Jenina Smith was one of the smallest players on the court Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, but that didn’t stop her from venturing into the paint for a contested shot against Naples. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

VICENZA, Italy – Simon Gilbert towers over most of his peers on – and off – the basketball court.

But Vicenza’s 6-foot-8 junior center used his size advantage Friday night in a way that he never could playing video games.

Gilbert scored 18 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 10 shots in an 82-63 victory over the Naples Wildcats, proving that the high-octane Cougars can do pretty well when the game slows down as well.

Gilbert gave credit to his teammates for feeding him the ball and said a pair of recent losses to Division I powerhouse Wiesbaden – Vicenza’s only losses this season – may have both played a big part in his performance.

“The guards got me the ball,” he said. “We learned (against Wiesbaden) that we should work the ball more to get the best shot.”

It’s fairly hard to get better shots than Gilbert got for much of Friday. He was 6 inches taller than any Wildcat defender. And he didn’t take a shot – except from the free throw line – more than a few feet away from the basket. This included a pair of dunks.

Gilbert had never played basketball before his freshman year. Before that: “I didn’t play a lot of sports. Mainly, I played video games,” he said.

Vicenza coach Jesse Woods taught him three different post moves. Woods said Friday was Gilbert’s best game of his career.

“And he’s still growing,” Woods said.

But while Gilbert’s offense was a welcome addition to the Cougars’ attack, it was on defense that he really stood out - not only did he block 10 shots, but he altered many as the Wildcats were more than aware of his presence when they got in close.

The Cougars led only 14-10 after a quarter, but a 29-13 second-quarter advantage essentially led fans to only wonder what the winning margin was going to be. Vicenza stretched the lead to 36 points a few times, but Naples battled back each time to avoid the game ending due to DODEA-Europe’s 39-point mercy rule.

“We didn’t give up,” Wildcats coach Craig Lord said. “I guess we just outlasted them. [Avoiding the mercy rule] became our short-term goal.”

Naples did that thanks to some hot shooting. Bothv Jeramiah Robinson and Jettyn Jones connected from long distance multiple times in the second half as the Wildcats scored 50 points after intermission. Robinson finished with a game-high 28 and Jones had 19.

Dylan Horrigan had 20 points and Ben Harlow 18 for the Cougars, who play Black Forest Academy on Saturday after the Falcons and Wildcats play each other.

Vicenza's Simon Gilbert, a 6-foot-8-inch junior, seemed to be all by himself under the basket at times Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. He had a triple double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Jettyn Jones goes up for a basket against Vicenza's Zavier Washington on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza's Ben Harlow scored almost all of his 18 points Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, close to the basket in the Cougars' 82-63 victory over Naples. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Jeramiah Robinson got hot in the fourth quarter Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, and finished with a game-high 28 points in the Wildcats' loss to Vicenza. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza's Joe Kelly goes up for a shot Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in the Cougars' 82-63 victory over Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stirpes)

Naples' Camden Kasparek puts up a floater before Vicenza's Simon Gilbert can get to it Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Gilbert did get to 10 shots on the night and altered many more in the Cougars' 82-63 victory. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Girls

Vicenza 52, Naples 31: A cold second quarter doomed the Wildcats in the opening game as well, as the Cougars used a 27-2 advantage to blow open a close game that never got close after that.

Naples turned the ball over 24 times in the first half alone. Vicenza’s Jenina Smith (10 steals) and Trishauna Lewis (eight steals) were particular pests in a pressing defense that has seemed to become the team’s trademark.

“We look to see how [opposing teams] handle the ball and if they’ve only got one ballhandler, we harass that player,” Vicenza coach John Kohut said.

In this case, Naples junior Emma Heavey bore much of the responsibility for getting the ball up the court. Heavey paid attention and eventually started to turn the tables. She finished with a game-high 12 steals. But by that time, the outcome was well in hand.

“When we can’t secure the ball and we don’t run an offense past two passes, those are not good formulas for success,” Naples coach Jim Davis said.

The Wildcats did actually outscore the Cougars in the second half as Vicenza eased its pressure a bit and tried a slower approach on offense. Kohut admitted his team did struggle adjusting to that new pace and it was a good chance to work on a slower approach.

“We do well when we’re active and pressuring,” he said. “When we back off a bit …”

Smith finished with 17 points and Lewis 16 for the Cougars, while Heavey had a team-high 12 for Naples.

Vicenza's Trishauna Lewis taps the ball away as Naples' Madisun Myers and Vicenza's Jenina Smith reach for the ball Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza's Yareli Telles blocks a shot from Naples' Emma Heavey on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza's Jenina Smith launches a three-point shot while coach John Kohut and the bench watch Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in a game against Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza's Yareli Telles puts up a shot while surrounded by Naples players in a game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Trishauna Lewis sets herself for a three-point shot attempt against the Naples Wildcats in a game Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)