freshman Walter Coles.
WNEP’s Jim Cole was the emcee for the event.
The teams played two 15-minute halves with a running clock. The Joes had the lead most of the game until the final five minutes. The Giants, especially Hart, began to catch fire from downtown and eventually took the win over the Joes.
Collins said Hart has been playing AAU basketball his entire life. His play on the floor showed it.
“He was bragging coming into it,” Collins said. “It was nice to see him get out there and show what he can do.”
The Joes were clearly struggling to get up and down the floor in the second half. However, they kept the game close to the final minute.
“It was a lot of fun,” Mayor Klush said. “I haven’t played in a while and I was definitely winded. Those guys had a great time and we had a great time.”
The youngest player on the court was Coles, a freshman sharpshooter from Pittston Area. In the final five minutes, while the Giants were starting to take control, Coles hit a few threes to keep the game close.
“It was pretty cool,” he said. “I had fun and it was nice to get out there and break a sweat. We had them a first but they came back. It was great. I loved every part of it.”
Following the game, fans were treated to an autograph session in the lobby of Pittston Area. Players stayed to sign autographs and pose photo opportunities for the fans. Sports Fever also held a silent auction for Giants and other sports memorabilia throughout the game.
Klush was happy to see some big games come to the area again.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on around here,” he said. “It’s fantastic for our area and all of our citizens.”