When the lights shine brightest on the biggest of stages, it is usually the more experienced players that take the leadership and raise their level of play.

Tuesday night at Liberty High School, it was a freshman who at some points put his team on his back and helped guide them to victory.

Sam Iorio had a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, and Parkland (18-4) took down rival Emmaus (16-7) 72-56 in the Lehigh Valley Conference semifinals. The Trojans will now face Central Catholic, a 56-37 winner over Bethlehem Catholic, in the final on Friday.

Starting alongside four seniors, Iorio had no nerves because of the leadership that was on the floor with him.

"I really treated it like any other game," said Iorio. "The guys gave me a lot of respect, and I really appreciated that. They showed me a lot of leadership and really taught me how to play at this level, and that's definitely helped me thrive."

One of those seniors, point guard Jimmy Hahn, and a career night, dropping 16 points and adding 10 assists for the Trojans.

"Everytime I drove in I heard one of their coaches yell 'don't help,'" said Hahn. "With them not helping I got some open looks, and I just kept attacking. If I can get to the rim it will free up other players for good looks, and that makes our team better."

Another senior, Justin Zajko, also reached double figures in points with 17.

Parkland wasn't perfect all night. Emmaus opened the game with a steal and layup, and actually held an early 4-0 lead. But once the Trojans got their feet under them and acclimated to the game, they rattled off the next seven points thanks to one of Iorio's five three-pointers, and the size inside from senior Nick Salvaggi (eight points).

Parkland led 16-8 after one, and by as much as 19-10 early in the second quarter, but the Green Hornets battled back. Nate Feiertag and David Kachelries combined to score the next seven points to trail by only one midway through.

A Hahn three-pointer, one of two in the quarter and three overall for him, ended the run and began a surge for the Trojans.

But Emmaus once again clawed back and cut its deficit to 28-25 at halftime.

"Anytime you play in the LVC, especially in the playoffs, you're going to play a good team and no lead is safe," said Hahn. "You have to keep playing and can't give up. We came out in the second half and said we wanted it more."

After trading baskets to up the second half, Parkland showed that they did want it more.

Hahn, Selvaggi and Zajko did their part on the score sheet in the third quarter, but it was Iorio who seemingly put the game away. His three straight three-pointers gave the Trojans some breathing room, up 52-40 after the third.

"When you hit the first one it just starts getting easier and easier," Iorio stated. "I started getting into a groove, and Jimmy [Hahn] finds you if you're open."

Hahn had six of his 10 assists in that quarter.

Parkland went 9-for-12 from the free-throw line in the final quarter to put this one away.

Nick Rindock and Devante Cross tallied five points each, and Kevin Delourie added a basket in the fourth quarter for the Trojans other scoring.