Despite their sub-par records this season, the fierce rivalry between Emmaus and Parkland was once again on full display Tuesday night before a near-capacity crowd at ‘The Hive’ as the Hornets welcomed the Trojans for the first of two meetings this season.
A year ago, Parkland won all three matchups, including a 59-45 victory over Emmaus in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship game at the PPL Center.
They also defeated the Hornets soundly on their home floor, cruising to an easy 73-45 win.
But this is not the same Parkland team from a year ago that went 26-6 and graduated 11 seniors, winning both the EPC and District XI 6A championships, along with finishing as the state runner-up.
The Trojans, after a 3-0 start to their season, have struggled of late losing four straight and five of their last seven.
Despite their struggles, Parkland still found a way to dominate the Hornets on their home floor for the second year in a row.
Using a big second half where they outscored Emmaus 35-17, Parkland cruised to an easy 61-36 victory in handing the Hornets their worst home loss of the season.
Junior Tyler Beck sparked the Trojans off the bench scoring a career-high 16 points, while sophomore Blake Nassry added 14 as the visitors outscored Emmaus in all four quarters in improving to 4-4 in the EPC and 6-5 overall.
Parkland has now won two straight and three of its last four as they make a push towards qualifying for the eight team EPC Tournament.
Meanwhile, for Emmaus, they drop to 3-5 in the league and 3-10 overall after suffering their seventh double digit loss of the season.
The Hornets, who trailed in the game by just seven at the half (26-19), were led in scoring by seniors Jack Csensits and Owen Hafner who each had a team-high 11 points.
Emmaus will return to action on Friday at 7 p.m. as they travel to Pocono Mountain East.
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Parkland 61, Emmaus 36
Pa – Nass Adams 1 0-0 2, TJ Lawrence 0 1-4 1, Blake Nassry 4 5-6 14, Ryan Kearney 3 1-2 7, Jude Ruisch 2 0-0 6, Cam Hines 2 3-4 7, Tyler Beck 6 2-5 16, Scott Bauer 0, Javian Porter 1 0-1 2, Alex Barrera 1 0-0 3, Lamar Bonner 0, Chayce Taylor 0, Derek Giegbefumwen 1 0-0 3, Bear Jacobs 0. Totals: FG 21, FT 12-22, 3s (7 – Beck 2, Ruisch 2, Giegbefumwen, Barrera, Nassry)
Em – Matt Rooney 0, Chase Whitesell 2 0-0 6, Jack Csensits 4 1-2 11, Mike Rooney 2 0-0 4, Owen Hafner 4 3-5 11, Matt Deschenes 0 0-2 0, Tyler Nunez 0, Jake Ross 1 0-2 2, Ethan Dublin 0, Robert Edwards 0, Lucas Stephan 0 2-2 2, Tim Toles 0, Mitch Pisarcik 0, Othello Karto 0. Totals: FG 13, FT 6-13, 3s (4 – Whitesell 2, Csensits 2)
Park – 11-15-22-13 – 61
Em – 10-9-8-9 – 36