Trojans will have to wait to show off new look
As practice closed Thursday night, Parkland boys basketball coach Andy Stephens said he hoped he’d see his team again on Friday.
During the pandemic era, nothing can be taken for granted. With C OVID -19 numbers rising everywhere, it wasnot a surprise that on Friday, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference announced that by a 17-1 vote of principals, the start of basketball and all winter sports competitions will not begin until Jan. 15 at the earliest.
What that means to Parkland’s practice schedule is unclear. But unless nonleague games are allowed and scheduled, the Trojans will have to wait six weeks for their first game.
“The kids are thrilled to be out here and I am thrilled for them,” Stephens said after practice. “But depending on when we play, we’re trying to keep it lively and do things where kids don’t get burned out or bored doing the same things. It’s challenging in that aspect.”
Park land is ahead of many area teams who have yet to start practice. The Trojans are well on their way to getting in the required 15 practices necessary before competition can begin. So, as soon as the green light is given, their wait won’ t be as lengthy as it will be for others.
That doesn’t make it easier for senior J.T. Siggins, who already has dealt with a shortened schedule during the Parkland football season.
“We just have to make the most of the opportunities we are given,” said Siggins, who played in 22 of the team’s 25 games a year ago. “No matter how many games we have, we just have to take it to the opponent every time we step on the court.”
Siggins said it’s a tough situation, but there’s nothing else to do but hope for the best.
“Every day you wonder whether you’re going to play or not, but I am staying optimistic,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to this season. I love this team. I wouldn’t want to be on any other team.”
Parkland Trojans
Coach: Andy Stephens (13th season at Parkland 223-99; 297-134 including four seasons at Emmaus).
2019-20 season: 15-10, 11-5 EPC (first in Skyline Division. Post season: Beat ES South 57-52, lost to Allen 66-61 in EPC tourney. Lost to Easton 47-42 in District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Players towatch: Trey Rolle (5-10, Sr. G); Nick Co val (5-11, Fr. G ); Blake B art hol (5-9, Jr. G); J.T. Siggins (6-3, Sr. G/F); Jordan Lewis (6-5, Sr. F); Matt Bauer (6-3, Jr. G/F); Jake McLean(6-5, Sr. F); Matt Rantz (6-10, Jr. F); Will Meeker (6-4, Jr. F ); Jesse Ru is ch (6-1, Jr. G ); K ha ran J os hi (6-2, Jr. G-F ); Mason Bergstein (6-2, Sr. G/ F ); Dahl ir Adams (5-9, Jr. G ); Ty Tremba (5-11, Jr. G); Jesshawn Thomas (5-11, Sr. G ).
Why are they ranked: The Trojans have a championship pedigree, and while the program hasn’t won a championship since 2016, there is still a sense of pride in the building that not every school has. If anything, the title drought has made the current players hungrier and eager to prove that the program hasn’t gone anywhere. While four of the top five scorers from last year’s team have graduated, Roll ea nd Sig gins both played in a lot of games last winter, and Rolle averaged nearly nine points per game while making 37 3-pointers.
What to know: Nick Co val is going to start asa freshman. Heist he son of Le high Valley Basketball Hall of Fame rand De Sales coach Scott Coval and he has been on the radar of the local basketball community for several years. “He’s going to make mistakes like any freshman would, but he’s not going to be good, he already is pretty good and will play a key role for us,” Stephen ssaid. “Whenhe’s out there on the floor, you notice him right away.”
The burning desire: Like most schools, the No. 1 goal at Parkland is to get the chance to play. It figures to be a long six-week wait for the Trojans and other EPC members. After the school’s very talented football team got knocked out of the District 11 tournament by C OVID -19, Stephens just wants this group to have a chance. “We’ll follow the rules, but I want our kids to get as many games as possible ,” he said .“I hope they have a season .”
Conquering the coronavirus: Stephens said the team was able to get in a few open gym sessions starting in September. “They were just real simple workouts, just to get the kids out and doing something,” he said. “Chemistry is a big thing in the offseason. When we play in the summer tournaments, Idon’t even bring a whiteboard. It’s all about getting the kids together and seeing who can do what. We haven’t done any of our normal strength and conditioning. There are so many things we haven’t done. Weare limited in what we can do. So I tell the kids to be appreciative of whatever they get and keep our fingers crossed and pray we have a season.”
The final word: Park land was knocked out of both the league and district tournament last year with overtime losses. In fact, of the team’s 10 losses in 2019-20, nine were by 10 points or less. So, finishing games stronger figures to be one of the team’s goals, but just starting them is the priority at the moment. Right now, with no league tournament planned, the normal quest for a league championship is gone. At this point, adistrict tournament is not even a certainty. But whenever the Trojans do get to play, they will bean intriguing team to watch thanks in large part to Coval and his progress.