Vicenza makes it look easy for third straight championship

Vicenza center Simon Gilbert shoots over Black Forest Academy defenders, from left, Uriah Trusty, Dash Dockrey and Mateo Chamberlain during the Division II final at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

WIESBADEN, Germany – In the closing minute of Vicenza’s 74-47 victory over Black Forest Academy on Saturday afternoon, Cougar coach Jesse Woods re-entered his veterans into the game.

He said he wanted to show his appreciation to the group for helping the Vicenza program win its third consecutive DODEA-Europe Division II basketball title at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center.

“We lost the core of our team last year, and we had to put this team together this year,” Woods said. “It took a little bit of work, a little sweat, but we got it done.”

The Cougars (18-1) didn’t have much to sweat all season, although the Falcons (8-7) gave them one of the few scares all campaign during their opening game of the DODEA European championships on Wednesday.

In that contest, BFA nearly erased a 16-point deficit before Vicenza held on for a four-point victory.

Vicenza center Simon Gilbert said that game was on their minds heading into Saturday’s final. The Cougars led from start to finish, and once they took a 14-3 advantage at the 3-minute, 34-second mark in the first quarter off a Gilbert bucket plus the free throw, it didn’t dip below double digits.

“Since we had a cakewalk throughout this entire season, we thought we could take everybody lightly,” Gilbert said. “It almost came to bite us in the butt. So, we tightened up and played harder (Saturday).”

Gilbert himself had a field day, taking advantage of being nearly half of a foot taller than BFA’s biggest player. The 6-foot-9 senior amassed 25 points and entertained the crowd with a pair of slams.

He also showcased his range. Gilbert connected on a three-pointer with 5:48 left in the game.

Junior guard Ben Morton was the only other Vicenza player to reach double figures with 15. Overall, 10 Cougars made the scoresheet.

Vicenza guard Dylan Horrigan drives to the basket between Black Forest Academy guards, from left, Leo Hemphill and Luke Hartman during the Division II final at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza guard Alex Trescott shoots a three-pointer during the Division II final against Black Forest Academy at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Black Forest Academy junior Leo Hemphill floats a shot over Vicenza senior Zavier Washington during the Division II final at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Black Forest Academy junior Jonas Witherall gets around Vicenza senior Simon Gilbert in the low block during the Division II final at the 2026 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

“I enjoy every moment playing basketball,” Gilbert said. “I’m going to miss my boys, that’s for sure, but everybody’s going to part their ways, make their own way to college and whatnot.”

The Falcons struggled getting going until the deficit eclipsed 20 points. Junior Mateo Chamberlain managed to get 12 points to lead BFA.

Coach Taylor Hemphill said the season was full of ups and downs, with many of the season’s best moments coming during the tournament. The Falcons lose three seniors, but he said he expects them to continue to grow and be back on the big stage in 2027.

“We had the heart,” Hemphill said. “Shots just weren’t falling today. Some days are like that. Unfortunately, we had that today.

“I’m super proud of my guys, though.”

Woods, meanwhile, has some work to do to try and go for the four-peat next winter. He has a gargantuan-sized hole with the graduation of Gilbert.

Still, he has high hopes that the program will be near the top of Division II again.

“We’re not going to be that far off,” Woods said. “I’ve got some skill kids that need a little bit of work. If I put them into the right system, they’ll be good.”