Kaiserslautern's Garrett Vitter blocks a shot by Ramstein's Awwab Noble during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Kaiserslautern’s Elizabeth Marriott has the utmost faith in her teammates.

That faith was tested Tuesday evening against crosstown rival Ramstein.

The senior fouled out with 6 minutes, 34 seconds remaining and the Raiders nursing a nine-point advantage on the road. And while things got dicey toward the end, Kaiserslautern did just enough to see out a late Royal charge during a 44-40 victory at Ramstein High School.

“I was stressing out,” Marriott said. “I was just hoping that my team could pull through. And I knew they could. They’re strong basketball players.”

The Raiders (3-0, 2-0) had cause for worry in the fourth quarter.

Marriott had produced half of the team’s points (20) when she fouled out. Whenever Kaiserslautern needed offense, she delivered. She scored the Raiders’ final seven points in the first period, and then her three-pointer in the final minute of the first half gave the visitors the lead for good.

Her teammates produced enough in the end, starting with a Vernesha Oliver jumper. Shayla King made a free throw at the 1:39 mark to push the lead out to eight points, and then Hazel Sanders split a pair with 4 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.

“We just had to adjust to what we had,” said Oliver, who contributed nine points. “We had to play with the people we had and make the best of it.

“Working as a team really worked for us. Playing hard, playing till the end worked for us.”

Ramstein (1-1, 1-1) also displayed that mentality – although too late for coach Christina Hewitt’s liking.

The Royals trailed by as many as 11 points twice in the second half, and it took until the 2:12 mark to get it back to single-digit disadvantage when Aryanna Guishard found Feliciana Davis for a bucket. That sparked a 7-1 spurt over a 2-minute span.

Yet the home team fell short, unable to recover from a performance that included 35 turnovers.

Davis recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards for the Royals.

“I’m proud that they never gave up, but we were very flat,” Hewitt said. “Kudos to K-Town for coming out with some intensity, and I thought they had a great game.”

The victory gives the Raiders plenty of confidence going forward, especially with a victory over a team that finished runner-up the last two seasons and is expected to make a deep run in the European tournament in mid-February.

“I feel like we’re in a good spot,” Oliver said. “If we keep on pushing the way we are, then we’re going to potentially win Euros.”

Ramstein's Parker Ingram drives to the basket while Kaiserslautern's Elizabeth Marriott defends during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern's Shayla King drives along the baseline while being fouled by Ramstein's Aaryanna Guishard during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Sanai Schneider looks to pass the ball from the low post while Kaiserslautern's Hazel Sanders defends during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Feliciana Davis shoots before Kaiserslautern's Hazel Sanders can reach her during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Boys

It’s not often a team is dissatisfied with a 20-point win over a crosstown rival.

Yet Ramstein was following its 71-51 triumph Tuesday evening over Kaiserslautern at Ramstein High School.

It wasn’t the offense that was the problem, according to players Christian Roy and Awwab Noble. They were displeased by how many points the Royals (2-0, 2-0) allowed, with Roy saying the team wanted to invoke the mercy rule after leading 40-20 at the halftime.

“We were disappointed,” Noble said of the defensive effort. “We as a team need to lock down and be more focused. Our defense was terrible, and I hope we can do better.”

Offensively, though, Ramstein seemed to be hitting on all cylinders no matter who was on the court.

Eleven Royals made the scoresheet, with only two – Noble at 18 and Ky’Ron Hall at 14 – eclipsing double digits. They did it every way – the fastbreak, driving to the bucket, throwing into the low block, attacking the offensive glass and letting it fly from beyond the arc.

Roy said the team is focusing on getting the ball into the paint to balance the scoring.

“The ball movement was really good from the guards up top. We’re trying to incorporate the post players more, and if we can put that together with the post players and guards, three-pointers, picking up the rebounds and things like that, we’re set for success.”

What set up the Royals against the Raiders (2-1, 1-1) was a fast start. Ramstein opened on a 10-2 run over the first minute and a half, and the team’s advantage wasn’t smaller than four points after 3 minutes into the contest.

Noble and Roy played their part at the beginning. Noble dropped 10 of his game-high total over the first 8 minutes, while Roy scored on a drive and connected on a three-pointer during the first 80 seconds of game action.

“I feel like we were all feeling it,” Noble said of the start. “I was just feeding off my teammates.”

The Raiders never recovered.

Jordan Balsamo and Garrett Vitter each had 11 points, while Vitter corralled 11 rebounds.

“I know K-Town’s been down for a couple seasons, and we’re going to get that turned around for sure,” first-year Raider coach Anthony Lopez said. “The kids just got to believe that we are going to get there. And I know we will be ready in February.”

Kaiserslautern's Garrett Vitter goes up for a shot in the paint during a Dec. 10, 2024, game against Ramstein at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Awwab Noble shoots over Kaiserslautern's Denver Dait, left, and Sevastian Quiles during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein’s Christian Roy dribbles on the fast break while Kaiserslautern’s Jordan Balsamo defends during a Dec. 10, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Ky'Ron Hall shoots a free throw during a Dec. 10, 2024, game against Kaiserslautern at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)