AFNORTH’s Nathan Goldsmith, left, and Ronnie Macauley stop Alconbury’s Bohdan Andre’s drive to the basket in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. The Lions beat the Dragons 66-47. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

BAUMHOLDER, Germany – It was business as usual for the top teams in DODEA-Europe’s small-school division Wednesday, but upsets at the end of the day added some drama.

Top-seeded boys squad Baumholder and No. 1 girls team Sigonella had no issues in their two games at the first day of the season-ending Division III basketball championships. In fact, both looked like they might clinch spots in Friday’s semifinals until a pair of upsets in the final games of the day by Brussels.

The Hohenfels boys and Ansbach girls each needed victories over the Brigands to clinch semifinal spots not only for themselves, but the Baumholder boys and Sigonella girls.

But the Brussels girls, with only one victory on the season heading into the game, squeaked out a 15-14 win. And the boys, who had lost all 14 games this year, stunned the Tigers 43-37.

So now all those teams are capable of advancing from Pool A.

Spangdahlem and AFNORTH, second and third in boys seeding and third and second in girls, respectively, also had perfect days. Wins by all four teams in early action Thursday would clinch spots and mean the day’s final matchups featuring the four teams would just determine who plays whom in the semifinals.

Baumholder’s Adrianna Lopez, left, and Alconbury’s Saniya Townes fight for a loose ball in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. Baumholder won 21-15. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder’s Johnathan Kimuli tries to take it to the hoop between Sigonella’s Deshawn Wallace, left, and Christopher Hedemand. Top seed Baumholder beat the Jaguars 54-40, in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach’s Trinity Batin, right, tries to stop a fast break by Hohenfels’ Malea Jobity in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. Ansbach won the game 47-34. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

In a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Spangdahlem’s Messiah Smith shots over Ankara’s Andrew Lofay, left, and Adeeb Ahang. The Sentinels won 42-2. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Brussels’ Abagail Halttunen reaches in to try to grab a rebound from Sigonella’s Leila Denton in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. Sigonella beat the Brigands 39-6. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels’ Tavon Washington attempts a shot over Sigonella’s Andrew Martin in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. The Tigers beat the Jaguars 40-27. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Ankara’s Nino Jabanashvili, left, defends against Spangdahlem’s Isabel Bodily in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. Spangdahlem won 39-6. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem’s Casey Supinger attempts to block a shot by Ansbach’s Lucas Rudy, as their teammates watch the action in a D-III game on opening day of the DODEA-Europe basketball finals in Baumholder, Germany, Feb. 15, 2023. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

The Jaguar girls improved to 7-0 on the season against D-III opponents after spending most of the season playing D-II competition in Italy.

Leila Denton (12 points) and Ryleigh Denton (10) led seven scorers in a 39-7 win over Brussels. Then Laney Reardon (15), Fabiola Mercado-Rodriguez (13) and Leila Denton (9) paced the attack in a 46-23 triumph over Hohenfels.

“We have really balanced scoring,” coach Michelle Chandler said in a phone interview. “Anyone can lead us in scoring. We’re starting to click and use everyone on the floor.”

Sigonella defeated Ansbach 32-17 in late January. But Chandler said her team isn’t taking what might be a must-win game between the two teams on Thursday lightly.

“They’re tough and well coached,” she said. “And big.”

Defense was the key for Baumholder’s boys, according to coach DeWayne Piggé in the Bucs’ 28-24 win over Brussels and 54-40 victory over Sigonella.

But he said he still is seeking improvement in that area.

“Defense is what leads to our offense,” said Piggé, who has coached the Bucs to four straight divisional championships.

Baumholder will need a win over Hohenfels on Thursday to clinch a spot, though the Bucs could also advance in a few other ways depending on results.

Spangdahlem, which split with Baumholder in the final weekend of the season, defeated Ankara 42-2 and Ansbach 61-25 in Pool B action. AFNORTH topped Ankara 45-2 and Alconbury 66-47.

In Pool B girls play, the Sentinels overwhelmed Ankara 39-6 and topped Alconbury 38-31, while the Lions blitzed Ankara 39-2 and defeated Baumholder 23-8.

Action resumes at 9 a.m. Thursday, with the girls at the high school and boys at the Hall of Champions. Friday’s semifinals start at 11 a.m., with all four games at the Hall of Champions gym.