Stuttgart guard Anthony Hooks drives to the baseline against Lakenheath guard Christopher Cabrera during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – Normally, teams are rewarded for winning their pools at the DODEA European basketball championships.
The Stuttgart boys basketball team must be scratching its head Thursday after accomplishing that feat with a 57-24 victory over Lakenheath at Wiesbaden High School.
The Panthers went a perfect 3-0 in their pool play in Division I – and they were given the prize of Kaiserslautern, the second-place squad in the other pool. The Raiders handled their business with a 59-40 victory over SHAPE earlier that day.
The Raiders and Panthers split the season series, and Kaiserslautern center Garrett Vitter poses a matchup problem.
Outwardly, Stuttgart seems to be taking this in stride – or at least taking it as motivation for the semifinals, which are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Wiesbaden High School.
“We use everything as fuel, good or bad, and we just bounce back the best that we can,” Stuttgart senior guard Adrian Anglada Paz said.
The Panthers aren’t the only ones with tough opposition in the semifinals. Wiesbaden, the top seed and the defending champion, gets the pleasure of facing Ramstein, the third seed. The two produced a pair of close encounters earlier this season.
The Warriors clinched their pool with a 67-33 victory over SHAPE. Ramstein, meanwhile, took care of business with a 64-52 win over Vilseck and a 64-38 triumph over Lakenheath in the night’s last contest.
Lakenheath junior Audri Applewhite attempts to pass the ball after a rebound as Ramstein Feliciana Davis defends during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE shooting guard Luca Romano tries to find space for a shot in the low block against Kaiserslautern center Garrett Vitter during pool play of the DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern guard Jaiden Reid runs into SHAPE power forward Zebulun Dinwiddie in the lane during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026 at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE junior Patricia Fernandez and Vilseck guard Scarlett Boersma fight for a loose ball during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
The theme in the big-school division is how tight the games have been among the top group of teams. Many involved anticipate that to carry on during the semifinal round.
“Everybody equal,” Ramstein guard Awwab Noble said. “There’s not one team that’s that much better than the others.”
Wiesbaden’s Joel Idowu explained how the importance of the small details are going to play a key role in deciding the winners.
“The more disciplined and hustle team is going to come out on top,” Idowu said. “I’m expecting a physical game, a very fast-paced game.”
Even though the Panthers are acquainted with Vitter and have a game plan for him, 6-foot-5 forward Max Andrysiak said the Panthers can’t be too focused on him.
“They can shoot, but other than that, we’re here to play our game,” Andrysiak said. “We’re not going to worry about what they’re going to do.”
Kaiserslautern, meanwhile, has the confidence boost from a 45-40 victory over Stuttgart on Jan. 24. Not that the Raiders will let that get to their heads.
“We’re not going to underestimate them,” Vitter said. “We’re going to play them like any other team. We’re going to do our best to break them down.
“It’s going to be a close game, but hopefully we pull through.”
Vilseck forward Mayela Lokeni goes for a layup ahead of SHAPE center Iaila Leafaitulagi Ioane during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein guard Breanna Olivas throws a no-look pass in front of Lakenheath power forward Annabella Potenzone, foreground center, during pool play of the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern guard LaMya Fleeton attempts to control the ball as Wiesbaden junior Lillian Lovern defends during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Vilseck and Kaiserslautern are more than aware of their status as underdogs heading into Friday’s semifinals.
Both placed second in their respective pools after losing to the top seeds during the opening day.
The Falcons booked their ticket into the knockout rounds with a 38-23 win over SHAPE in Thursday’s opening game.
The Raiders survived a major scare from fifth-seeded Wiesbaden, holding on for a 29-28 victory. Kaiserslautern proceeded to hammer Lakenheath 47-14 later.
Vilseck will take on Ramstein, which clinched its pool with a 39-12 victory over the Lancers.
Just getting to the semifinal round isn’t enough, Vilseck’s Mayela Lokeni said. To do that, the Falcons can’t be overwhelmed before stepping onto the court with a team that beat them by 71 points over two regular-season games.
“A big thing is changing our mindset and not playing as frantic when we’re nervous,” Mayela Lokeni said.
Unlike the Falcons, the Raiders have experienced some success against their semifinal opponent, Stuttgart. Kaiserslautern led for three quarters in their first regular-season matchup before the Panthers clawed back.
That gives the Raiders some hope, guard LaMya Fleeton said.
“When we had our ups, we knew can play at the same playing field as Stuttgart,” she said.
Ramstein and Stuttgart aren’t looking too far ahead of a potential title match.
“We just need to stay more focused, stay together and play team basketball,” Ramstein guard Feliciana Davis said.
“We just got to lock in and play our best, play how our coach expects us to,” Stuttgart guard Alicia Wiggins said.
Ramstein guard Awwab Nobel drives on the fast break as Vilseck guard Kyle Sullivan, right, defends and Falcon forward Wyatt Smith chases during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden junior Lillian Lovern goes up for a shot underneath the bucket as Kaiserslautern forward Hassatou Diallo defends during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden sophomore Micheal Tate and SHAPE shooting guard Wilson Stewart fight for a ball during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart guard Giselle Portalatin grabs a rebound against SHAPE center Lara Moro-Lopez during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
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