Parkland High School’s boys basketball team has improved in several categories since it first met Allen 50 days ago.

Toughness might be at the top of that list.

The No. 1 Trojans grinded out a 55-44 victory over the third-ranked and visiting Canaries during an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Lehigh Division matchup on Tuesday night. The result avenges a 55-45 setback that Allen delivered to Parkland in the season opener.

Finishing through contact was paramount for Parkland (12-5 overall, 5-1 division) as it tried to pull away in the third quarter. Allen (12-4, 5-1) trailed by six at halftime but knotted the score at 29-29 midway through the third with buckets by senior guard Tiheed “Chunk” Wise Jr. and junior guard/forward Jaylen Walker.

Trojans junior guard Blake Nassry responded with an and-1, sinking the foul shot and giving his team a lead it didn’t relinquish. Nassry scored on drive while being fouled again moments later. He later extended Parkland’s advantage to 39-34 on another old-fashioned three-point play with 1:04 left in the third period.

“Earlier in the season when we played them, they kind of out-physicaled us, which really hurt us and led to them getting the win,” Nassry said. “This game, we knew we had to be physical. I really think we did that. Nas (Adams) was physical on drives; everyone was physical; and we were able to finish through contact.”

A rugged schedule prepared Parkland for Tuesday night, according to coach Eddie Ohlson.

“That was something that we struggled with the first time we played them. We played a lot of Philly teams and Central York – games that were extremely physical,” he said. “All these games, we’re trying to build as individuals, we’re trying to build as a group. I thought they did a good job handling that physical part.”

The Canaries sliced the lead to three, 43-40, with 4:25 remaining in the final period on senior guard/forward Cameron Pearsall’s layup after a steal by senior guard Xayvon Wimberly. Nassry answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, and Allen failed to pull within a possession for the rest of the contest.

“We knew this was going to be a battle,” Parkland senior guard Nassim Adams said. “They’re a really good team; they’ve got really good players. We executed our game plan.”

Allen’s comeback attempt was derailed when Wise fouled out of the contest with 2:21 left on the clock. Seconds later, Adams snagged a steal and scored a layup, giving the Trojans a 49-42 edge. The hosts then sealed the contest at the free throw stripe.

Adams was another poster boy for Parkland’s grit. The guard, who is listed at 5-foot-8, grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

“We do rebounding drills in practice all the time,” the senior said. “I just try my best, jump as high as I can and hope I get the ball.”

“He’s up there in rebounds almost every game. He’s kind of the guy who knows how to win,” Ohlson said about Adams. “A lot of times it takes a rebound here, a rebound there. He’s just tough as nails.”

Nassry, who also shared a defensive backfield with Adams during football season, is familiar with the senior’s style.

“It’s his energy and effort. He probably gives the most effort on the team, and we love that,” Nassry said. “He does a lot of things for us and his rebounding is a big part of it.”

Wise, who is second in the EPC in scoring, finished with 18 points for Allen.

“He’s a great player,” Adams said of the Canaries standout. “He’s going to make tough shots. That’s what we wanted. We wanted him to make tough shots, not open shots. We contained him well.”

Pearsall added 10 points for the visitors. Wimberly had seven points and four steals but was hampered by foul trouble.

Allen was 1 of 4 from the foul line on Tuesday. Parkland made 15 of 23 free throws.

The Canaries will have to turn the page quickly before hosting Pleasant Valley on Wednesday afternoon.

Nassry tallied a game-high 19 points. Beck registered 14 points and went 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Adams added 13 points.

Tuesday’s victory improved Parkland’s overall conference record to 11-1 and puts it in line for the No. 1 seed in the EPC tournament. Northampton is also 11-1 in EPC play, but the Konkrete Kids’ one loss came against the Trojans.

“This was for first place in the league. It was a pivotal game,” Nassry said. “We came out on top, and I’m excited for the next one with Whitehall on Friday.”

Parkland, which will travel to Whitehall at the end of the week, edged the Zephyrs 53-52 at home in December.

Nassry thinks the best basketball is still ahead for the four-time defending District 11 Class 6A champions.

“We’re not even close to where we can be, but we’re getting there each practice, each game,” he said.