With the two summer showcase tournaments behind them, the Parkland boys basketball players had their eyes set on following up with another summer tournament title that they had won a year ago.

After a quick exit from the Stellar tournament, and a quarterfinal loss in SportsFest, the Trojans knew they were playing for one more chance at a championship.

In defeating Bangor in the quarterfinals, the roster became deflated just two nights later, and the Trojans fell to Allen in the Stellar Summer League semifinals two weeks ago, falling short of repeating as summer league champions.

“It was a tough setback Thursday night [against Allen],” said assistant coach Eddie Ohlson. “We were shorthanded and just didn’t play our type of game. They were very aggressive and outplayed us on the glass. Our guys had a good summer though.”

Parkland, who was the number three seed, was without four key players that started several games over the summer season.

Seniors Sam Iorio, Zach Bross and Michael Zeky, and sophomore Logan Rindock, all were missing due to prior obligations. Michael Ruisch was also out with an injury, and the Trojans struggled with the lack of depth.

The Canaries, who are athletic and quick, used their athleticism under the rims to out-muscle and out-rebound Parkland.

Down their top players Tyrese Martin and Talek Williams, Allen was still able to control the tempo, the scoring, and in retrospect, the game, in downing the Trojans 51-28 at Cedar Beach, on their way to the final.

“It was obviously tough not having everyone, but that’s how we played for most of the summer,” said Ohlson. “That’s what summer is for, getting everyone playing time, and everyone acclimated to the varsity game. The guys that were here gave it their all and played their best, we just came up a little short.”

Jake Bartholomew led the team with 10 points, including two 3-pointers, Matt Persichetti added five points and Tyler German contributed two points and four rebounds, but Parkland struggled shooting on the night. In fact, both teams did, but Allen was able to grab its misses and turn them into easy points.

After the Trojans held a 7-6 lead early in the first half, the Canaries went on a 13-0 run to take a 19-7 edge midway through. Allen had a 16-point advantage at halftime at 26-10, and never led by less than 17 over the course of the second half.

The summer session is over for boys basketball, and now the Trojans will look towards open gyms when school starts back up in September, to prepare for the winter season and going for a fifth straight District 11 title.