Pittston Area post players battle in Wilkes-King’s game

WILKES-BARRE – Former Pittston Area post players went head-to-head Jan. 20 when the Wilkes University and King’s College men’s basketball teams battled for Wilkes-Barre bragging rights.

Pat Mitchell, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound freshman forward/center, played 12 minutes for King’s College. Mason Gross, a 6-5, 265-pound senior forward, played nine minutes for Wilkes in its come-from-behind, 76-64 victory.

Mitchell and Gross were on the floor together for 7:04 of that time, usually guarding each other.

Each brought a missing element to his team during their time.

Gross was an effective passer out of the high post, leading all players in the game with four assists, even though 16 players had more minutes than him.

Wilkes trailed, 15-4, when Gross entered the game with 13:47 left in the first half. He made passes for two lay-ups and also blocked a shot and grabbed a rebound as the Colonels went from scoring four points in 6:13 to putting up 15 during his 5:53 on the court.

Gross did not score but finished with three rebounds.

Mitchell gave an undersized King’s team some inside strength on a day when it was outrebounded, 56-31, and got 36 of its points from players 5-foot-8 or shorter. He finished with four points and rebounds.

Gross averages 6.4 points and 2.8 rebounds for Wilkes, which beat Misericordia, 87-82, in overtime Wednesday to take over sole possession of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom lead. The Colonels were 6-1 in the MAC and 13-5 overall going into Saturday.

Mitchell averages 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds for King’s (3-4, 7-11) in 16 games.

The men’s game completed a doubleheader in which the King’s women opened with a 75-59 victory.

Rebecca Prociak, a sophomore forward from Jenkins Township and Holy Redeemer, had 19 points and seven rebounds for King’s. Erin Schmidt, a junior guard/forward from Avoca and Scranton Prep, did not score in seven minutes off the bench.

Prociak is the team’s leading scorer at 13.2 points per game and second-leading rebounder at 8.3.

Schmidt averages 2.8 points for the Lady Monarchs (5-2, 10-8).

King’s Pat Mitchell, left, drives against fellow Pittston Area product Mason Gross, now playing for Wilkes University, on Jan. 20.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_NextLevel.jpgKing’s Pat Mitchell, left, drives against fellow Pittston Area product Mason Gross, now playing for Wilkes University, on Jan. 20.