Bob StolerGreencastle-Antrim's Hannah Crist (13) and Jenay Faulkner (4) joke around during last week's District 3-AAA third-place game against Conrad Weiser at CD East High School. Faulkner (19.7 PPG) and Crist (16.5 PPG) lead G-A in scoring heading into Saturday's state playoff game against Scranton Prep.

Consider it a fresh start three months into the season.

At this point, however, the competition happens to be the best Pennsylvania has to offer.

Earning a second consecutive berth in the PIAA girls’ basketball tournament, Greencastle-Antrim opens state play against Scranton Prep on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

As the runner-up from District 2, Prep is the higher seed on the Class AAA bracket, with G-A entering as the third seed from District 3.

Consequently, the Classics received a significant travel advantage following the PIAA’s site selection of Scranton High School, which neighbors Prep’s home facilities. In contrast, the Blue Devils’ bus ride will be roughly three hours one way.

Still, G-A can only control what it can control, beginning when the whistle blows tomorrow evening.

“We really don’t understand it, but we’re taking a positive attitude about it,” Blue Devil head coach Mike Rhine. “This is kind of what we signed up for, and we’ll go where they tell us to. We’re here to play basketball, plain and simple.”

Seeding and travel aside, the Blue Devils actually appear to be the favorites on paper, boasting a record of 23-3 to the Classics’ mark of 15-11.

Greencastle is also coming off a tremendous shooting display last Friday against Conrad Weiser, making 15 total 3-pointers during a 66-46 victory. The momentum theory doesn’t have the same feel for Scranton Prep, which made just six field goals in a 41-24 loss to Abington Heights in the District 2 title game.

Regardless, when you’ve reached this stage of the season, each of the final 32 teams are here for a reason.

A quick glance at the roster conveys Scranton Prep as a veteran squad, led by senior captains Jillian Paulus (who scored a team-high 12 points last Saturday), Caroline Babinski and Abigail Schroth.

“They’re fast with a lot of team speed,” Rhine said of the Classics. “They don’t have a bunch of size but they have several girls that can handle the ball and drive to the basket. They want to get defensive with you, so we need to be prepared for that.”

It’s certainly no secret that the Blue Devils will try to stretch Prep’s defense by forcing them to guard the perimeter. Averaging more than eight 3’s per game, G-A’s greatest strength is from beyond the arc, possessing a wealth of talented shooters.

Headlining the Blue Devils’ long-range abilities is junior standout Jenay Faulkner, who has drained 94 treys this season. Against Conrad Weiser, Faulkner hit seven 3’s on her way a a game-high 23 points, boosting her season average to 19.7 PPG.

Fellow sniper Hannah Crist complements Faulkner as a top-tier duo, both having surpassed 1,000 career points earlier this year. Crist is averaging 16.5 PPG and has knocked down 63 shots from downtown, followed by Meghan Hirneisen’s 8.5 PPG and 39 total 3’s.

Morgan Wagaman has been a valuable contributor on both ends while Madison Sweitzer and Ashley True continue to split time in the post. Hannah’s younger sister Lydia Crist will likely see substantial time off the bench as well.

“When you’re this far into the season, the girls just want to go out and play,” Rhine said. “It’s a long week of practice leading up to it since there’s not really anything new involved. Our girls are ready to get on the bus, throw the ball in the air and play.”

Saturday’s winner advances to Wednesday’s second round against either Gwynedd-Mercy (District 1 champ) or Bonner-Prendergast (third seed from District 12).