The Parkland High School boys basketball team finished as the PIAA 6A runner-up last year in the state tournament.

The Trojans got off to a good start in this year’s state playoffs as they won their first round game last Saturday, defeating District One’s ninth-place team, Downingtown West 60-43 at Parkland High School.

Parkland (18-9 overall) came in still riding the momentum from winning its fourth consecutive District 11 6A championship, and was in command for most of the game and never really was threatened, leading from start to finish.

The two teams played a back-and-forth opening quarter with the Trojans holding a 17-13 lead after one, but they had a strong spurt in the second quarter, outscoring the Whippets 15-5 to go into the locker room at halftime on top 32-18.

Downingtown West (17-10) cut its deficit to five with an 11-2 run to start the third quarter and trailed just 34-29 with 3:56 left in the frame.

Blake Nassry, who finished with a game-high 27 points, halted the surge with an old-fashioned three-point play and Scott Bauer followed with a normal 3-pointer to keep their team in front by a comfortable margin and lead 42-31 after three quarters.

Parkland put the game away with a six-point spurt in the fourth quarter. Nassim Adams finished a layup off an assist by Nassry to push the lead to 55-38 with 2:30 to play and they were able to see out the game and walk off their home court for the final time this year with a victory.

TJ Lawrence tallied 14 points. Bauer recorded eight points. Ryan Kearney netted five points and Adams contributed four. Jude Ruisch rounded out the scoring with two points.

Parkland advanced to meet District 2 champion Scranton in the second round this past Wednesday night at Stroudsburg High School.

Scranton (19-6) defeated Cheltenham in its PIAA opener.