Ansbach's Johnathon Austin, right, leads a fast break past Bamberg's Jose Urbaez during the final game of the Division III South high school basketball championships in Katterbach, Germany, on Saturday. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Ansbach's Johnathon Austin, right, leads a fast break past Bamberg's Jose Urbaez during the final game of the Division III South high school basketball championships in Katterbach, Germany, on Saturday. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Ansbach's Shawn Bachtel, left, tries to drive the baseline around Bamberg's Jose Urbaez during the final game of the Division III South high school basketball championships in Katterbach, Germany, on Saturday. Ansbach defeated Bamberg 64-48 to win the title. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
ILLESHEIM, Germany — Baumholder’s gripping defense strangled Ansbach on Saturday as the Lady Bucs captured the girls’ basketball Division-III South title, 47-32.
Down the road in Katterbach, the Ansbach boys team fared better, beating Bamberg 64-48.
Baumholder’s Lady Bucs, the defending European Division III champs, will host the European championship next weekend. They came out strong, scoring eight points in the first three minutes. Freshman Tisha Schelas helped lead the charge, scoring eight of her 10 points in the first half.
“I brought her out to mix it up,” said Bucs coach Carter Hollenbeck. “We’ve been waiting for her to step it up, and she did.”
Baumholder junior Tiffany McNeil scored 13 points and had 25 rebounds.
McNeil’s shots, coupled with Katie Feterl’s solid skills were the difference, Hollenbeck said.
While the Baumholder girls maintained a steady offense, it was their defense that kept Cougar shooters cold from the field.
“We’re a defensive-minded team,” Hollenbeck said.
Among the defenders, senior Sarah Karayannis found her own unique way of fending off Ansbach players — scary faces and shouts.
“It’s not a plan. It just happens,” Karayannis said. “I try to mess them up, get in their heads.”
By halftime, the score was 27-14.
Ansbach was led by Nadia Freeman and Keke Johnson, who scored 9 points.
The Cougars lost several shot and rebound opportunities, “missed chances,” as Ansbach coach Mick Plummer called them.
The Cougars’ height advantage also worked against them, Plummer said. After four games in two days, the girls were tired, he said.
“We just didn’t have the legs,” Plummer said. “They had better legs.”
The Lady Bucs nearly dominated the third quarter, stretching their lead to 39-19.
During the first 90 seconds of the final quarter, Ansbach reeled off eight points, cutting the deficit to 12.
“They made a real nice run,” Plummer said. “I’m proud of them.”
Both Baumholder and Ansbach finished 10-2 this season.
In the boys game, played in nearby Katterbach, Ansbach beat Bamberg 64-48.
Ansbach jumped to a 17-11 first-quarter lead and never looked back, increasing the lead to 32-20 by the half.
Jon Austin was Ansbach’s high scorer with 23 points.
The win surprised Ansbach coach Ted Marr, after Bamberg “whipped them” Friday evening, he said.
“And we whipped their tail today,” Marr said. “They missed some early while we got some shots early. That gave us confidence.”
The Ansbach and Bamberg boys teams move on to the European championship next week at Baumholder.
Baumholder’s Lady Bucs and the Ansbach Cougars girls team will also be there.
