Hohenfels' Angelaurie Owens comes down with a rebound against Spangdahlem's Kylie McVey, left, and Brooklyn Shakir-Bacchus during a Jan. 31, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

SPANGDAHLEM, Germany – Hohenfels boys basketball coach Michael Weston took Friday evening’s game against Spangdahlem as an opportunity to give his bench players the start a few weeks ahead of the European championships.

Not even 4 and a half minutes in, he may have regretted that decision. The Tigers found themselves trailing the Sentinels by 12 points.

At the 3-minute, 11-second mark in the first quarter, though, Weston had seen enough. He brought on his regular rotation.

Those six ended up doing the job, recovering from the early double-digit deficit to defeat the Sentinels 66-46 at Spangdahlem High School.

“We weren’t expecting Spangdahlem to come out as strong as they did against the other players on the team that we put out there,” Weston said. “Our (normal) starters, they took care of it.”

For five of the Tigers’ top six, Friday evening was payback for last winter. Hohenfels (10-1, 9-0) lost all meetings against the Sentinels (2-8, 2-7), including a close one in the title game.

“We came here to win because last year we lost to them,” Hohenfels senior Theo Reyes said. “I was ready for this one.”

Once Hohenfels’ main players stepped onto the floor, it was business as usual.

The Tigers started the second period on a 15-0 run, taking the lead on a drive by junior guard Jacob Berkau at the 5:28 mark. They never looked back.

Reyes and Berkau combined for 11 points on that run, and they also dropped 19 of Hohenfels’ 25 points in the frame.

Berkau finished with a team-high 20 points on the day, while Reyes chipped in with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven steals.

Both Reyes and Weston highlighted the chemistry of the top six, which includes returners Reyes, Berkau, sophomore Lucas Gibbs (four points), senior Javin Smith (10 points and 14 boards) and Jayden Ruelas (three points) and transfer Marcus Freeman (seven points).

“That bond goes beyond the court for them,” Weston said of his starting five. “They’re all just good friends and they’ve been friends for over a year. You obviously see that translate onto the court.”

Even the introduction of the Tigers’ first string struggled to stop Spangdahlem’s Zander Doulder. He played a major role in the Sentinels’ high-low game by coming to the top of the key before driving to the bucket to pass off to open teammates cutting and finding holes along the baseline.

The junior big man terrorized the second string to a tune of nine points, and he finished with a double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Spangdahlem coach Mark Jackson praised Doulder’s effort and expressed hope that the lone returner from last year’s championship squad rubs off on his young squad.

“He’s been the heart of the team all season,” Jackson said of Doulder. “Even when he’s gassed at times, he still keeps putting that effort in. He’s trying to motivate the young players at times to get them better.”

Hohenfels' Jacob Berkau goes up on a drive against Spangdahlem's Kingston Sago during a Jan. 31, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Zander Doulder shoots a free throw during a Jan. 31, 2025, game against Hohenfels at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Kingston Sago passes the ball against Hohenfels' Kyrin Smith, left, and Logan Landry during a Jan. 31, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels’ Jayden Ruelas shoots a three-pointer during a Jan. 31, 2025, game against Spangdahlem at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Girls

Hohenfels coach Monique Jones received an email from one of her starters, Anastasia Felix, explaining she was sick and unable to travel to Spangdahlem for this weekend’s games.

To make up for her absence, Jones challenged her bench to fill the void against the Sentinels. And the Tigers aced that test, defeating Spangdahlem 44-21 on Friday evening.

“I told the second-stringers, ‘You’re going to have to step up,’” Jones said. “It just says a lot about our second-string girls. It’s exciting to see them play. It’s exciting to see them do what needs to be done in order to get the job done.”

While depth players did their part, a key starter took her game to another level to help play the role of the “defensive heart” usually occupied by Felix.

Malea Jobity, part of the Tigers’ dynamic senior duo with twin Jalissa, posted a triple-double of 16 points, 17 rebounds and 13 steals. She displayed Hohenfels’ patented aggressive style of play, crashing the offensive glass for 11 boards.

Jalissa Jobity chipped in 12 points and six thefts, while Karina Jones added another 12 points for the Tigers (10-1, 8-1).

“I definitely felt a bit of pressure, but it’s what I do the whole time. I like to hustle, I like to put in the effort, play aggressive, and that’s our whole team thing anyway,” Malea Jobity said. “So, it’s just putting in a bit of extra effort that normally wouldn’t have put in because I let her take care of it.

“It’s just me stepping up a bit more and doing what I already should be doing.”

The Tigers got off to a slow start and couldn’t shake off the Sentinels (6-5, 6-4) until a 10-0 run over 5 minutes in the third quarter pushed the lead to 29-11. An 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter then ballooned the advantage to see out a comfortable victory.

Both Jones and Jobity chalked up the slow start to the team’s first and only travel weekend of the regular season. The Tigers had played just one away game – at Ansbach on Dec. 7 – before going against Spangdahlem on Friday.

“Going on the bus and then playing, it’s just different,” Jobity said. “We’re used to walking around at school, energy being up all day, being on our own court. It’s an adjustment. Just had to get into our flow, do our motion.”

The loss marked the third in a row for Spangdahlem, but all have come against teams above it in the standings. AFNORTH swept the Sentinels last weekend.

It doesn’t get any easier after Saturday’s rematch with the Tigers. The Sentinels host Ansbach, last year’s runner-up and the team sitting currently in fourth place in Division III, to close out the regular season.

The players, though, appreciate facing the tough tests right before the tournament.

“I think we took a lot out of tonight,” senior captain Caleya Morton said. “I think we learn more from each game we play against these tough teams.”

Spangdahlem's Miranda Valles grabs the ball ahead of Hohenfels' Lena Tocca, right, while fellow Tiger Malea Jobity, left, looks on during a Jan. 31, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Jalissa Jobity holds off Spangdahlem defender Aniya Robinson during a Jan. 31, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Kariana Jones pulls down a rebound during a Jan. 31, 2025, game against Spangdahlem at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Malea Jobity secures a steal ahead of Spangdahllem's Caleya Morton during a Jan. 31, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem's Brooklyn Shakir-Bacchus shoots during a Jan. 31, 2025, game against Hohenfels at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)