Norwin boys' coach Lynn Washowich understands the suffocation that can come with playing against North Allegheny.

"They are going to guard every one of our players the whole length of the floor," he said. "We know that going in. That isn't going to surprise us. We know what we're going to get against North Allegheny."

Washowich and his Knights (19-6) will see the Tigers tight defense firsthand at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Plum when they square off against North Allegheny (23-2) in a WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal.

It will be the second time the two teams have clashed this season, joining a Jan. 2 matchup when North Allegheny pulled out a 70-63 overtime victory.

Since then, both have won 11 of 12 games down the stretch.

But, there's no question that the Norwin contingent still remembers that loss just after the New Year.

"When we played [North Allegheny] the first time, we were up nine points with three minutes to go," Washowich said. "They never led in regulation.

"Now, they did the things it took to win that game and they came away with a victory and I don't want to take anything away from them. But I'd like to think that we could have won that game, too."

But when teams enter into a playoff situation, the scope and consequence of a matchup far outweigh any regular-season, non-section contest.

What is most impressive about North Allegheny is an up-and-down style in which coach Dave DeGregorio employs a nine-man rotation that seemingly always has at least a few guys with fresh legs on the court.

Seniors Ted Connolly, Dan Kusnyer and Jeff Finke along with juniors Damian Founds and Stephane Batton have been the starters with seniors Steve Kirsch and Geoff Greco and juniors Nick Dvorsky and Jeff Haus coming off the bench to complete the rotation.

Because of the depth, because of the nine guys who can play without a talent dropoff, Connolly believes North Allegheny has the makeup to win not just this game, but advance even further.

"Due to our depth, I think this is different than other years," said Connolly, a Naval Academy recruit. "When you have nine guys who can really help you, and you keep running fresh guys in there, it is a big advantage. I don't think a lot of teams around the WPIAL have that and the key with us is that there aren't any weak links. All the guys can play."

Norwin also has some guys who can play -- most notably the senior tandem of Mike Shanahan and Tyler Urban. Both are Division I football recruits.

Shanahan, a 6-foot-5 guard who is headed to Pitt as a receiver, and Urban, a 6-5 post player who will play H-back for West Virginia, form a potent inside-out duo.

While Urban can give other teams fits in the post, it is Shanahan whom Connolly will more than likely have to focus on.

"I'd say we will probably play him head up," Connolly said of Shanahan. "I guarded him the last time and I'll probably guard him again. I know that the best way to go after Shanahan is to work him for 95 feet, all the way up the floor."

Make no mistake, though, Norwin has other talent. Players such as junior Alex Dennison and senior Chris Matheny could well turn into the most pivotal pieces against North Allegheny.

Washowich understands as much.

"In terms of being different with the work ethic, there really isn't that much difference in that department from last year," Washowich said. "But I think what it comes down to this year is that we have better talent, we are just bigger and stronger and have better athletes than we have had at any time in my six years here. "

There are also the memories from last year that provide motivation for Norwin. The Knights were bounced from the playoffs by Pine-Richland in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

"To be totally honest, we are still carrying a bitter feeling from last year with us," Washowich said. "That wasn't a good feeling that we had to end last year on. We definitely remember that."