Parkland rallies past Nazareth to reach EPC boys basketball championship

Top-seeded Trojans score final 4 points to notch 51-46 win, advance to title game

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a tightly contested Eastern Pennsylvania Conference boys basketball semifinal, top-seeded Parkland rallied late to defeat Nazareth 51-46 and advance to the league championship game. The Trojans overcame an early deficit, with key contributions from Blake Nassry, Nassim Adams, and Jude Ruisch, to secure the victory in the final minutes and earn a spot in the title matchup against Northampton.

Why it matters

The Parkland-Nazareth rivalry has produced many thrilling finishes in recent years, and this semifinal clash was no exception. The win keeps Parkland's quest for a 10th EPC championship and third in five seasons alive, while Nazareth will now turn its focus to the District 11 6A tournament, where the Blue Eagles hope to earn a PIAA berth.

The details

Nazareth jumped out to a 9-1 lead and led 16-8 after the first quarter, but Parkland battled back to tie the game at 24-24 by halftime. The Trojans took a 36-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Nazareth regained the advantage late. However, Parkland scored the final 4 points, including free throws from Nassim Adams, to clinch the 51-46 victory.

  • Parkland and Nazareth hadn't played each other since 2024.
  • The EPC boys basketball semifinal took place on Monday night at Allentown's PPL Center.
  • The EPC boys basketball championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday at the PPL Center.

The players

Parkland

The top-seeded team in the EPC boys basketball tournament, seeking its 10th league championship and third in five seasons.

Nazareth

The EPC boys basketball semifinalist, which will now turn its focus to the District 11 6A tournament where it hopes to earn a PIAA berth.

Blake Nassry

Parkland's leading scorer with 19 points in the semifinal victory.

Nassim Adams

Parkland player who had 9 points, 5 assists, and made key free throws late to seal the win.

Jude Ruisch

Parkland player who made three 3-pointers and grabbed 5 rebounds in the semifinal.

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What they’re saying

“It's good to be back in the final. But this was a tough game. Credit to Nazareth because they hit some big shots and played great. They were hitting tough shots and got us for a couple of easy ones. We started slow, which was not by design. But we fought back and got it back to 24-24 at halftime and gave us a clean slate going into the second half.”

— Eddie Ohlson, Parkland coach (centredaily.com)

“The effort was there and I am proud of them. They gave everything they have. It just wasn't our night.”

— Dave Wickmann, Nazareth coach (centredaily.com)

What’s next

Parkland will play Northampton in the EPC boys basketball championship game on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the PPL Center. Nazareth will regroup and prepare for the District 11 6A tournament, where the Blue Eagles will be in action on February 21 in the quarterfinals.

The takeaway

This hard-fought semifinal between Parkland and Nazareth showcases the competitive nature of the EPC boys basketball landscape, with the top-seeded Trojans narrowly advancing to the championship game. The game also highlights Parkland's defensive prowess and ability to make key plays down the stretch, as well as Nazareth's resilience in pushing the league's premier team to the brink.