STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON CITYOFBASKETBALLLOVE.COM ON DEC. 4, 2025 | BY JOSH VERLIN

The John Cox era at Germantown Academy is off and running.

The Patriots’ second game of the season ended up being the first win for their new head coach, with junior wing James Brenner pacing five teammates in double figures as the Germantown Academy boys beat Friends’ Central 74-61 in the second game of the doubleheader. 

A former Unionville wing, Brenner went for 19 points and 16 rebounds in his second game in a GA uniform. The 6-7, 200-pound forward was super-aggressive around the rim, grabbing four offensive rebounds and attacking every closeout to get to the rack. 

He said he’d gained 10-15 pounds and increased his vertical by five inches since starting at GA, working with Cox — a former Division I ballplayer and longtime pro — and the rest of the Patriots’ staff. And he’s learning how to put it all to best use.

“It’s definitely an effort thing, when it comes down to it,” he said. “It’s about playing hard. You’re not going to shoot the ball every possession so it’s about making differences outside of scoring. Really [that’s] just the mentality of our whole team.”

Junior wing Finn Reckner (13 points, 7 rebounds), sophomore guard Anthony Stuard (11 points, 5 assists), sophomore wing Judah Sterling (11 points, 3 rebounds) and senior wing Mick McKee (10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) all played well as all five starters got into double figures in a game that Germantown Academy (1-1) trailed 24-18 at first but railed to lead 34-33 at half and 52-46 after three quarters before finishing strong down the stretch. 

Junior guard Patrese Feamster paced Friends’ Central (0-7) with 21 points and six rebounds; junior forward Oben Mokonchu added a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double and senior guard Gabe Moore scored 12 points.