North Penn looks to continue its remarkable postseason run
It was a simple shootaround on Wednesday afternoon for the North Penn boys basketball team, a normal day in the midst of a remarkable season.
“It’s been pretty cool. Not a lot of people thought we would get this far, especially at the beginning of the season when we were 4-10,” said 6-foot-4 junior forward Josh Jones. “So it’s pretty cool to see how far we’ve gotten.”
North Penn has gotten all the way to the PIAA-6A State Tournament, and the Knights will take on District Three Champion Wilson Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of a tripleheader at Kutztown University.
“Pretty awesome,” said senior guard Kolby Barrow, whose cool hand helped deliver the states-clinching victory over Central Bucks East. “All the hard work pays off but we still have more to finish.”
Turnaround >> The Knights struggled through the first part of the season but their belief never wavered.
“We just had to keep working,” Barrow said, “and trust in ourselves and trust the coaching. And everyone just support each other.”
North Penn went 5-3 in its last eight regular-season games, capped by 6-foot-5 senior center Matt Swanson’s halfcourt buzzer-beater to defeat Pennridge in overtime, sending NP to districts.
“It’s been really fun,” Barrow said of the dramatic victories. “It keeps us closer together.”
Then, it was Barrow’s turn.
After North Penn opened districts with a win over Central Bucks West, the Knights fell to Pennridge then earned a win over Council Rock South. Barrow’s buzzer-beating three gave the Knights the win over CB East, and sent them to states.
“We had been on the other side of some tough losses this year and fortunately we’ve gotten some big shots late in the season when we needed them most,” said Knights coach John Conrad. “Matty’s shot at Pennridge was unbelievable and Kolby – he’s a multi-sport athlete so I just thought he stepped up real big when he had to.
“It’s been a good ride. Our seniors have been great – good energy, good leadership, high-character kids. So it’s rewarding to see them have this success.”
Attacking down low >> Although North Penn has come through with some clutch outside shooting, the Knights’ bread and butter has been down low.
“Utilizing our size down low has definitely been big,” Jones said. “Early in the season, we didn’t go inside enough and punish our opponents down low when we had height. So now I think we’re starting to realize that and scoring more points in the paint.”
Victories have come in different ways down the stretch.
“However we get it done, we get it done. If it comes on a last-second shot or however, it doesn’t matter,” Jones said. “Pretty or ugly, a win is a win.”
Next up >> The Knights are in states for the first time since 2017, both runs under Conrad, who is in his ninth season at the helm.
“I think the kids have really bought in to what we’re trying to do. We’ve defended well, rebounded well, which are some key pieces for us obviously,” Conrad said. “We’re getting ready for Wilson, who is 27-1. They’re a really good basketball team. We’re working hard, the kids are working hard, and we’re preparing like crazy. So we’ll see what happens. I told the kids, we don’t wanna be happy to be in it. We’re in it to win it.”
North Penn left practice on Wednesday eager to pave a few more thrilling twists and turns into its playoff road.
“We’re really excited. We know they’re a really good team and all and they have a lot of very good players,” Jones said. “But now we’re in states and every team is 0-0. So we’re gonna go and try and ruin their season and make ours extend longer.”
