The 2017-18 DODEA-Europe girls basketball season opened this weekend with a battle of the defending Division I and Division II champions, and the matchup lived up to its advance billing.

The reigning Division I champion Stuttgart Panthers edged the Division II champion Black Forest Academy Falcons 31-30 in overtime to claim Friday night’s season opener, then completed the sweep with a 27-12 win the next day.

Allyson Taylor scored 11 points and Skye Da Silva added nine points and 10 rebounds as the Panthers erased an early 7-2 deficit Friday. Grace Wettstone notched a 13-point, 15-rebound double-double in the loss.

Stuttgart dominated the second half of Saturday’s rematch, outscoring the Falcons 17-5 over the final two quarters to seize a double-digit win.

Stuttgart’s Adan Maher collected 11 steals over the two games.

Black Forest was slowed Saturday by an injury to standout Kennedy Wilbanks, who scored 11 points Friday. The point guard is expected to return to action in the new year.

Ramstein 54, Wiesbaden 20: Friday at Ramstein, the Royals topped the Warriors in an easy win.

Yhari Dupree singlehandedly matched the Warriors’ point total in a 20-point, six-steal performance. Elizabeth Noel added nine points and three assists.

The Royals continue their busy early-season slate Tuesday against Kaiserslautern before heading north for games at Lakenheath next weekend.

Kaiserslautern 25, Vilseck 17: Saturday at Kaiserslautern, the Raiders evened the season series with the Falcons with a steady victory a day after taking a 30-24 loss.

The Raiders shut out the visitors in the first quarter Saturday, building an 11-point lead in the process, and held off the Falcons for the duration to complete their opening weekend at 1-1.

Jaelyn Salton scored nine points, Le’Jhanique Brown added six and Brooke Fitzpatrick scored four in a balanced Raider attack, offsetting the game-high 10 points produced by Vilseck’s Tynniesia Wilson.

Marymount 26/37, Aviano 24/25: At Aviano, the visitors took both halves of a Friday-Saturday doubleheader.

Anna Mathiesen scored a combined 22 points over the two games. Tatyana Valenzuela dominated the boards in a losing effort, piling up a total of 27 rebounds over the two losses.

Marymount takes on crosstown rival American Overseas School of Rome next weekend; Aviano is off until January.

Hohenfels 26, Ansbach 23: Friday at Ansbach, the visiting Tigers claimed an even Division III matchup.

Hohenfels erased a 12-6 deficit through one quarter, pulled even at the half and inched head in the third quarter to open its season with a solid road victory over its local rival.

Billyanna Garland and Jael Shain scored eight points apiece to lead the Tigers, while Maddy Black chipped in six points and seven rebounds. Ansbach’s Katelynn Peterson led all scorers with 11 points.

Sigonella 32, Rota 23: Saturday at Vicenza, the Division III Jaguars claimed a neutral-court win over the Division II Admirals.

Sigonella won both the first and fourth quarters by a 6-2 margin to earn the season-opening victory. Averi Chandler totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead the way.

The Jaguars wrap up their pre-holiday schedule with a set of home games against Florence next weekend. Rota won’t see DODEA-Europe action again until Jan. 12 at Black Forest Academy.

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