Parkland High boys basketball head coach Eddie Ohlson goes over strategy for the PIAA 6A state championship game with his players Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the school before they leave for Hershey. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)
Parkland was the top team in local boys basketball in the 2023-24 season and after the graduation of star player Nick Coval and nine other players, most figure the Trojans are in for a rebuilding year.
But the Parkland JV team was among the area’s best last season and lots of talented players are moving up to the varsity level.
Those expecting a big dropoff might be in for a surprise.
It’s early in the offseason, but the Trojans are looking good. They are one of the few unbeaten teams left in the Lehigh Valley Summer after just three weeks of games.
Parkland rolled to a big win over Nazareth on Thursday night.
Here’s a look at all of Thursday’s game, a look at the league standings and Tuesday’s schedule of games as the first tournament of the summer approaches on June 20.
Small School Division scores
Lehighton 59, LV Academy 32 … Talin Fairchild 15 points
Warren Hills 73, Upper Perkiomen 34 … Danny Willis 16 points
Salisbury 59, Catasauqua 51 … Drew Petrie 19 points
Large School Division scores
Quakertown 50, Bangor 45 … Sam Wilkin 18 points
Executive Education 55, Emmaus 46 … Heavin McCain 20 points.
Dieruff 50, Whitehall 49 … Alphie Deris 19 points.
Liberty 69, Notre Dame-Green Pond 51 … Blake Hargrove 14 points.
Easton 46, ACCHS 44 … Kameron Jones 10 points
Allen 61, Northampton 39 … Manny Polanco 22 points.
Wilson West Lawn 55, Saucon Valley 27 … Correll Akings & Madyx Gruber 11 points each.
Parkland 59, Nazareth 33 … Tyler Beck 18 points.
Standings
Small School Standings
1) Warren Hills 3 – 0
T2) Catasauqua 3 – 1
Lehighton 3 – 1
Salisbury 3 – 1
5) Brandywine 2 – 2
6) Upper Perkiomen 0 – 4
7) LV Academy 0 – 5
Big School Standings
1) Wilson West Lawn 5 – 0
2) Parkland 4 – 0
T3) Allen 3 -1
Executive Education 3 – 1
Freedom 3 – 1
Liberty 3 – 1
Northampton 3 – 1
Quakertown 3 – 1
9) Central Catholic 3 – 2
10) Easton 2 -2
T11) Nazareth 1 – 3
Whitehall 1 – 3
T13) Bangor 1 – 4
Dieruff 1 – 4
Notre Dame GP 1 – 4
16) Saucon Valley 0 – 4
17) Emmaus 0 – 5
Tuesday’s schedule
Whitehall HS Dick Tracy Court: Freedom vs. Bangor (6); Emmaus vs. Liberty (7); ACCHS vs. Executive (8).
Whitehall HS Auxiliary Gym: Saucon Valley vs. Dieruff (6); Easton vs. Northampton (7); Allen vs. Nazareth (8).
Whitehall Middle School: Notre Dame-Green Pond vs. Whitehall (6); Quakertown vs. Wilson West Lawn (7); Upper Perk vs. Brandywine (8).
Whitehall Elementary School: Lehigton vs. Catasauqua (6); Salisbury vs. Warren Hills (7).