Aviano’s Andrew Walker goes to the basket to score two of his game-high 18 points in the Saints’ 57-29 victory over Marymount on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy – Read through a basketball summary and there are almost always some numbers that stand out.
But Friday’s season-opening girls basketball game between the Aviano Saints and Marymount Royals had some real doozies.
The Royals, fielding a team of mostly novice players, turned the ball over 54 times in a lopsided 48-26 loss. Aviano freshman Jazmine Warren made her debut in sparkling fashion, putting up numbers all over the stat sheet: 25 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and six blocks.
But it was her sophomore teammate Ily Zamora who put forth the most staggering numbers. She converted 19 of a school-record – and quite possibly DODEA record – 32 free throw attempts.
“I can’t explain it,” the 5-foot-1 point guard said, adding that she doesn’t normally consider free throw shooting a strong point in her game.
Marymount coach Theodore Byers had an explanation, though.
“That’s great,” he said with half a smile after being told of Zamora’s feat. “She couldn’t have done it without our constant fouling.”
The 5-11 Warren, who has watched the girls teams from the sidelines the past few years while also rooting for her older twin brothers on the boys squad, said she knows the competition is going to get a lot tougher during the season.
“But we’re hoping to show people that maybe we’re a better team than they might have thought we’d be,” she said. “We have a lot of coachable players and I think we’ll bounce back well from any adversity.”
There wasn’t much of that for the Saints Friday. They never trailed in the contest, thanks to Warren’s scoring near the basket and Zamora hitting more than half her free throws during a game that lasted more than two hours. She actually got more accurate as the game went on, converting 12 of her last 16.
Aviano sophomore point guard Ily Zamora gets fouled by Marymount’s Sofia Miller in the Saints’ 48-26 victory over the Royals on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Zamora set a school record for free throw attempts in a single game, converting 19 of 32. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Arianna Meraz shoots during the Saints’ 48-26 victory over Marymount on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano freshman Jazmine Warren had quite the debut for the Saints, scoring a game-high 25 points and adding 13 rebounds, 6 blocks and 6 steals. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Marymount’s Eleanor Celeste tries to score against Aviano in the Saints’ 48-26 victory on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Boys
Aviano 57, Marymount 29: Warren’s older brother, Andrew Walker, and the Saints raced out to a 17-3 lead after one quarter while the Royals appeared to be stuck in first gear.
“We’re not going to beat anyone with our height,” Saints coach Keith Adams said. “We’re going to win with speed and defense.”
And also team rebounding. All five starting Saints – none of whom top 6 feet – had at least three rebounds and two steals. Walker, a junior whose twin brother Deon is still recovering from a fractured leg in football, led the way with 18 points and five rebounds. Teammates Joseph Guerrero, Colin North and Alando Brown all had eight points apiece.
Marymount, led by 6-5 junior Patrick Gianni’s 17 points and 12 rebounds – didn’t get within double digits after Aviano’s initial run.
“They have a lot more experience than we do,” Royals coach Roberto Todari said. “We’re still learning to play together. They’re quick, they move the ball around well, they play good defense. We just lost to a better team tonight.”
Aviano’s Joseph Guerrero tries to find his way to the basket in heavy traffic in the Saints’ 57-29 victory Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, over Marymount. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Marymount’s Patrick Gianni led his team with 17 points in the Royals’ 57-29 loss to Aviano on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Colin North gets up a shot in the Saints’ 57-29 victory over Marymount on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
