Stuttgart's Tyler Jackson steals the ball off Ramstein's Jahrid Longsworth during a basketball game on Dec. 8, 2023, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
The Vicenza Cougars haven’t been in this position in a decade.
They enter this week’s DODEA European boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, as the favorite in Division II. The Cougars ran roughshod through the division during the regular season, reeling off 10 consecutive wins after dropping their first four contests to D-I foes Stuttgart and Vilseck.
It’s a new feeling for the current Vicenza players. And it’s a step in the right direction for longtime coach Jesse Woods.
“Normally, over the past eight or nine years, we’d go down and win one game, if that,” Woods said. “Just the talent level they were always a step above ours. I think we kind of leveled that out this year.”
Another squad not used to being the team to beat heading into the tournament – set for the Wiesbaden Fitness Center at Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden High School and Wiesbaden Middle School – is Spangdahlem.
The Sentinels have lived in Baumholder’s shadow for the past five seasons, just like everyone else in Division III. But following a 14-0 and 12-0 regular season, which included wins over Division I foe Wiesbaden, nobody will be sleeping on Spangdahlem.
“I have been telling them that everybody’s going to be gunning for you,” Sentinel coach Mark Jackson said. “You are still undefeated right now. They’re looking to be the first team to give you a loss or knock you out.
“If they’re not on, if their effort level’s not there and think they’re going to waltz through this tournament, they can be upended easily.”
Stuttgart knows all too well about being upended in the tournament. The Panthers dropped their 2023 tourney opener against Ramstein after running the gauntlet during the regular season.
Stuttgart bounced back and won the 2023 crown, and will be looking to repeat that feat this week.
Well, except without the opening loss part when Stuttgart steps onto the Wiesbaden Fitness Center court at 1 p.m. Wednesday against Lakenheath.
“We weren’t even upset with the loss (to Ramstein),” Stuttgart coach Christopher Jackson said. “We don’t have to do anything differently coming into our first game this year. We just got to be better at what we do.”
Vicenza’s Joe Kelly puts up a shot Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in a game against Naples in Vicenza, Italy. The Cougars won 65-49. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
What the Panthers do is play stifling defense. Stuttgart gave up 27.6 points per game during the regular season, while allowing 40 or more points just four times – Ramstein twice (40 on Dec. 8 and 43 on Dec. 9), Vilseck (44 on Jan. 26) and SHAPE (40 on Feb. 3).
On the offensive end, meanwhile, the Panthers are scoring 57.3 points per contest. And they are getting contributions from numerous players, including 2022-2023 all-European backcourt in Ismael Anglada-Paz and Tyler Jackson, Jacob Schudel and Ryan Stevenson, among others.
“They say every day, ‘I don’t care who’s leading us offensively, but we all better be leading us defensively,’” Christopher Jackson said. “We all better be doing the right things on the defensive end, and on the offensive end, whoever is the recipient of great passing or running the offense correctly scores more.”
Spangdahlem also boasts a balanced lineup, although the team can bank on a couple of key players such as Robert Leggett, Cameron Lewis, Makario Drummond and Messiah Smith.
That team mentality proved vital in a 65-59 comeback victory over Hohenfels on Jan 25. The Sentinels anticipate seeing the Tigers at some point in the tournament, possibly in the final.
“Now, it’s going to be a totally different matchup if we see them again,” Mark Jackson said of Hohenfels. “I’m sure they’re going to be running something new at us that we have to be prepared for during this time.”
All three coaches warned of complacency being the biggest obstacle to bringing home the trophy on Saturday.
That’s why all three stressed effort over the four days as the main factor toward advancing through the pools and knock-out play.
The drive for consistent effort shouldn’t be too hard for Ben Harlow, junior Jace Herron, post players Joe Kelly and Simone Gilbert and the rest of the Cougars, according to their coach.
“They expect to get out there and play hard, and if they play hard, the result will be a win,” Woods said of the Cougars. “They’re not playing to lose. They’re starting to execute and doing the little things.”
Spagdahlem's Makario Drummond backs down Hohenfels' Jayden Ruelas in the low block during a basketball game on Jan. 26, 2024, at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
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