Penn Wood junior guard Anthony Murray is one of three key pieces back from last season’s state playoff run. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
By Jeff Griffith
In the spring of 2022, Penn Wood’s group of upperclassman veterans finally had the chance to be baptized by fire.
The 2021-22 season was the first opportunity for the Patriots’ current leaders to gain real postseason experience. For two now-seniors, 5-foot-8 guard Sadiq Fountain and 6-foot-6 forward Mekhi Shillingford, COVID interruptions and a sub-.500 record in an abbreviated 2020-21 season got in the way. As for the Patriots’ starting point guard, Anthony Murray was just a freshman last season.
Playoff basketball was largely a brand-new experience, which isn’t often the case for those who go through the often-successful Penn Wood program.
Even so, the Patriots fell early in the PIAA District 1 6A playoffs to top seed Methacton, but — on the wings of a pair of nail-biting victories — climbed their way through the playback bracket and ultimately earned a first-round victory in the PIAA state tournament over Parkland.