If Penncrest can get secondary scorers like Mike Mallon, right, engaged, it bodes well for their upset hopes in Friday’s District One Class AAAA opener at Spring-Ford. (Digital First Media/Robert J. Gurecki)
By Matthew De George
Whatever verdict the seeding formula spit out last Sunday, it was going to be hard-pressed to intimidate Penncrest.
After all, the Lions last season took the No. 28 seed in the District One Class AAAA Tournament, snaked through two overtime games, daunting road environs like Penn Wood and Lower Merion, and made their way to states.
So drawing the No. 21 seed and a date with No. 12 Spring-Ford this season may not seem too daunting. Few pieces from this year’s team experienced that run first-hand – Tyler Norwood scored seven points in the first-round win over Penn Wood, 56-53, in OT, but that was the most significant contribution.
That adversity sits at the heart of the postseason phase of the Lions’ season is perhaps no surprise. The last month has been an adjustment since losing leading scorer AJ Taylor to a finger injury Jan. 16 vs. Ridley (a game where the Green Raiders’ needed a last-second 3-pointer to eke out a 30-27 win).