Ramstein center Kelan Vaughn reaches for a rebound over Vilseck center John Dorff during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

WIESBADEN, Germany – Many involved in Saturday’s Division I title game of the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships hope third time’s the charm.

The Ramstein Royals, who defeated Vilseck 60-39 in a Division I semifinal at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center on Friday morning, have lost their last two finals appearances, be it the overtime thriller on their home court in 2023 or the game they chased from beginning to end in 2024. Both defeats came against Stuttgart.

They also dropped the two regular-season meetings with Wiesbaden, which advanced to the final with a 62-22 victory over SHAPE in the day’s second semifinal.

Warrior coach David Brown, meanwhile, has failed to get over the hump twice after advancing to the championship game in 2014 and 2017. He said people can watch them on YouTube, if they wish to know what he meant when he described them as “heartbreaking.”

While they only have played in one final, the Idowu brothers – Jacob and Joel – lost year against Spangdahlem with Hohenfels.

Those three have shared their stories, and it has fueled the Warriors (17-0) this season.

“We started the season sharing our experiences with the entire team,” Brown said. “Our experiences we’ve been learning from every game of this season. We’re ready.”

Ramstein guard Ky'Ron Hall picks up the ball in the lane as Vilseck forward Jeremiah Dorff defends during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein guard Matteo Jones shoots during a Division I semifinal game against Vilseck at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein guard Awwab Noble drives against Vilseck forward Rohail Jan during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck guard Kyle Sullivan goes for a layup as Ramstein center Michael Gonzales defends during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden junior Jake Koschnik and SHAPE forward Keller Schutt fight for a rebound during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden guard Jacob Idowu drives against SHAPE's Stefan Gacevic, left, and Euklid Cani during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

SHAPE guard Alberto Saldana drives as Wiesbaden sophomore Joel Idowu defends during a Division I semifinal game at the 2025 DODEA European basketball championships on Feb. 14, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Royals (13-3) said they, too, are ready for a fight, and the two previous contests were close ball games.

Wiesbaden’s margin of victory was 19 over the two earlier contests, and the Royals were just one of two teams to keep the Warriors within single digits in a 61-55 victory on Dec. 17.

It all adds up to what could be an electric atmosphere on Saturday evening.

“It’s going to be an emotional, mental game,” Ramstein senior Ky’Ron Hall said. “It’s going to be whoever wants it more.

“They got weapons; we got weapons. It’s going to be a hell of a game.”

Before the two teams could focus on each other, they had to take care of business in their semifinals.

The Warriors didn’t mess around with the Spartans (8-8), who shocked Ramstein to start the tournament and nearly knocked off Stuttgart in their final pool-play matchup. They got up double digits and never looked back before enforcing the mercy rule in the second half.

Jacob Idowu totaled 20 points, Joel Idowu contributed 18 points and Jordan Thibodeaux contributed 13 for Wiesbaden.

Matteo Sanciu paced the Spartans with 14 points.

Despite getting the seventh seed in Vilseck (2-14), the Royals already had learned their lesson regarding overlooking an opponent. Ramstein blew the game wide open in the second quarter, outscoring the Falcons 17-6.

Freshman guard Matteo Jones led the way for Ramstein, dropping eight of his team-high 13 points in the second period. Junior guard Awwab Noble added another 10 as 11 Royals made the scoresheet.

Vilseck’s Khyleel Grimes scored a game-high 14 points in the losing effort.

“We can’t underestimate anyone, and it helped us come out strong and stay focused on the match,” Jones said.

As for how the team will handle Saturday’s championship matchup, both Royals were coy and left no hints as to their game plan.

The Warriors, meanwhile, see this game as cementing their legacy – and they understand the keys to the game.

“It’s Ramstein, so it’s kind of the perfect scenario for us,” Brown said. “We need to box out. We need to limit our turnovers. And we need to play the same way we have all year together.”