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."

 HERSHEY - Another year older and wiser.

 But perhaps the most important place where the Lebanon Catholic boys' basketball team has matured is in and around the heart area.

 On Friday night at Milton Hershey, the mentally and emotionally tough Beavers outlasted New Hope 74-61 in the quarterfinal round of the District Three Class A playoffs. Lebanon Catholic physically wore down the Mighty Ants and pulled away from them in the fourth quarter.

 The triumph assured Lebanon Catholic, now 14-10, a spot in the upcoming PIAA postseason, for the first time in four years. Up next for the Beavers will be a District Three Class A semifinal test, Monday at Lower Dauphin.

 Third-seeded New Hope, which is located in York County, ended its campaign 17-3.

 "They're a year older," said Lebanon Catholic head coach Scott Clentimack of his nine seniors. "They're seniors now, not juniors. I'd like to think there's a sense of urgency. There's no next year. It's either buckle up or go home. It's kind of like, 'We don't like listening to this guy (Clentimack), but we want to keep playing basketball."

 "Honestly, every game it's different," said Beaver senior forward Zack Arnold of the leadership role on the club. "Anybody can be a leader. For nine of us, it could be our last game. We love playing together. We just have to keep playing as a team. We don't want it to end."

 Lebanon Catholic had a tough time shaking the pesky Ants. And the turning point may have came a minute into the fourth quarter with the Beavers nursing a 55-54 lead.