A pair of girls’ basketball games last weekend revealed a lot about the Germantown Academy Patriots.

The two contests were part of the 28th Jim Fenerty Make-A-Wish Basketball Showcase, presented by GA’s Community Service Organization. The annual event raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants special wishes for terminally ill children.

In the first contest, on Friday night, the Patriots rolled to a 66-25 victory over an entirely overmatched team from Conwell-Egan Catholic High School. The following night, GA lost 47-32 to undefeated Central Bucks East High School.

Against the C.B. East squad (also nicknamed the Patriots), Germantown only managed to score five points per quarter in the first three periods and trailed 37-15 going into the final frame. The GA girls were able to feel better about themselves after the fourth quarter, as their defense stiffened significantly and they more than tripled their entire offensive output in the previous three periods.

The hosts outscored East 17-10 in the fourth round, but still fell, 47-32, slipping to a record of 6-2 as the Patriots from Bucks County improved to 6-0.

On Friday, Conwell-Egan (0-6) actually led, 4-2, a few minutes into the game. A driving layup and accompanying free throw by sophomore Taylor Williams started a GA run, and the Patriots would score 25 consecutive points before the Eagles would find the basket again.

The score was 44-12 at halftime, and things didn’t improve for the visitors after that. Williams would lead the Patriots in scoring with 13 points, and GA received nine points from junior Claire McKee and eight points apiece from junior Jo Owens, sophomore Julianna Rush, and freshman Chloe Armenakis.

Even with the negligible defensive pressure they faced from Conwell-Egan, the Patriots missed a surprising number of shots from the paint. This would come back to haunt the Pats against the much stronger C.B. East ballclub.

The Patriots from Buckingham are an experienced, disciplined team made up mostly of juniors and seniors. Their roster lists a total of just two freshmen and sophomores; Germantown Academy has 11.

With Williams providing some early points, GA kept pace up to 5-5, but the hosts didn’t score again until midway through the second quarter. It was 10-5 at the end of the first period, and East led 27-10 at halftime.

There was not much difference in time of possession between the teams, but C.B. East operated more efficiently, creating shots quickly and mixing up drives to the basket with perimeter shooting. GA sometimes missed several shots from the paint on the same possession, and poor passes led to turnovers.

East led by as many as 24 points during the third quarter, which ended with a 22-point gap at 37-15.

Now, however, there was a change in the Patriots, who appeared determined not to have the final quarter follow the pattern of the first three.

They started out with a successful layup and free throw by senior Sylvie Harrington. Junior Emma Seckinger drove in to score later in the first minute, and then freshman point guard Sam Kollock bagged a three-point field goal from the top of the key. With 6:18 remaining, C.B. East called a time-out, but when play resumed another layup by Seckinger and a trey by Kollock extended the GA run to 13-0, reducing the visitors’ lead to eight points (29-37).

The Pats ramped up the pressure on defense, pressing effectively, rattling their rivals and causing their shooting percentage to fall.

East’s offensive drought was broken by Jess Lockwood on a baseline drive. With 2:27 on the clock, the action paused following a collision during a scramble for a loose ball. GA’s McKee and C.B. East’s Haley Moran eventually were helped off the floor. Moran would return later, but McKee suffered a cut above the eyebrow that would require stitches.

In the end, Germantown Academy’s deficit incurred over the first 24 minutes was too great to overcome. The Pats put the visitors in the foul bonus late in the game, and East shot six-for-six from the line in the final minute.

Harrington led the home team with 10 points, while Seckinger added seven and Kollock scored six. For the winners, Moran and Lockwood both scored in double figures, with 17 and 11 points, respectively.