Penncrest’s Tyler Norwood (0) goes up for a shot against Wissahickon in the semifinals of the District 1 Class 5A boys basketball tournament at Temple University Liacouras Center Wednesday. Norwood scored 18 points to help the Lions earn a second straight trip to the championship game. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)
By Matt DeGeorge
Gee Antonelli got to the Liacouras Center Wednesday night, looked in his gym bag, and found everything he needed for Penncrest’s District 1 Class 5A semifinal … except his sneakers.
So as he slinked over to Tyler Norwood’s locker to ask for a loaner pair, they came with a caveat.
“I gave them to him, and he said, ‘I feel like Tyler Norwood,’” Norwood said. “I said, ‘then play like Tyler Norwood.’ He went out and gave it his all.”
For the middle two quarters, the borrowed footwear did the trick, as Antonelli provided a spark off the bench, part of the top-to-bottom contributions that have epitomized Penncrest’s second straight run to a District final, this one furnished by a 45-40 win over No. 4 seed Wissahickon.
The win sends top-seeded Penncrest (24-3) into Saturday’s district final back at Temple against No. 2 Bishop Shanahan, which dispatched Chester, 61-47, the first semifinal.
(click on this link for the full story)
Webmaster’s note: The Penncrest vs Wissahickon playoff game was our Game-of-the-Week and can be heard on our Archives link by clicking on the player below:
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