The Parkland High School boys basketball team started last week on a positive note, defeating Bethlehem Catholic after losing the previous two games.

The Trojans followed that up with victories over Whitehall and Easton, both on the road on back-to-back days last Friday night and Saturday afternoon. In their latest game, however, Parkland was on the losing end, once again to Central Catholic this past Tuesday, the second loss in a row to the Vikings, the first coming back on January 3.

The Trojans beat the Zephyrs 61-51 at Whitehall High School. Nine of Parkland’s 11 wins this season have been in double figures.

Less than 16 hours later, the Trojans were back out on the road and on the court against the Red Rovers.

Parkland had a strong first quarter, outscoring Easton 16-9 and then went into halftime leading 25-21. A 17-12 third quarter pushed the advantage to nine before they put the game out of reach in the final frame, outscoring the Red Rovers by 13 to win 66-44.

Nick Coval finished with a game-high 26 points, going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line and adding four 3-pointers. Joey Gerbasio tallied 15 points and Matt Ray also scored in double figures with 10 points.

Against the Vikings at home this past Tuesday, Parkland once again started fast, taking a 14-9 lead after the opening quarter. But the second quarter is where the game turned as Central outscored the Trojans 21-12 to go into the halftime locker rooms ahead 30-26.

They had another strong quarter in the third then, going on a 17-12 run to go up 47-38 after three and then held on for the 61-55 win.

Coval tallied a game-high 20 points, followed by Ray with 12 and Gerbasio with nine. Zaire Smaltz had five points. Connor Johns netted four points. Luke Spang contributed three points and Gio Escalona rounded out the scoring with two points.

Parkland (10-6 overall; 9-3 EPC) hosts Allen on Friday night and sits in second place in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference West Division behind Emmaus (14-3; 10-1) and tied with Central Catholic (12-6; 9-3).

The Trojans have five games left on the schedule and will close out the season with three homes games. After traveling to Northampton on Jan. 31, they host Emmaus (Feb. 3), Archbishop Wood (Feb. 5) and Whitehall (Feb. 6).