Bethlehem Catholic’s boys basketball team was on point for the first half of its Eastern Pennsylvania Conference quarterfinal against Parkland, but the Trojans flipped the script in the second half to claim a 64-51 victory over the Golden Hawks on Feb. 10 at Parkland.

“Our game plan really didn’t change a whole lot from the first game,” said Becahi coach Scott McClary.

The first time the teams met was Jan. 17 when the Trojans took an 18-point lead in the first quarter.

“It really didn’t,” McClary reiterated. “We thought about making some changes and adjustments, and we felt good on that first game about what our game plan was. We studied the film and felt like we didn’t execute. That was on us, so we felt like if we could execute it, it was the right game plan.”

Becahi guard Alex Cercado scored 20 first-half points, including three 3-pointers to lead the Golden Hawks’ offense.

Becahi went ahead, 18-10, early in the second quarter on two free throws by Isaiah Hodge, a Cercado 3, and another 3 by Jackson Wickenheiser.

Parkland then went on a short run to pull within one point after a Becahi turnover.

Jared Benka-Coker made a huge block for the Hawks and scored seconds later, while Parkland’s Luke Spang hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to make the score, 31-29, Becahi.

“In the first half, we did a much better job of executing,” McClary said. “Second half, we hit a little adversity, and we didn’t handle that well. We broke down and ran offense a little bit quick and selfish, which led to a little bit of the separation, and then when the separation happened, our execution went out the window. As simplistic as it is, I think that’s what it was.”

Parkland guard Nick Coval was a big contributor to the Hawks’ adversity, scoring 18 points in the third quarter with four 3s. Coval’s fourth was a buzzer shot and put the Trojans ahead, 47-38.

“We probably threw three, four, five guys at him,” said McClary. “We doubled him hard. We doubled him soft. He’s a great player...Tonight, he beat our defensive challenge.”

The Trojans widened the gap in the first minute of the fourth quarter on a four-point play by Spang and a follow-up bucket by the junior guard; then began to take time off the clock to keep the ball away from the Hawks who had no choice but to foul the rest of the period.

Parkland will advance to the EPC semifinal against Pocono Mountain West, and Becahi will start its preparation for the District XI Tournament.

“We’re 100% on to districts,” McClary said. “I told the guys, 65% of the high schools in Pennsylvania are turning their uniform in and we’ve earned the right to compete in the EPC Tournament, and our season isn’t over. We’re not thinking about districts tonight, but we certainly will be in a day or two. We’ve got some time, and we need some time to correct some things, and I’m confident that we will.”