North Penn turns it on in 4th, battles past Strath Haven in District 1-6A 1st round

North Penn’s Josh Jones (right) guards Strath Haven’s Luke Edwards during their District 1-6A first round game on Saturday, March 6, 2021. (Kev Hunter/MediaNews Group)

By Kev Hunter

Josh Jones’ long-reaching rebound and putback set North Penn on its fourth-quarter charge.

Moments later, Jones buried a three, and the Knights were digging in.

“That three at the beginning of the fourth quarter was pretty big,” Strath Haven coach Chris Conlan said. “That made it a two-possession game, which, to that point, made it feel like 10 or 12.”

In what was a back-and-forth battle for three quarters, North Penn gained firm control in the fourth and secured a 68-62 victory in the opening round of the District 1-6A Playoffs.

The win sends No. 18 North Penn to No. 2 Conestoga Tuesday night. No. 15 Strath Haven, led by Luke Edwards’ 32 points, finished its season at 8-5.

“We were playing free and like our normal selves,” Jones said of the Knights’ critical push.

Jones poured in 24 points, including nine in the fourth quarter.

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