For the second time this year, the Parkland High School boys basketball team got the better of Bethlehem Catholic. The latest time happened in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference quarterfinal round last Friday night at Parkland High School.

The Trojans trailed at halftime, but used a strong second half to battle back and defeat the Golden Hawks 64-51 and advance to the semifinal round of the tournament which they won last year.

The teams were tied at 10-10 after the first quarter and Parkland found itself behind 31-29 at the intermission. But a third quarter sparked by 16 points from EPC MVP Nick Coval allowed the Trojans to outscore the Golden Hawks 18-7 to go ahead 47-38 heading into the final quarter. Parkland held on to its lead, primarily by going 10-for-12 from the free-throw line to ice the game.

Coval had a game-high and career-high 43 points, scoring at least eight points in each quarter. Luke Spang contributed nine points. Matt Ray tallied five points. Connor Johns, Zaire Smaltz and Robbie Ruisch all had two points. Owens Rodgers rounded out the scoring with one point.

With the win, the Trojans advanced to the semifinals, where they lost 61-52 to No. 2 seed Pocono Mountain West Tuesday night at the PPL Center. It is the second time the two teams met this year and the second win for the Panthers.

Pocono Mountain West led 16-12 following the first quarter, but Parkland bounced back in the second quarter and outscored West 15-9 to lead 27-25 at halftime. The Trojans, however, were held to just five third quarter points and trailed 39-32 after three. PM West’s lead jumped to double figures midway through the fourth and they saw it out the rest of the way.

Julian Pagan led three Panthers in double figures with 14 points on one field goal and a 12-for-12 effort at the free throw line. Teammate Kion Coles added 12 points and Devin Artis, who guarded Coval most of the game, finished with 10 points. For the Trojans, Coval’s 29 points led the way, while Zaire Smaltz added 10 points.

Pocono Mountain West will meet Central Catholic in Thursday’s title game. The Vikings beat top seed Emmaus in Tuesday’s other semifinal game.

Parkland is 15-9 overall and will now compete in the District 11 Class 6A playoffs, which begin next Friday. The Trojans will be the No. 3 seed in districts with Emmaus on top and Freedom in the second spot.