For the second year in a row, the Parkland High School boys basketball team traveled to Philadelphia during the summer offseason to compete against different teams than it sees in the Lehigh Valley summer league. The Trojans competed in the Philly Live event, which takes place on two different weekends on the campuses of Jefferson University and St. Joseph’s Prep High School.

“This was the second year in a row we went to Philly Live,” said Trojan head coach Andy Stephens. “It’s good competition for the guys and it’s good for them to get out and see other teams that we don’t always play in summer league. I think the event is great and you see a lot of good basketball.”

Parkland sent several of its nonvarsity players to the Bash at the Beach tournament title, which was held last weekend at Cedar Beach. The Trojans won it in 2021. Allentown Central Catholic won the large school division this year.

“We just thought we wanted to get the guys out to something different,” Stephens said. “That’s always a great tournament as well, but we normally see a lot of the same teams that we play all summer. I think taking advantage of playing at Philly Live was something we thought would benefit us in the long run.”

Parkland played fewer games at Philly Live than it normally would at the Bash at the Beach event, but the two games were against quality competition and were close games. The Trojans first defeated Howard High School from Delaware in the opener before falling to St. Joseph’s Metuchen in the final game.

“It’s always nice to win, but this weekend was more than just the wins and losses,” said Stephens. “Both games were competitive. The win against Howard was hard fought and we only lost by a couple of points to St. Joseph’s. The guys played hard and we’re happy with the experience they were given.”

The Trojans have won the first nine games of the 2022 Lehigh Valley summer league season, sitting in a first-place tie in the standings with Muhlenberg Township. They will be back to Cedar Beach this week in summer league action.