The Parkland High School boys basketball team won its first two games in the state playoffs. But the Trojans season ended in the state quarterfinal round, falling to District 12 champ Imhotep Charter, 70-39, last Saturday afternoon at Pottstown High School.

It was a stark difference from the first meeting between the two teams this season, a 36-34 win for the Trojans over the Panthers back on Feb. 1 in the Hoop Group Classic at Parkland.

“All compliments to them,” said PHS head coach Eddie Ohlson. “I thought they played great. It wasn’t our best night and it needed to be. I’m happy with the season and how the guys played throughout. We’re going to miss these seniors. This one is going to hurt a little bit.”

The game was close after the first quarter, as Parkland trailed just 16-12, while it held a brief five-point lead midway through the opening frame.

But Imhotep came out in the second quarter and took complete control of the game, outscoring the Trojans 20-7 in the period to take a 36-19 lead into halftime. The Panthers used a 34-20 advantage in the second half to and advance to the semifinal.

“I thought we had some decent looks at the basket, but we forced it a little bit in the second quarter,” Ohlson said. “They hit some good shots, ones that hurt us. And it just wasn’t our night. Sometimes that’s the way it goes.”

Both Nassim Adams and Jude Ruisch led the offense with nine points. Blake Nassry finished with seven points. TJ Lawrence tallied six points. Tyler Beck netted four points and each of Javian Porter and Marcus Temchatin rounded out the scoring with two points.

Parkland defeated District 2 champ Delaware Valley, 62-33, in the second round last Wednesday. Beck paced the offense with 13 points and both Nassry and Porter totaled 12 points. Ruisch recorded 11 points. Adams scored six points, Lawrence had four and Finn Coen contributed three points. Temchatin rounded out the scoring with a point.

Parkland, now five-time defending District 11 champion, finished the year with a 24-7 overall record. The Trojans will graduate eight seniors, including Adams, Alex Barrera, Beck, Lamar Bonner, Bear Jacobs, Ryan Kearney, Porter and Ruisch.