HERSHEY - For some, challenges make life worth living. Get past the fear of the unknown and it can be an exhilarating experience to explore and prod one's limitations.

 Over the years, no one has embraced challenges more than Ron Berman and the Palmyra girls' basketball program.

 On Wednesday afternoon at Giant Center, the challenge was Trinity, and Berman's Cougars stood toe-to-toe and traded punches with the mighty Shamrocks for 22 minutes. But Trinity ultimately wore down Palmyra and pulled away for a 56-39 victory in a semifinal contest of the District Three Class AAA tournament.

 After tying the game at 36 on two free throws from Alex Newhard with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter, the Cougars were outscored by Trinity 20-3 the rest of the way. All a tiring Palmyra could muster in the final stanza were a couple of Katie O'Rourke charity tosses.

 The loss relegated the third-seeded Cougars to Friday's Class AAA consolation game. Palmyra, now 18-6, had already qualified for the PIAA postseason.

 Trinity, the 21-6 second seed, will play for another district championship on Saturday morning.

 "The girls were excited to play Trinity," said Berman. "They were excited to be here (Giant Center). They knew they (the Shamrocks) were the top team and the champions. They like playing good teams. We just have some limitations."

 "Up to tonight, we had won seven out of eight," Berman continued. "This team has not lost a bad game. And even when we lost, we were getting better. They (his players) continue to learn and they continue to strive to get better. When you have players who want to learn, you have a chance to improve."

 Much of the third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, after a Callie Good three-pointer and an O'Rourke stickback had erased the Cougars' 30-25 deficit. Palmyra tied the score three other times in the third, at 32 on a Rachel Johnson inside move, at 34 on an O'Rourke spin and on the Newhard free throws.

 But the Cougars never managed to get the lead and ultimately fell victim to the big floor and Trinity's up-and-down pace.

 "They did give us everything they had for three quarters," said Berman of his charges. "When you play at the next level, it's about the speed of the game. If you're not used to doing it, it's the team that can maintain it longer that comes out on top. They're (the Shamrocks) used to playing tough teams.

 "Trinity's like that," added Berman. "People stay with them for the first half. And then they come out in the second half and pull away."

 A long three-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer by Erin Kelly helped Trinity to a 20-10 second-period advantage. But on two charity tosses from Newhard, a pair of free throws by O'Rourke and an offensive rebound by Johnson, Palmyra tallied the final six points of the first half and trailed just 26-23 in the locker room.

 "We had to stay in the game, which we did," said Berman of the possibility of an upset. "And then we needed someone to step up and hit a big shot.

 "We've gotten pretty good," Berman continued. "Was this the best we played? We missed some shots, but we executed well. I thought we played solid the whole time. For this type of stage, I thought we handled it."

 Palmyra was led in scoring by leading scorer O'Rourke and her 13 points, and rebounding machine Johnson, who contributed 10. But the Cougars simply had no answers for Trinity's Division One Davidson-bound star Laura Murray, who collected 21 points.

 "This is a great group of competitors," said Berman. "I felt I was only one defender away from being a great defensive team. I tell the girls the best team doesn't always win, but the team that plays the best. They (his players) knew they (the Shamrocks) were better than us. We just couldn't place that doubt in their (the Shamrocks') minds.

 "Normally, we can hold a team around 40 points," Berman concluded. "But I knew it would be tough tonight. And I knew we'd have a hard time scoring."

PALMYRA (39)

 Megan Frazier 0 0-0 0, Maggie Gundermann 0 0-0 0, Rachel Johnson 4 2-2 10, Katie O'Rourke 4 5-6 13, Chelsea Ebersol 0 0-0 0, Brooke Elliott 0 0-0 0, Alexandra Newhard 2 4-5 9, Jillian Acri 0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Carmo 0 0-0 0, Callie Good 2 0-2 5, Gabi Gundermann 0 0-0 0, Katie Gundermann 0 0-0 0, Allison Langley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 11-15 39

TRINITY (56)

 Kira Jaroszewski 1 0-0 2, Margaret McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Erin Kelly 1 2-2 5, Katie Earley 0 0-0 0, Ashley Betz-White 6 2-2 15, Kelsey Stasyszyn 0 0-0 0, Laura Murray 10 0-0 21, Anna Kuntz 3 0-0 6, Caroline Ruminkski 0 0-0 0, Josie Migash 1 1-2 3, Britany Misitano 2 0-0 4, Chai Kline 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 5-6 56

Palmyra 10 13 14 2 - 39

Trinity 16 10 16 14 - 56

 Three-point field goals: P - Newhard, Good; T - Kelly, Betz-White, Murray

 Fouled out: None.