The Parkland boys basketball team has dominated the East Penn Conference this season. The Trojans are undefeated in the conference and have won 12 of their 13 league games by double digits.

But for the first 16 minutes of last Friday night's game against Emmaus, Parkland looked beatable.

That didn't last long.

Parkland (18-1 overall, 13-0 East Penn Conference) showed its might and took another double digit win, 72-49 over Emmaus last Friday night at Parkland high school.

The two teams were all tied at 30 at halftime, but the Trojans heated up and outscored the Green Hornets 27-4 in the third quarter to take over the game and hold on for the victory.

Emmaus (10-10 overall, 10-4 EPC) played Parkland close to even in the first half. Tyler Prescott's pull-up jumper from the elbow gave the Green Hornets a 30-28 lead late in the second quarter. David Kachelries did his part by scoring a team-high 17.

Emmaus shot 65 percent (13-for-20) in the first two quarters and it took a put-back by Sam Iorio just to create a 30-30 tie at the break.

"Coach was saying at halftime that we needed a game like this, and this would make us better," Devante Cross said. "We weren't getting back on transition in the first half. Emmaus was beating us down the floor. They were playing with more energy. In the second half we locked down on defense and that's what won us the game."

The second half was a completely different story, starting with the opening whistle of the third quarter.

Iorio started the third quarter explosion just the way he ended the second, with a put-back basket off a missed shot, and then hit a three-pointer. Cross then hit a pull-up three from the wing and scored in transition off a steal by Iorio.

Cross (25 points) and Iorio (24 points, 15 rebounds) combined for 20 points during a 22-2 third-quarter run that carried the Trojans.

A couple of quick baskets later it was 45-30 in favor of Parkland.

"Wow, what a great third quarter," head coach Andy Stephens said. "Devante [Cross] played smart and Sam [Iorio] caught fire. They carried us for a while. Then everyone else got in the mix."

Kachelries ended Emmaus' drought by dropping two free throws. The Trojans' scoring came in bunches. Justin Jones dropped a three-pointer and Kyle Stout scored on a put-back at the buzzer for a 57-34 lead after three quarters.

Parkland finishes the regular season with a three-game week, starting with Tuesday's win at Nazareth.

The Trojans' final home game is Thursday against Pocono Mountain West. The season concludes with a trip to Whitehall on Friday night.