The Parkland High School boys basketball team came within one win of a championship in the Bash at the Beach tournament at Cedar Beach two weekends ago. A few nights later, the Trojans were back on the court competing for another title, the Lehigh Valley Big School Division playoff championship as the number one overall seed.

On their third game in as many nights, Parkland led for most of the game and took down five-time defending District 11 champion, the three seed, Executive Education, 53-46 last Thursday night inside Whitehall High School’s gymnasium.

It was a busy two weeks for the program. Outside of playing in the Bash at the Beach tournament and summer league playoffs, the Trojans had a new head coach named in former assistant coach Eddie Ohlson. Ohlson was officially named head coach on Wednesday July 19, the night of the semifinal round. So, he is officially 2-0 as the head man.

“Any championship, whether it’s summertime or winter is a big thing for us,” said Ohlson. “The best part about summer is that you get to play a lot and the kids get better with all of the games you play. We were able to win a couple of good games this week in three straight nights.”

Parkland rolled through its bracket at the double-elimination Bash at the Beach before running into Central Catholic, losing twice to the Vikes during that tournament, including in the championship game. The Trojans did not have to let that feeling sit too long as the summer league playoffs began the next Tuesday and they won three games in a row, including getting revenge on the Vikings in the semifinals, winning 48-45 behind Jayden Thomas’ game-high 21 points.

“That Sunday night at Bash hurt,” Ohlson said. “But I thought the guys did a good job bouncing back. They were back in the gym and the weight room the following day trying to better themselves. I’m happy for them to get this one done.”

Nick Coval led the way against the Raptors with 19 points. Thomas added 14 points. The Trojans defeated the eighth seed and defending state champion, Reading, 73-66 in the quarterfinal round. Coval had a game-high 26 points.

Next up for the Trojans is the final tournament of the summer, the Atown Throwdown this weekend, back at Cedar Beach.