The Parkland boys basketball had won 25 straight games, but the one last Saturday afternoon at Council Rock South may have been the toughest of the bunch.

For most of the season, the Trojans had been the aggressor and controlled tempo, but in the PIAA quarterfinals against defending state champion Roman Catholic, the roles were turned.

The Trojans played like a four-time District 11 champion for the first three quarters, but in the fourth quarter, the Cahillites (25-4) proved too strong and Parkland’s season ended with a 73-60 loss.

“It was a great effort,” head coach Andy Stephens said. “The kids are sad. I’m sad. The coaches are sad. For the majority of the game we played really, really well.”

After trailing for all of the first quarter, the Trojans settled in.

Led by Devante Cross (17 points), Parkland took its first lead at 16-14 early in the second quarter.

The momentum continued through the third quarter, where the Trojans (27-4) led by as much as 44-36 midway through. But with most of the lineup in foul trouble, the Cahillites used their length and athleticism to take over the game.

Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens combined to score 19 points and helped their team outscore Parkland 25-10 in the fourth quarter. The Trojans were held to just four field goals the final quarter.

“We might have been a little tired at the end,” Stephens said. “They’re a good team and I think their physicality got the better of us in the long run. When you’re going against guys that are bigger and in some cases a little stronger, it’s harder to make those shots, especially at the end of the game when they were kind of turning it up a little bit.”

Roman took advantage of its many trips to the foul line, shooting 23 of 28 at the line for the game and 15 of 17 in the fourth quarter.

“I think we were really confident,” said Kyle Stout, who finished with 14 points. “But in the fourth quarter there were a lot of fouls called. When they got to the line they converted. They made a lot of shots and we missed a lot of shots we normally make.”

“We ran into a buzz saw, especially in the fourth quarter,” said Stephens. “Good teams turn it up a little bit, and at the end they made some better plays than we did. It wasn’t for lack of effort or lack of confidence. Good teams just find a way, and they’re the reigning state champs. I’d be shocked if they’re not again.”

Seniors Stout, Cross, Kenny Yeboah, Jack Dreisbach, Will Baar and Noel Brouse ended their careers with a 99-20 record, four district titles, and two league crowns over four years.

“I’m very proud of that,” Stout said. “I’ll remember that for life. We really wanted to get the state medal, but they’re a great team and we just fell short at the end.”