Bob StolerGreencastle-Antrim head coach Mike Rhine (center) talks with his team moments before the start of a game against Boiling Springs on Feb. 4 in Greencastle.

By Ben Destefan

GREENCASTLE — They were one of the final 16 teams remaining in the state. Again.

Coming off a history-making campaign in 2014-15, the Greencastle-Antrim girls’ basketball program put together a remarkable encore, ultimately qualifying for a second consecutive PIAA Class AAA tournament.

Along the way, the Blue Devils won a third straight Mid-Penn Colonial Division crown, placed third in District 3 and had not one, but two girls surpass 1,000 career points.

The Blue Devils’ numerous accomplishments culminated in a final record of 24-4, reaffirming G-A’s transformation from overlooked upstart to perennial contender.

“This year was absolutely a huge success,” said head coach Mike Rhine, who completed his fifth season at the helm. “Last year was about as perfect as it could be, winning a district championship. At the start of this year, we knew we had two outstanding players, but we weren’t sure what to expect from some of our younger girls. To win the division again, finish third in districts and win a state game says a lot about where we are as a program.”

Already verbally committed to Division-I Holy Cross, junior Jenay Faulkner continued her rise as one of Pennsylvania’s best, routinely serving as the premiere player on the floor.

Averaging 19.1 points per game, Faulkner led all area shooters with 99 total 3’s, earning a selection to the Mid-Penn Colonial Division First Team. Still with one varsity season remaining, Faulkner will enter her senior year with 1,364 career points, sitting just 56 points shy of the G-A girls’ all-time mark held by Kylene Helman (1,420).

“Jenay is just a special, special player,” Rhine said. “She does things that you simply can’t coach. Since she’s been at the varsity level, our program has taken the next step.”

In Faulkner’s three varsity seasons, the Blue Devils have a combined record of 71-11 and have not lost a single home game.

Also recognized as a signature piece to G-A’s success, Hannah Crist capped her tremendous career by averaging 16.2 PPG, giving the Blue Devils two Colonial Division First Team selections.

A four-year starter at point guard, Crist finished with 1,244 points, placing her third on the school’s all-time girls’ list.

“Hannah has been there through this whole transition,” Rhine said. “We watched her grow into a sensational talent who just kept getting better every year. She was such a valuable part of getting us to this point.”

Stepping into a larger role as a senior, Meghan Hirneisen gave Greencastle its own version of a “Big Three”, frequently battling around the glass while showcasing the ability the hit shots from beyond the arc.

Averaging 8.4 PPG, Hirneisen’s presence and team-first mentality certainly left a lasting impression.

“Meghan did anything that we asked her to do,” Rhine said. “She was always a great defender, but this year she really picked up on scoring. We knew with the girls we lost to graduation how important Meghan was going to be. She definitely did not disappoint.”

Returning to the team after taking a year off from basketball, Morgan Wagaman fit in seamlessly, possessing a valuable aggressiveness at both ends of the court. Despite her listed height of 5-foot-3, Wagaman played much bigger, averaging 4.7 PPG to coincide with her lockdown defense.

“Having Morgan back this year was huge for us,” Rhine said. “She’s such a good athlete that helps in so many ways. Then she started chipping in with scoring to give us another threat.”

Splitting time in the post, the freshman duo of Madison Sweitzer and Ashley True progressed throughout the year, adapting to the pace of the varsity level.

“Our two freshman got better every time they took the floor,” Rhine acknowledged. “They’re both going to be key pieces to our future.”

Expected to join Sweitzer, True and Wagaman in complementing Faulkner next season, fellow freshman Lydia Crist gained significant experience as G-A’s first girl off the bench.

If Lydia is able to follow in older sister Hannah’s footsteps, the Blue Devils should be just fine.

“I really believe that we’re going to have five or six athletes that can keep this thing going,” Rhine said. “With Jenay, we have one of the best players in the state. We’re just going to have to find other girls that can put the ball in the basket. The cycle of kids we’ve had has been unbelievable, and we don’t see any reason for our success to just suddenly fade away.”

At a glance

Opening the season by winning the Franklin County Tip-Off Tournament for a third straight year, the Blue Devils had convincing league victories over Shippensburg and James Buchanan, improving to 4-0.

Then came the rough night at Boiling Springs, when the Bubblers snapped G-A’s 26-game Colonial Division winning streak.

Re-energized by the loss, the Blue Devils routed Trinity on the road before beating Waynesboro for a second time, heading into Christmas break at 6-1.

Again participating in the Lower Dauphin tournament, Faulkner reached the 1,000-point milestone on Dec. 29 against Dover prior to G-A defeating the host Falcons for the tournament title the following night.

Dominant wins over Big Spring, Northern York, East Pennsboro and Shippensburg ensued, with Crist eclipsing 1,000 points against the Greyhounds.

Scheduled as a marquee non-league contest, the Blue Devils trailed Delone Catholic by nine points at halftime on Jan. 18, only to surge back for a 65-48 victory.

Six additional triumphs — including a 71-30 win over Northern when G-A set what’s being recognized as a state record with 16 combined 3’s — led to a winner-take-all finale with Boiling Springs for the Colonial crown.

The showdown lived up to the hype, as G-A found a way in the final seconds to secure a 50-48 victory and a third consecutive division championship.

“That night against Boiling Springs was awesome,” Rhine recalled. “To have the entire community there supporting us was a really neat experience. That’s when we knew we were part of something special.”

A difficult loss to Class AAAA powerhouse Cumberland Valley in the Mid-Penn semifinals was quickly forgotten after a first round victory over Fleetwood to open the District 3-AAA playoffs.

Overcoming a slow start to defeat ELCO in the quarterfinals, G-A made a return trip to Hershey’s Giant Center for a semifinal matchup against Berks Catholic. The Blue Devils struggled with the Saints’ size, falling to the third-place consolation game against Conrad Weiser.

Leaning on its strength, G-A drained 15 makes from downtown en route to a 66-46 rout, entering the state tournament as the third seed from District 3.

A scintillating comeback to beat Scranton Prep, 43-42, sent the Blue Devils to the PIAA’s Round of 16 for a second straight year, where G-A’s sensational campaign came to an end following a 39-22 loss to Gwynedd-Mercy.