For many high school basketball teams, the summer offseason is filled with competition, but not always with a full complement of players. That is usually due to other commitments, including the AAU circuit and vacations.

In the first of two major summer tournaments in the Lehigh Valley two weekends ago, the Parkland boys basketball team played two games, both on Saturday, July 18, and lost both at the annual Bash at the Beach event.

This year’s tournament, usually outdoors at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown, was held indoors at Executive Education Academy Charter School.

Parkland was just coming off a semifinal appearance in the Lehigh Valley Summer League playoffs, falling to eventual champion Wilson West Lawn. The Trojans went 11-2 overall.

“We enjoy the summer and playing as often as we can,” said Trojan head coach Eddie Ohlson, who normally sends his team into both tournaments, the summer league and then out of town tournaments as well. “It’s a time for us to gain cohesiveness as a team and improve as a unit for the winter season.”

In the first game of the day at the Bash, Parkland was a little unlucky as Bangor hit a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to win 47-44. In the second game of the day, the Trojans were downed by John Bartram 41-36 to end their run.

“We were down a lot of guys who had other things going on,” Ohlson said. “But in saying that, it was a good opportunity for others to step in and get some valuable experience. It didn’t go the way we wanted, but we aren’t worried about it.”

Berks Catholic beat the host Raptors 54-43 to win the title on Sunday evening.