In the first two basketball games they played last week, the girls of Germantown Academy defeated one of the top teams in the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies, and a former member of that league.

The third contest for the Patriots presented a stiffer challenge, as they took on Universal Audenreid Charter School, the defending champion in both the Philadelphia Public League and PIAA District 12.

On Tuesday, GA hosted Villa Maria Academy in a contest that was close most of the way before the Patriots pulled away late to win 45-34. Nazareth Academy, which left the AACA a year ago to join the Philadelphia Catholic League, lost to Germantown on Friday, 52-38.

Friday and Saturday's games were part of GA's annual Make-A-Wish Basketball Showcase. Now in its 27th year at the school, the event raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants special wishes for terminally ill children.

In their second game of the showcase, the Patriots were initially overwhelmed by the Audenreid Rockets, but played better in the second half before ultimately succumbing, 75-59.

Several early baskets, including one coming off of a steal, propelled the Rockets to a 7-0 lead before GA scored with a lay-up by freshman forward Taylor Williams. Five minutes into the contest, Audenreid opened up a double-digit lead at 16-6 as GA struggled with the visitors' pace of play and had a number of passes picked off.

Williams would add another lay-up and two free throws for GA, but the Patriots still trailed, 20-10 at the end of the first quarter. Patriots senior Gabby Bowes got going in the second quarter with three pointers from the right corner and the top of the key, and her classmate Jessica Kolecki completed an and-one three-point play.

Still, the Pats got doubled up again in the second quarter, as the Rockets outscored them, 18-9, to lead 38-19 at halftime. Shayla Smith, a 5'10" senior combo guard, showed why she's one of Penn State's top recruits as she piled up 20 over the first two periods.

The Patriots' two seniors, Bowes and Kolecki, continued to improve their performance in the second half, which is when Bowes scored 13 of her team-high 19 points and Kolecki scored 10 of her 13.

Things didn't change much during the first five minutes of the third quarter as the score rose to 46-28. GA then produced its best stretch of offense in the game, starting with a three-pointer from the right corner by junior guard Jennifer Fox, who then added two made free throws.

Scoring in transition off of a pass by junior Anna Weber, Kolecki also put in a free throw awarded on the play. A transition bucket by Bowes followed, and Germantown had its deficit down in single digits, 46-38. At the end of the period, Audenreid's Heaven Reese canned a three-point shot from the right wing to make it 49-38 at the three-quarter mark.

Early in the fourth frame, the Patriots got within seven points of the leaders when Bowes scored back-to-back with a baseline jumper and a lay-up. Audenreid called time-out, with 5:31 remaining in the game and the score at 53-46. The Rockets' starters reasserted themselves after that, and the visitors drew away again to win by 16 points.

Smith came away with 32 points for the victors, who received 11 points apiece from Nasiaah Russell and Reynah Ratliff. Backing up Bowes and Kolecki, Williams finished with 11 points for GA and Fox scored seven. Rounding out the Patriots' total were four points from Sylvie Harrington, three from Azzure O'Connor, and two from Jo Owens.