Mother Nature helped decide the outcome of the boys Division III-South race.
Saturday’s game between Ansbach and Bamberg was canceled due to snow, making Ansbach, which beat Bamberg 48-36 on Friday, the regular-season champion.
The teams were 6-0 entering the weekend, but after the Cougars won, Bamberg had to win by at least 13 points Saturday to win the title. Bamberg never got the chance.
“Fortunately, we have the tournament to add closure to the season,” Ansbach coach Ted Marr said. “I think there’s a real good chance we’ll meet Bamberg in the finals.”
Ansbach finished the regular season 10-3. Bamberg, which started 0-6, is 6-7.
The DODDS championship tournament for all four divisions is scheduled to begin in Mannheim, Germany, on Wednesday.
Lions win D-I crown
Heidelberg, winners of the past five Division I championships, secured the top seed for the tournament as regular-season division champion.
Friday’s 59-58 home victory over Wiesbaden clinched the division title for Heidelberg, which defeated Wurzburg 51-35 on Saturday to improve to 6-0 in league play.
Heidelberg, which lost in overtime to Kaiserslautern last weekend, scored 19 points in the first quarter against Wiesbaden before withstanding a rally.
Damon Fleming led the Lions (11-3 overall) with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Wiesbaden was led by David Bradford (13 points). The Warriors entered Saturday’s game at Kaiserslautern 2-3 in Division I and 7-6 overall.
Naples sweeps Sigonella
Naples locked up second place in the American Schools in Italy conference with two victories over visiting Sigonella.
Led by Andrew Watson’s with 20 points, the Wildcats won 84-50 on Friday. Noah Stevenson had 18 points in Saturday’s 64-50 triumph.
Naples finished the regular season 12-2, losing twice to Aviano (14-0). Both teams will play in the Division II championships.
Sigonella (3-5, 7-7) will play in D-III.
Alex Steele is a Stars and Stripes sports clerk.
