Europe
Vicenza, AOSR will resume Italian rivalry with mid-sized school girls title on the line
Stars and Stripes
February 14, 2025
Rota's Jourdan Timmons shoots over Vicenza's Natalia Lopez, left, and Trishauna Lewis in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. Vicenza won 47-27 to advance to Saturday's final against American Overseas School of Rome. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – Nine weeks ago, the Vicenza and American Overseas School of Rome girls basketball teams opened the DODEA-Europe season against each other.
Saturday, they’ll finish it against each other.
The Cougars, the Division II tournament’s No. 2 seed, reached the finals Friday with a 47-27 victory over Rota in the semifinals. The Falcons, unbeaten and the event’s No. 1 seed, outlasted Black Forest Academy 26-18.
Cougars coach John Kohut said he hopes AOSR sees a different team than the one it defeated by 10 and 13 points on Dec. 6-7.
“Hopefully, we’ve gotten better,” Kohut said.
Vicenza, starting four freshmen, relied on outside shooting and an aggressive defense to top the Admirals, Kohut said.
“Good aggressiveness, good teamwork,” he said.
Jenina Smith had 15 points and Trishauna Lewis 11 for the Cougars.
“Trishauna was all over the place,” Kohut said.
Yareli Telles added eight points and Gracie Perry seven.
Vicenza's Jenina Smith shoots a basket over Rota's Natalia Lopez in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. Vicenza won 47-27 to advance to Saturday's final against American Overseas School of Rome. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza’s Yareli Telles drives to the inside against Rota’s Allie DeMeritt in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. Vicenza won 47-27 to advance to Saturday’s final against American Overseas School of Rome. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Rota's Kate Warkentien drives up the court against Vicenza's Trishauna Lewis in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. Vicenza won 47-27 to advance to Saturday's final against American Overseas School of Rome. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza’s Trishauna Lewis goes to the hoop against Rota’s Jourdan Timmons, left, and Kate Warkentien in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. The Cougars won 47-27 to advance to Saturday’s final against American Overseas School of Rome. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AOSR found itself tied at 17-17 with BFA entering the final period. But the Italy-based Falcons held a 9-1 advantage over the Germany-based Falcons in the fourth quarter to make the difference.
Leah Renk had seven points to lead AOSR, while Nina Neroni added six and Silvia Goldman five for the team that reached the final game last year against Naples. Gloria Olivieri had all five of her points in the decisive fourth period.
Madi Williford led BFA with 12 points.
American Overseas School of Rome's Gloria Olivieri, left, and Black Forest Academy's Kenna Clason fight for a loose ball in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. AOSR beat BFA 26-18 to advance to Saturday's final against Vicenza. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
American Overseas School of Rome's Mikaela Ramon drives against Black Forest Academy's Ellie Carrol in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. AOSR beat BFA 26-18 to advance to Saturday's final against Vicenza. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy's Kenna Clason shoots over American Overseas School of Rome's Leah Renk in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. AOSR beat BFA 26-18 to advance to Saturday's final against Vicenza. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
American Overseas School of Rome's Silvia Goldman takes a shot against a defending Esther Maples of Black Forest Academy in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025. AOSR beat BFA 26-18 to advance to Saturday's final against Vicenza. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy's Madi Williford aims for the basket as American Overseas School of Rome's Nina Neroni attempts to block the shot. AOSR beat BFA 26-18 in a girls Division II semifinal at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 14, 2025, to advance to Saturday's final against Vicenza. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
