By Jeff Reinhart

For Palmyra, another shot at some redemption and a trip to the PIAA playoffs.

For Greencastle-Antrim, the end of the road. But what a ride for coach Mike Rhine’s Blue Devils.

Kristen Smoluk and Maria Tukis paced the offense with 13 and 12 points, respectively, Palmyra used a 17-5 second-quarter run to secure a comfortable 25-13 lead at the half, and the Cougars went on to beat Greencastle-Antrim 45-26 on Tuesday night at CD East in a District 3-AAA girls’ basketball consolation-round game.

Palmyra, the No. 2 seed and now 21-4 overall, advances to Friday’s fifth-place game opposite No. 5 Berks Catholic, which topped West York 58-37 in another consolation game Tuesday.

Palmyra and Berks Catholic locked up the final two state-playoff spots from District 3-AAA.

West York and Greencastle-Antrim, which opened the season 21-0 and won the Mid-Penn Colonial championship, are done.

Palmyra and Greencastle-Antrim played to an 8-all first-quarter tie before the Cougars sprang to life, outscoring the Blue Devils by 12 in the second quarter to grab a commanding halftime lead.

Palmyra used a 9-3 third-quarter spurt to go ahead 34-16 heading into the final quarter.

Jenay Faulkner capped her standout freshman season with a team-high 11 points for the Blue Devils, who wrapped up their season 22-3 overall — and with just one senior starter set to graduate, Greencastle-Antrim will have four starters back in the saddle again next season, with a Colonial title to defend.

Palmyra, the reigning District 3-AAA champ, played without senior ace Bucknell recruit Carly Richardson on Tuesday. She re-injured her right ankle in the Cougars’ 42-25 quarterfinal setback to West Perry on Saturday. No word on if or when she'll return this season for Palmyra.

While Palmyra failed to defend its Keystone, Mid-Penn and District 3 championships, coach Ron Berman’s crew will get a shot at fifth place and then a fresh start in the state tournament.