The Parkland High School boys basketball team was anxiously awaiting the start of the District 11 6A tournament last week.

The Trojans had a difficult defeat a week before in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship game, and just wanted to get back to action.

Fourth-seeded Parkland was successful in righting the ship in its next game and will now have at least three more games this season. The Trojans (20-6 overall) defeated fifth-seeded Allen 60-50 last Saturday afternoon in a district quarterfinal round game at Easton Area Middle School.

They advanced to the semifinal round, but also clinched a spot in the PIAA playoffs as four District 11 make states in Class 6A. After semifinals Parkland will move on to the title game or a third-place game. Win or lose, the Trojans will compete in the state tournament the first weekend in March.

Parkland turned the tides in the third quarter when it outscored the Canaries 13-6 to move a halftime tie into a seven-point lead after three. The Trojans outscored Allen 25-22 in a high-scoring final quarter.

Four players finished in double figures in scoring, led by 13 each from Javian Porter and Tyler Beck. Nassim Adams tallied 12 points and Jude Ruisch recorded 11 points, drilling three 3-pointers. Blake Nassry contributed nine points and TJ Lawrence rounded out the scoring with two points. The Trojans went 14-for-18 from the free-throw line.

Parkland faced the eighth seed, Pocono Mountain East, in a quarterfinal Wednesday night, after Press deadline. The other semifinal round matchup was sixth-seeded Liberty against seventh-seeded Whitehall.