Germantown Academy’s Jess Kolecki, 10, goes up for a shot against Archbishop Carroll during their game at the Hoops for Hope Classic on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Arcadia University. (Mike Cabrey/MediaNews Group)
By GQLSHARE
The fourth quarter has been a sticking point for Germantown Academy girls basketball.
In the Patriots’ three losses this season, the final frame presented the bulk of their frustration. Pushed into another close game against another quality opponent Sunday against Archbishop Carroll in the Hoops for Hope Classic at Arcadia University, it came down to the fourth again.
This time, GA was able to close out, picking up a 40-32 win over last year’s PIAA 6A champions.
“We worked on it every single day at practice,” GA senior Isabella Casey said. “Facing that pressure is something we’ve struggled with a little bit this season, so we showed up every day and worked on it this week.”
It might seem odd to say GA (13-3, 3-0 Inter-Ac) closed strong in a fourth quarter where the team didn’t convert a field goal, but unlike last week’s loss to Audenried or earlier setbacks to Cardinal O’Hara and Friends’ Central, it ended with a win. Much of it had to do with a defensive effort that held Carroll (7-5, 2-0 PCL) to just nine second-half points.
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