It wasn’t that long ago that schools south of the Alps earned basketball bragging rights by competing in an American Schools in Italy League tournament.
This week’s DODDS-Europe championships in Wiesbaden might be the closest thing that the boys teams will have to that this year, thanks to Mother Nature and a nationwide strike.
Aviano completed a two-game sweep of Vicenza on Saturday to move into a first-place tie in Region IV with idle Naples. Both teams are 9-1, just a game ahead of American Overseas School of Rome, which split with both the Saints and Wildcats this year. Aviano and Naples didn’t play each other and each saw four games cancelled during the regular season.
None of the schools based in Italy played anyone outside the country this season, so seeding for the Division II tournament, which begins Wednesday in Wiesbaden, Germany, could be more interesting than ever.
Aviano 55, Vicenza 38: Saturday at Aviano, Cory Webb scored 20 points and Elijah Smith and Myron McRae combined for 22 more as the Saints led throughout. La Scott Richardson had 19 points for Vicenza (6-4), which also lost four games to cancellation. Richardson had 18 points in Friday’s 54-49 loss. Andrew Bert had 16 points to pace Aviano in that game.
In other action:
AFNORTH 48, Brussels American 14: Friday at Brussels, Jake Schmidt scored 16 points and JD Pollack and Westin McKinney combined for 16 more as the Lions coasted to a mercy-rule victory.
AFNORTH also has a case for a top seeding in the D-II tournament after compiling a 9-1 record in Region I and 11-2 mark overall.
Ramstein 75, Kaiserslautern 67: Friday at Kaiserslautern, the Royals had already wrapped up the Region II title before the weekend, but finished the year unbeaten in region play with a victory over their cross-town rivals.
Devonte’ Allen netted 24 for Ramstein (11-2), with Virgil Sneed (17) and James Cho (12) also reaching double figures. Derryk Scarvers had 21 for Kaiserslautern.
The Royals and Patch (11-3) will be vying for a high seed in the D-I tournament behind defending champ and unbeaten Heidelberg (14-0).
Heidelberg 46, Patch 43: Friday in Heidelberg, The Panthers, who lost a chance to tie the Lions atop the standings earlier in the week in a blowout loss, made it much closer before falling short.
Stefon Burrell scored 13 points and Dylan Measells 12 for Patch, while Sam Rosario led the way for Heidelberg, which won its 21st straight game dating back to last year.