All top seeds move into semis in small-schools tourneys

Brussels' Tamaz Kapanadze puts up a shot while challenged by Baumholder's Skylar Cooper at the DODEA-Europe boys Division III basketball championships Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

WIESBADEN, Germany – Sonia Desir became the Brussels girls basketball team’s unofficial historian on Thursday afternoon.

Of all the people involved with the program – players, coaches and even the athletic director – the junior forward’s been around the longest.

So, Desir’s the only one who could recall the last time the Brigands made a semifinal – her eighth-grade year in 2023 – prior to punching their ticket to this year’s knockout rounds of the 2026 DODEA-Europe Division III basketball championships with a 23-16 victory over Hohenfels at Wiesbaden Middle School.

While three years may not seem long, Brussels experienced lean times with few wins to its name. So, second-year coach Andrew Patterson couldn’t contain his happiness over the team taking a step in the right direction.

“We’re very excited to be playing for something meaningful on Friday,” he said. “We’re playing to win instead of playing just to have fun. It’s exciting to see them come together.”

Still, the Tigers gave the Brigands all they could handle, pulling within one possession late in the third quarter.

But Brussels held Hohenfels to just two points over the final 7 minutes of the game and pushed the lead out to a more comfortable margin.

“Hohenfels had really good defense, and they were putting a lot of pressure (on us),” Desir said. “We were putting a lot of pressure back. It was a good game to play.”

The Brigands face second-seeded AFNORTH at 9 a.m. Friday at Wiesbaden High School. The matchup pits the upstarts against the two-time defending champions.

Despite the team’s inexperience in big games, Patterson didn’t seem concerned about the stage being too big for his players.

“I think they are in the right mindset right now,” Patterson said. “I think they’re ready to go have some fun and try to get a win.”

The Lions didn’t have any issues with Baumholder in their game Thursday morning at Clay Fitness Center, winning 51-12 in a game that ended in the mercy rule.

The other semifinal will feature top-seeded Ansbach against Spangdahlem. The Cougars routed Baumholder 51-12 early Thursday.

Alconbury senior Grant Cumming goes up for a layup against Spangdahlem guard Jase Tyler during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden Middle School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem center Zander Doulder grabs a rebound against Ansbach power forward Lucas Rudy during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden Middle School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder guard Emily Ramirez pokes the ball away from Spangdahlem small forward Alyssa Farmakis during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden Middle School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels forward Makenzie Clark tries to find space against Brussels defenders Taegan Muller, left, and Nino Kapanadze during pool play at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 12, 2026, at Wiesbaden Middle School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem needed to go 2 for 2 on Thursday afternoon and evening at Wiesbaden Middle School, and the team accomplished that with a 54-36 win over Ansbach and a 58-23 win over Alconbury.

The final score against the Cougars was somewhat misleading, as Ansbach pulled with three midway through the third quarter. The Sentinels hit another gear, though, and quickly stretched out the lead into double digits.

“Confidence has been our biggest thing,” Spangdahlem guard Jase Tyler said. “A lot of people get down when the score’s down, but we just strive for greatness.”

Those victories set up a matchup with powerhouse Baumholder in a semifinal Friday morning at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

The game could be a full-circle moment for the Sentinels, who lost to the Buccaneers via the mercy rule in their season opener. They also dropped a seven-point contest a week ago.

Tyler called that first game a defining moment for the squad.

“A lot of heads were down, but we had two options: We could hang our heads or we can go to the lab and fix the things we needed to fix,” the junior said. “We’ve improved so much, and (Friday’s) going to show it again.”

If Baumholder were to advance to Saturday’s final and win there, it would the seventh title for coach Dewayne Piggé.

“We’re right where we expected to be,” he said after his team’s 57-18 victory over Brussels.

The other matchup will feature AFNORTH and Hohenfels. The Lions topped Ansbach 45-28 to open the day and then knocked off Alconbury 47-29. Hohenfels topped Brussels 40-29 to earn its spot.

Alconbury's Jacob Haines gets a shot off before AFNORTH's Jackson Lojka can get there Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the DODEA-Europe boys Division III basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach's Makai Sinclair puts up a shot Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the DODEA-Europe boys Division III basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder's Marley Wilson drives to the basket Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the DODEA-Europe girls Division III basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Angelaurie Owens shoots Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the DODEA-Europe girls Division III basketball championships at Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)