Each day leading up to the state playoffs, I'll shed light on a Delaware County team's first-round opponent in this weekend's PIAA Class AAAA playoffs. Here's the second installment:

The Elizabethtown Bears (17-12), seeded third out of District Three, will tip off against Penn Wood (21-8) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Spring-Ford High School, located in Royersford.

The Bears...

• have made history this year, making their first state-playoff appearance in school history. And remarkably, the school's been around for close to a century.
• have pulled a complete 180. They posted a 4-19 record last season and appeared to be headed toward another postseason-less year... before winning 12 of their final 14 games to make states in coach Kevin Dolan's first season at the helm.
• are playing strong behind junior forward Chad Styre (pictured), who's had the hot hand in the playoffs.
• should match up well with Penn Wood. Both teams lack a dominant big man in the middle, though E-Town's Nate Koach (13 points, 9 rebs.) is a force.
• need a pick-me-up. Think Penn Wood has had it bad, playing Chester three times? E-Town heads into Saturday after getting ambushed by Reading, which enters the state tournament unbeaten at 30-0.

For more on the Elizabethtown-Penn Wood matchup, take a look at today's Daily Times for a feature story on the Patriots' historical run this season. And check out Saturday's Daily Times for a complete preview of the game.