Vilseck forward Maria Bella Smith clears the paint in a Falcons victory over defending-champion Stuttgart in Vilseck, Germany, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
VILSECK, Germany — Seniors led the way as Vilseck and Stuttgart basketball teams battled it out in northern Bavaria to see which teams would have the momentum heading into next week’s European Championships.
Stuttgart point guard Tyler Jackson provided 22 points and a steady hand to help the defending champion Panther boys edge out a scrappy Vilseck team, 51-39.
Fortunes were reversed on the other side as the Vilseck girls overcame a first-quarter deficit to stun girls defending champ Stuttgart 38-33 behind the senior leadership of Maria Bella Smith and Jayslin Santellano.
Stuttgart High School's Mia Snyder drives into the paint in a losing effort against the Vilseck High School Falcons in Vilseck, Germany, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Girls
“I love my team and I know all of them wanted to support us on senior night,” Smith said after the game. “We showed out. It was a good game.”
Stuttgart arrived at Rose Barracks on Friday night to find a packed fieldhouse. Horns and drums rang out from the crowd as the Falcons warmed up.
The Panthers (9-2, 11-2) drew first blood, jumping out to a 7-6 lead at the end of a first quarter marred by turnovers for both teams. Once the nerves settled, Vilseck (8-3, 8-5) turned on the jets, and took the lead behind spirited play from freshman and sophomore guards Willa Greenwood and Lyla Ingram.
A crucial three-pointer from sophomore guard Giselle Villarreal with just under four minutes to play in the half put Vilseck up 14-9 as they began to pull away. The Falcons finished the half up 17-10.
Villarreal picked up right where she left off to start the second half, knocking down a floater in traffic. The Panthers mounted a comeback in the third quarter behind a solid effort from Hannah Holmes and Mia Snyder but ended the period down 27-16.
Villarreal once again knocked down a three to start the fourth quarter and it seemed Vilseck would coast to victory. However, the Panthers clawed their way back to within five when Jedaiah Quinland hit a layup with 22 seconds left.
Vilseck heads into next week’s tournament brimming with confidence despite losses to Kaiserslautern and Wiesbaden earlier in the season, said coach Darci Neville. The Falcons square off with the Panthers again Saturday to end the regular season.
“This is a great team,” Neville said of her girls. “They have grit; they have fire… I think we’re going to do well (in the tournament).”
Greenwood led all scorers with 12 for Vilseck. Stuttgart’s Holmes had nine in a losing effort.
Stuttgart point guard Tyler Jackson fires up a three-pointer in a victory against Vilseck High School in Vilseck, Germany, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Boys
Stuttgart (7-4, 9-4) jumped out to an early lead, going on an 8-0 run to start its game against the Falcons (0-11, 1-12). However, back-to-back blocks from Rohail Jan and Kyle Sullivan put Stuttgart on notice it would be no walk in the park.
The Panthers finished the first quarter up 10-5 and the second up 27-20 in a physical contest of wills that saw both teams cautioned by the referees multiple times. Just when it seemed like Vilseck might mount a comeback, Jackson would make a key steal, or a rebound to extend the play, leading the younger players on his squad with poise under pressure.
Stuttgart opened up a 41-32 lead to finish the third quarter. Vilseck’s Khyleel Grimes finished with 12 points in the loss.
“Tonight was very physical,” Jackson said after the game. “Defensively, playing hard was our key to victory.”
Fans packed the Vilseck gymnasium in Vilseck, Germany, for a senior night showdown between the hometown Falcons and Stuttgart Panthers on Feb. 7, 2025. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
