Naples junior Jettyn Jones goes up for a layup while Vicenza sophomore Simon Gilbert tries to block the shot in pool-play action of the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 15, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

WIESBADEN, Germany – Keith Adams couldn’t hold in his emotions following Aviano’s 35-26 victory over Rota on Thursday morning at Wiesbaden High School.

The Saints had a rough first day of the Division II DODEA European Basketball Championships, losing both games and being eliminated at a stage the program rarely is.

The Aviano coach wasn’t thrilled with his players. Adams challenged the Saints to put it together against the second-seeded Admirals in their last pool-play game.

“When we went out on the floor, I pointed to one of the kids and said, ‘That name across your chest, that’s a legacy. It’s supposed to mean something, and you have to have a little bit of personal pride,’” Adams said. “Win or lose, I wanted them to give the maximum effort, and that’s what they did.”

Against the Admirals, who already had clinched a spot in the semifinals, the Saints didn’t lose a single quarter, with the first frame being the only one they didn’t win at 5-5.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Aviano was enjoying a double-digit lead. It was a total team performance, as one player – junior guard Deon Walker – reached double figures with 12 points, and all five starters made the scoresheet.

Walker mentioned the players themselves were upset with their performances on Wednesday and wanted to bounce back Thursday and avoid going home with “straight Ls.” Granted, the 5-foot-10 Palm Bay, Fla., native almost overslept that morning.

“I woke up 5 minutes before we had to leave, so I wasn’t even ready in the morning,” Walker said. “But I knew before I went to sleep last night that I wanted to win this game.

“It’s one team that we have beaten in the past many times, and we knew that we could beat them again.”

Vicenza forward Simon Gilbert stumbles in the low block as Naples senior Thurman Bruner defends in pool-play action of the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 15, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano junior Andrew Walker drives to the bucket against Rota in pool-play action of the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 15, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Naples sophomore Gracie Grannis tries to dribble through Vicenza sophomore Tishauna Lewis in pool-play action of the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 15, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza junior Kaylah Starling fends off the defending of Naples senior Anais Navidad in pool-play action of the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 15, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

American Overseas School of Rome sophomore Silvia Goldman tries to drive around Rota senior Maidson Lewis in pool-play action of the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 15, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Adams credited the defensive effort as a key reason for the win. The pressing was more akin to how the Saints played during the regular season and not the way they did during losses to Black Forest Academy and Bahrain on Day 1.

“We weren’t playing with any kind of intensity, and today we did,” Adams said of the defensive effort. “If we played that way the first two games, we would be going to the semifinals.”

It was a bittersweet victory for Aviano, knowing the team already was going home. Still, the Saints needed that game to restore some honor heading into the future.

“I’m just happy that they’re going to go home with a win,” Adams said.

Girls

Pool supremacy and the right to avoid Naples in the semifinals was on the table when Rota and the American Overseas School of Rome squared off in the final pool-play game at Wiesbaden High School.

For three-and-a-half quarters, the Falcons didn’t hold a lead. At the 4-minute, 12-second mark in the fourth quarter, though, Natalia DiMatteo scored a putback bucket that gave AOSR its first advantage, and a pair of Silvia Goldman free throws a minute later put the Falcons in the lead for good during a 28-20 victory.

“We were running out of time to turn things on,” AOSR coach Lillian Aldred said. “So, we got right on it at the perfect time.

“Two weeks ago, we wouldn’t have won that game. We figured some things out right at the right time. I’m proud of them.”

The Falcons moved slowly on offense, holding the ball for long periods each possession and struggling to create points in what became a defensive slugfest.

Where AOSR started to gain traction was at the charity stripe, especially when Goldman stepped to the line. The sophomore point guard went 6-of-7 to account for eight of her game-high points in the final 7 minutes.

That performance played a key role in the Falcons ending the game on a 9-0 run.

Aldred said winning isn’t always pretty during a tournament format, with grinding out wins being the name of the game.

“Once we get further into the championships, you don’t have your legs, you’re not shooting like you were on Day 1 and you’re not running offenses as cleanly as you were,” Aldred said. “So, you do have to step up the defense and tough it out.”

AOSR will face Vicenza in the first Division II semifinal Friday at Wiesbaden High School at 11 a.m. Naples and Rota will tip off after that.