VICENZA, Italy — The Vicenza girls basketball team made the Aviano Saints wait an extra day to claim their fourth-straight American Schools in Italy championship, but they could not stop them entirely.

On Saturday the Saints rebounded from a loss to Vicenza — their first of the season — with a convincing 53-33 victory to wrap up the title.

All-Europe center Jasmine Mailoto, whose fouling out Friday helped Vicenza (9-3) stage a rally and claim a 47-43 victory, had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks Saturday, according to her coach, Greg Mead.

“We didn’t get into foul trouble today,” Mead said as one of the keys to the game. He also credited Alex Ostler’s defense on Lali Baratashvili in the Saints’ version of a triangle-in-two defense. Baratashvili had 28 points in the Cougars’ win Friday, but only seven Saturday.

“I think Vicenza played a little harder last night,” Mead said, referring to Friday’s game. “We also shot the ball better from the outside and from the free throw line.”

“We were just flat,” Vicenza coach Michael James said of the rematch. “We had the opportunities. We had the shots. We just didn’t make them.”

Freshman Kyerha Smith added 14 points for Aviano and junior Katyln Atchley scored 12. Sella Pauling led Vicenza with 10 points.

Aviano (11-1) led 34-27 with 7 minutes, 11 seconds to play Friday night when Mailoto fouled out. Baratashvili then picked up her game and converted 11 of 14 free throws in the final quarter to push the Cougars over the top.

Mailoto had 14 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out.

Mead said only time will tell how Friday’s loss will impact his team, with the DODDS Europe Division II finals coming up in less than two weeks.

“It certainly didn’t hurt us today,” he said.

James said his team would like another shot at the Saints.

“We’ll see them in Germany and I hope it will be in the championship game,” he said.

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