Baumholder's Artez Williams beats AFNORTH's Stefan Termure to the basket Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

WIESBADEN, Germany – When it comes to experience, Saturday’s DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championship game is no contest.

On one side is Baumholder, whose third-place finish a year ago stopped a run of five straight titles. On the other is Alconbury, making its first title-game appearance since 2010. The Dragons never have won it all.

But Bucs coach Dewayne Piggé wasn’t having any of that talk after Friday’s semifinals. He wasn’t happy with his team’s energy level in a victory over AFNORTH.

“If we don’t have more Saturday, we will be in trouble,” he said.

Hohenfels' Lucas Gibbs challenges Alconbury's Vincent Sheehan on one of his frequent drive into the paint Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in the semifinals of the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Theo Reyes drives through traffic to the basket Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in a semifinal game at the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. He finished with a game-high 27 points. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Leo Politis puts up a shot Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in a semifinal game at the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Vincent Sheehan scored from the free throw line, outside the three-point line and on plenty of layups Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, as the Alconbury Dragons advanced to the championship game of the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball tournament in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury's Aaron Dudley puts up a shot Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in the semifinals of the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championshps in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Alconbury 54, Hohenfels 50: At 5 foot, 8 inches and 120 pounds, Vicent Sheehan isn’t exactly an intimidating figure on the court.

Unless you’re trying to stop him from scoring when he’s got a teammate setting a high screen for him.

The junior scored a game-high 29 points, many of them coming when a taller teammate set a screen for him 20 feet from the basket. He either ran by a taller defender for a layup if the Tigers switched or buried a three-point shot if the Tigers slacked off to stop a drive.

Sheehan said he’s comfortable with the play after “growing up watching the NBA and basketball.” His secret, he said, is not so secret. “Speed, knowing the defense and knowing when to attack.”

Dragons coach Ronnie McKenzie said Sheehan practices against taller teammates Aaron Dudley and Leo Politis to get used to scoring inside.

“And I and another coach played in college and we get in there sometimes, too,” he said.

The Dragons lost to the Tigers in a close game during the regular season and seemed ready to get some revenge for their only divisional defeat early on.

Alconbury was up 7-0 before Hohenfels scored 10 straight to forge ahead. But Alconbury had the lead again, 21-20, at the half.

Three Tigers tried to harass Sheehan around court. But two of them – who are also their top scorers – got into foul trouble in the process.

“We were trying to take advantage of our speed and athleticism,” Hohenfels coach Michael Weston said. “I guess that didn’t work out too well for us.”

When the Tigers let up a bit, Sheehan poured it on and the Dragons’ lead grew to seven points after three quarters. Despite losing starting forward Lucas Gibbs to a wrist injury, Hohenfels made one more run and got within two. But Sheehan then hit four straight free throws to seal the victory.

Politis finished with 14 points. Theo Reyes led the Tigers with 27.

Baumholder's Sir Kirkland puts up a shot Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in a semifinal game of the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH's Jason Goldsmith, the tallest player on the court, manages to get his hands on the ball for a rebound before anyone can get to it Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in a semifinal game at the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH's Henry Main puts up a shot Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in the semifinals of the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

AFNORTH's Stefan Termure led his team with 25 points Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in a semifinal game of the DODEA-Europe Division III boys basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder 66, AFNORTH 53: After trailing by seven at halftime, the Lions made a series of runs, but the Bucs had an answer every time.

When Stefan Termure – who finished with a game-high 25 points – scored midway through the third quarter, AFNORTH trailed only 37-36. But Baumholder scored nine straight and led 52-45 after three quarters.

A few more runs by the Lions in the final quarter stalled, mainly via forced turnovers created by Baumholder that created counter runs.

“It can cascade quickly,” said AFNORTH coach Derek Kujat of the momentum-changing string of turnovers.

“Three years in a row playing for third place,” he said, shaking his head.

Jaylon Bilbrew led Baumholder with 22 points, with Leo Kirkland scoring 20 and Artez Williams 17.

Kirkland, a senior who played on the Bucs’ last title team, said he wants to experience that feeling again. And he said his team should be ready to show off the Baumholder style of play: “Super fast and super scrappy.”