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Hanau's Xavier James, right, is stopped in the paint by Bitburg's Perry Hardy during a DODDS high school basketball matchup in Hanau, Germany, Friday night. Bitburg defeated Hanau 41-35.

Hanau's Xavier James, right, is stopped in the paint by Bitburg's Perry Hardy during a DODDS high school basketball matchup in Hanau, Germany, Friday night. Bitburg defeated Hanau 41-35. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)

Hanau's Xavier James, right, is stopped in the paint by Bitburg's Perry Hardy during a DODDS high school basketball matchup in Hanau, Germany, Friday night. Bitburg defeated Hanau 41-35.

Hanau's Xavier James, right, is stopped in the paint by Bitburg's Perry Hardy during a DODDS high school basketball matchup in Hanau, Germany, Friday night. Bitburg defeated Hanau 41-35. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)

Hanau's Marcus Fontanez passes after picking up a loose ball at midcourt during Friday's game.

Hanau's Marcus Fontanez passes after picking up a loose ball at midcourt during Friday's game. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)

Bitburg's Nick Brown, center, grabs a rebound between teammate Trey Wilson and Hanau's Marcus Fontanez.

Bitburg's Nick Brown, center, grabs a rebound between teammate Trey Wilson and Hanau's Marcus Fontanez. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)

(Game summaries at end of story)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Only Naples could stop the Aviano boys’ high school basketball team last season.

But the Wildcats, who defeated the Saints four times en route to a European Division III championship, didn’t fare as well this weekend. Aviano blew open the game Saturday in the second quarter and coasted to a 66-44 victory. That followed a 76-63 win Friday night and helped the Saints improve to 6-0.

“At this point, we’re obviously not as good a team as they are,” Naples coach Richard Elliott said. “They’re extremely athletic at every position and they have balanced scoring, quickness and they hustle.”

Junior Dustin Miller, the leading scorer in Europe last year, paced Aviano with 29 points. Carl Cephas added 13 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Williams scored eight. But it was a pair of dunks in the second quarter by Jaques Watson that got the crowd to its feet and helped the Saints pull away.

Watson, the Saints’ tallest player at 6-feet, 2-inches, had a pair of breakaway layups turned into one-handed stuffs as Aviano outscored Naples 22-13 to take a 21-point lead at the half.

Miller, normally a deadly outside shooter, couldn’t make anything longer than a few feet Saturday. But he scored 13 times on drives to the basket.

Aviano coach Ken McNeely said teams could try to key on him the rest of the year if they want.

“That’s OK,” he said. “It just opens the door for everyone else.”

Everyone else includes Williams, who led the team with 24 points Friday night, and Cephas, a 6-footer whose jumping ability makes him the team’s top rebounder. The junior forward had 11 of his 13 points in the first half to help the Saints build their lead.

Naples center Mark Pearyer had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead the Wildcats (4-2). Andrew Watson and John Lezama each added nine points.

Miller had 17 points and Cephas added 12 Friday night. Pearyer led the Wildcats with 17 points, Josh Kaimikaua scored 15 and Watson and Noah Stevenson each added 10.

In other games of note Friday and Saturday:

Red Raiders stay unbeaten

At Mannheim, Division I leader Kaiserslautern ran its record to 6-0 Friday night with a 55-41 victory over Mannheim (6-2) of Division II.

Both of Mannheim’s losses have been to Division I teams.

Jamal Anene led K-town with 11 points, and Brian Hill and Aaron Ellis grabbed 11 and nine rebounds, respectively. The 6-foot-9-inch Ellis, a junior, also blocked four Mannheim shots.

The Red Raiders were coming off a 63-55 Division I conference victory Wednesday night at Ramstein which gave them a 1-0 conference mark. It was Ktown’s second victory of the season over Ramstein. On Jan. 8, the Red Raiders downed Ramstein 60-43 at home in a game designated as non-conference.

Earl Lee led Mannheim with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

London Central sweeps Alconbury

At High Wycombe, England, London Central (5-3; 2-0 in III-North) got big efforts from dormitory students David Marbury and Danny Melville in claiming 63-50 and 62-46 victories over visiting Alconbury on Friday and Saturday.

Marbury burned Alconbury (0-2) for 21 points and 14 rebounds on Friday in a non-conference game; Melville added 20 points and 17 rebounds.

In Saturday’s conference game, Melville led the way with 19 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and four assists. Marbury added 14 points and five rebounds.

Same size suits Bamberg

Dillon Baker scored 16 points and Kris Starr and Carlos Zapata added 10 each as homestanding Bamberg won its first game of the season in its first game against a Division III school.

Bamberg had lost its first six games, all against Division I or Division II schools. Hohenfels (2-6; 1-1 III-South), which had lost all five of its games against Division I and II opponents, suffered its first loss of the season against a D-III team.

Ansbach retains III-South lead

At Ansbach, the unbeaten in Division III Cougars (5-2; 2-0 III-South) romped past the Baumholder Bucs 49-29 on Friday and 44-23 on Saturday.

All-Europe returnee Russell Bailey led the way in scoring both days. He scored 14 points with six rebounds and four assists on Friday, then came back in Saturday’s III-South conference game with 11 points and four assists.

Baumholder fell to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in III-South.

Vilseck stays in D-II hunt

At Vilseck, Jamaal Johnson scored 17 points in Friday’s 54-38 conquest of Black Forest Academy and 18 in Saturday’s 46-40 Division II victory.

The Falcons (5-1; 2-1 Div. II) stayed within reach of Division II leader Mannheim, which has won both of it’s Division II games.

Black Forest Academy fell to 4-4 (1-2).

Game summaries

Kaiserslautern 63, Ramstein 55

(Wednesday at Ramstein)

Kaiserslautern..........16 19 17 11-63

Ramstein..........10 21 9 15-55

Top scorers-Kais: Julian Smalls 16, Aaron Ellis 14, Clinton Robinson 9; Rams: Alex Tremble 16, Allen Weaver 15, Eric Murray 9.

Noteworthy-K-town got 11 rebounds from Jamal Anene and 10 from Quinton Strawder. Tremble had 8 rebounds and Murray 6 for Ramstein.

JV-Ramstein 53, Kaiserslautern 51.

Heidelberg 49, Ramstein 38

(Friday at Heidelberg)

Ramstein..........10 18 4 6-38

Heidelberg..........13 8 13 15-49

Top scorers-Ram: Brennon Relaford 14, Allen Weaver 8, Showers 6; Heid: Chris Jones 15, Brandon Grant 9, Damon Fleming 9, T.C. Blanks 8, Tyreke Wesley 6.

Noteworthy-Heidelberg's Fleming led all players with 12 rebounds. Teammate Jones added 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, Blanks grabbed 6 rebounds and 5 steals, and Grant added 4 steals and 2 assists. Relaford had 9 rebounds for Ramstein and teammate Alex Tremble added 6.

ISB 48, Wiesbaden 31

(Friday at International School of Brussels; score by quarters unavailable)

Top scorers-Wies: Robert Edwards 9, Bryce Lee 7; ISB: Guy Gershon 17, Nicholas Foreman 11, Matt McKenna 9.

Wiesbaden 52, ISB 45

(Saturday at International School of Brussels; score by quarters unavailable)

Top scorers-Wies: Edwards 23; ISB: Gershon 12, Philip Lipman 11, Foreman 8.

Vilseck 54, BFA 38

(Friday at Vilseck)

Black Forest Academy..........9 12 6 11-38

Vilseck..........13 10 16 15-54

Top scorers-BFA: Ken Reed 10, Brett Marcos 7, Shawn Newby 7; Vils: Jamaal Johnson 17, Derrick Jones 10, Rodney Morgan 8, Aaron Vernon 8.

Noteworthy-Jones and Kevin Pollock each pulled down 13 rebounds for Vilseck. Reed had 7 rebounds and Scott Custer 6 for BFA.

JV-BFA 27, Vilseck 18.

Vilseck 46, BFA 40

(Saturday at Vilseck)

Black Forest Academy..........10 16 8 6-40

Vilseck..........6 14 15 11-46

Top scorers-BFA: Newby 15, Reed 12, Custer 5; Vils: Johnson 18, Jones 8, Vernon 7.

Noteworthy-Vilseck got 10 rebounds from Pollock and 7 from Jones and 4 steals each from Johnson and Morgan. BFA got 11 rebounds from Reed.

JV-BFA 34, Vilseck 30.

Bitburg 41, Hanau 35

(Friday at Hanau)

Bitburg..........6 6 6 23-41

Hanau..........6 8 8 13-35

Top scorers-Bit: Trey Wilson 13, Nick Brown 13, Perry Hardy 8; Han: Marcus Fontanez 18, Xavier James 5.

Noteworthy-Bitburg made 10 of 11 free throws. Brown led all rebounders with 14, teammate Hardy grabbed 8. Fontanez led Hanau with 9 rebounds and Malcom Lane added 7.

JV-Hanau 32, Bitburg 30

Hanau 48, Bitburg 31

(Saturday at Hanau)

Bitburg..........6 6 13 6-31

Hanau..........14 6 10 18-48

Top scorers-Bit: Charles Whatley 10, Brown 7; Han: Jeremy Marshall 24, Lane 10, Fontanez 8.

Noteworthy-Bitburg was held to 3 field goals in the first half. Hanau's Fontanez led all rebounders with 11. Brown led Bitburg in rebounding with 10.

JV-Bitburg 26, Hanau 22

London Central 63, Alconbury 50

(Friday at High Wycombe, England)

Alconbury..........6 9 14 21-50

London Central..........8 19 18 18-63

Top scorers-Alc: Andrew Hunt 14, Xavier Ferguson 8, Nigel Kelly 8; LC: David Marbury 21, Danny Melville 20, Jesse Ditter 11, Foxy Thomas 8.

Noteworthy-Melville had 17 rebounds and Marbury 14 for London Central, which got 8 rebounds from Ditter.

London Central 62, Alconbury 46

(Saturday at High Wycombe, England)

Alconbury..........14 11 10 11-46

London Central..........19 22 12 9-62

Top scorers-Alc: Ben Davis 12, Hunt 9; LC: Melville 19, Marbury 14, Ditter 11.

Noteworthy-London Central got 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists from Melville, a dorm student whose parents are assigned to Paris. Anthony Orbita handed out 5 assists for London Central, which got 5 rebounds from Marbury and 4 steals from Ditter.

Ansbach 49, Baumholder 29

(Friday at Ansbach)

Baumholder..........11 4 6 8-29

Ansbach..........15 18 5 11-49

Top scorers-Baum: Tyriek Boyne 11, Chris Bray 9, Mike Denson 9; Ansb: Russell Bailey 14, Brandon Bachtel 12, Tyler Sherman 8.

Noteworthy-Taurean Moore led Ansbach with 11 rebounds; Sherman added 9. Bachtel posted 5 steals and Bailey 4 assists for the Cougars.

JV-Ansbach 51, Baumholder 28.

Ansbach 44, Baumholder 23

(Saturday at Ansbach)

Baumholder..........6 4 8 5-23

Ansbach..........10 14 18 2-44

Top scorers-Baum: Bray 9, Denson ; Ansb: Bailey 11, Bachtel 9, Sherman 9.

Noteworthy-Sheriman had 7 rebounds and Moore 5 for Ansbach, which got 4 steals from Dameon Outley. Bailey added 4 assists for Ansbach.

JV-Ansbach 34, Baumholder 30.

Bamberg 56, Hohenfels 44

(Friday at Bamberg)

Hohenfels..........5 14 10 15-44

Bamberg..........15 11 15 15-56

Top scorers-Hoh: B.J. Denson 14, Mike Tillberg 8, Anthony Marshall 8; Bamb: Dillon Baker 16, Kris Starr 10, Carlos Zapata 10.

Noteworthy-Marshall led all rebounders with 16; Denson added 8 for Hohenfels. Bamberg, which won its first game of the season, got 10 rebounds each from Zapata and Miguel Lozada.

Aviano 76, Naples 63

(Friday at Aviano)

Naples..........12 9 16 26-63

Aviano..........22 24 11 19-76

Top scorers-Napl: Mark Pearyer 17, Josh Kaimikaua 15, Andrew Watson 10, Noah Stevenson 10; Avi: Tony Williams 24, Dustin Miller 17, Carl Cephas 12.

Aviano 66, Naples 44

(Saturday at Aviano)

Naples..........9 7 15 13-44

Aviano..........15 22 11 18-66

Top scorers-Napl: Pearyer 12, John Lezama 9, Watson 9; Avi: Miller 29, Cephas 13, Williams 8.

Noteworthy-Cephas grabbed 13 rebounds for Aviano. Pearyer posted 7 rebounds and Lezama 6 for Naples.

Livorno 44, Marymount 37

(Friday at Livorno)

Marymount..........8 10 7 12-37

Livorno..........8 13 6 17-44

Top scorers-Mmt: Ike Enweze 13, Chan Lee 10, Nicholas Zinzi 9; Liv: D'Angelo Hall 14, Terrell Murphy 13, Travis Murphy 11.

Livorno 41, Marymount 37

(Saturday at Livorno)

Marymount..........11 0 10 16-37

Livorno..........11 11 13 6-41

Top scorers-Mmt: Enweze 18, Zinzi 10; Liv: Hall 13, Terrell Murphy 10.

Sigonella 62, AOSR 35

(Friday at American Overseas School of Rome; score by quarters unavailable)

Top scorers-Sig: Michael Petty 14, B.J. Washington 15; AOSR: Unavailable.

AOSR 54, Sigonella 47

(Saturday at AOSR; score by quarters unavailable)

Top scorers-Unavailable.

Vicenza 71, Milan 30

(Friday at Milan; details unavailable)

Vicenza 67, Milan 26

(Saturday at Milan; details unavailable)

Noteworthy-Twin mercy-rule victories improved Vicenza's record to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in league play. Vicenza will host Italy co-leader Aviano on Friday and Saturday.

Kaiserslautern 55, Mannheim 41

(Friday at Mannheim)

Kaiserslautern..........8 15 15 17-55

Mannheim..........9 10 10 12-41

Top scorers-Kais: Anene 11, Strawder 9, Robinson 8, Smalls 8; Mann: Earl Lee 12, Reggie Jenkins 7, Jamal Womble 7.

Noteworthy-Kaiserslautern improved to 6-0 behind 11 rebounds from Brian Hill, 10 assists from Smalls and 9 rebounds and 4 blocked shots by Ellis. Mannheim lost despite 13 rebounds by Lee, 7 by Khali Brown and 5 by Ricky Polee. Ricky Gardner made 4 steals and Womble 3 for Mannheim.

JV-Kaiserslautern 36, Mannheim 34.

SHAPE 66, ISB 52

(Wednesday at SHAPE, Belgium)

Int'l. Sch. of Brussels..........12 3 21 16-52

SHAPE..........8 14 16 28-66

Top scorers-ISB: Nick Foreman 11, Guy Gershin 9; SHP: Vernon Fowler 19, Joe Puttmann 12.

Iceland 75, Sangerdi 42

(Friday in Keflavik, Iceland)

Sangerdi..........3 17 7 15-42

Iceland..........14 21 19 21-75

Top scoers-Sangerdi (club team) unavailable; Ice: T.J. Short 19, Brent Bautista 14, Anjo Castro 14, Jay Sison 12, Scott Barclay 12.

Lakenheath 54, AFNORTH 51

(Friday at Brunssum, Netherlands)

Lakenheath..........19 12 10 13-54

AFNORTH..........10 16 16 9-51

Top scorers-Lake: Josh Nauheimer 21, Chad Shockley 15, Justin King 13; AFN: Emmanuel Waters 23, Mike Wigley 10. Karim Preston 8.

Noteworthy-Wigley grabbed 20 rebounds and Preston 13 for AFNORTH.

JV-AFNORTH 24, Lakenheath 23.

author picture
Kent has filled numerous roles at Stars and Stripes including: copy editor, news editor, desk editor, reporter/photographer, web editor and overseas sports editor. Based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, he’s been TDY to countries such as Afghanistan Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia. Born in California, he’s a 1988 graduate of Humboldt State University and has been a journalist for 40 years.

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