For three straight games, the Parkland girls basketball team has been matched up with three of the top Lehigh Valley Conference teams.

Bethlehem Catholic, Central Catholic and Nazareth all lead their divisions when the Trojans faced them. Last Friday night at Parkland was no different.

But after losses to both Becahi and Central, Parkland finally broke into the win column against another league power.

Hannah Gombos and Sierra Derti each tallied 10 points and lead a fourth quarter comeback to defeat Nazareth 36-35 and claim a share of the division lead with three conference games to be played this week.

"It's a great win for us," Gombos said. "We lost to them the first time so we really wanted this one. It gives us a lot of momentum heading into the final week and playoffs."

It gives Parkland (15-3, 8-3 LVC) some much needed momentum and confidence after losing two consecutive games to teams they may be seeing in the LVC playoffs next week.

"It's a good win for the girls," head coach Wes Spence said. "We know we're capable of playing with these teams. We've shown glimpses of it in games, but we haven't put together four quarters.

"Tonight it was good to see that. Although it was sloppy at times, we did enough things to keep it together for four quarters."

The Trojans needed four quarters in this one. After struggling from the field in the first three quarters, and scoring only 21 points, Parkland nearly equalled that sum in the final eight minutes.

Gombos and the defense also came up big. Her three steals fueled six turnovers from the Blue Eagles (14-4, 8-3) in the fourth. And she prevented Nazareth leading scorer Morgan Calabrese from getting a shot off at the buzzer to win the game.

"We just really worked hard on both ends of the court," said Gombos on the fourth quarter comeback.

After missing her first four attempts, Allison Cressman drained a three-pointer that tied the game and the two teams began to trade baskets for the next few minutes.

Callie Krajcir tied it back up at 28 with a jumper.

Nazareth forward Chelsea Gary connected for four of her 10 points late in the quarter. But after Calabrese (12 points) scored to put the score at 32-30 in favor of Nazareth, Derti tallied the next four points, and the Trojans never lost the lead.

Erica Bross made it a four-point lead, which was followed by a Calabrese three, but the Trojans defense prevented another late dagger attempt from Calabrese.

A loss to Northampton on Tuesday night moved the Trojans back into second place in the division and puts them one game ahead of Liberty for the league wild card spot. The Trojans need to win one of their final two games against Allen and Whitehall to secure a berth in the league playoffs.

Parkland will likely face top-seeded Bethlehem Catholic in the semifinals on Tuesday night at a site and time to be determined.