AFNORTH's Hadley Keeton and Hohenfels' Jillian Odhiambo fight for a rebound in the Division III girls final at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 15, 2025. AFNORTH took the title with a 47-34 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – Four years. Four championship appearances. Three titles.
It might be understandable if Selah Skariah just assumed that’s a common experience in DODEA-Europe basketball.
That’s not the case, though, unless you’re a longtime player for the AFNORTH Lions girls team.
“I’ve been told,” Skariah said with a knowing smile after leading her team to a 47-34 victory over Hohenfels on Saturday in the Division III girls title game.
The 5-foot-2 team captain scored eight points by connecting on 4 of 5 shots – all from the left side of the basket – during a third-quarter run that turned a tight game into an advantage that the Tigers couldn’t overcome.
Skariah, who finished with a team-high 16 points, admitted to being a little extra motivated.
The AFNORTH Lions celebrate their girls Division III title after beating Hohenfels at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 15, 2025. AFNORTH took the title with a 47-34 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's Selah Skariah goes in for a basket in the Division III girls final at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 15, 2025. AFNORTH took the title with a 47-34 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Hohenfels' Malea Jobity takes a shot over AFNORTH'sClara Pacios and Maggie Masse in the Division III girls final at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 15, 2025. AFNORTH took the title with a 47-34 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's Emery Koger takes the ball upcourt ahead of Jillian Odhiambo in the Division III girls final at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 15, 2025. AFNORTH took the title with a 47-34 win. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
“When I was getting dressed this morning, it hit me. This is the last time I’m going to put on this uniform. I said that to Emery (Kroger) and she told me, ‘You’ve got to look to score more. We need to you do that today.’”
Skariah, who also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, was far from alone in helping the Lions win. Kroger added 11 points. Junior Hadley Keeton, making her first finals appearance, went into double figures for the first time this season with 12 points and also had nine rebounds.
“Any one of them could be a little more selfish and have more inflated numbers,” coach Matt Wise said. “But they don’t really care about that. That’s not who they are.”
Keeton laughed at the notion that a career-high scoring game came even close to winning a championship.
The 5-8 junior acknowledged the Tigers can be a challenge to play against – not only for their aggressive defense, but for a somewhat unorthodox offense that often features quick shots from all over the half court and then crashing the boards.
“When the ball goes up, it’s all about finding the nearest person and boxing out,” she said of limiting Hohenfels’ second chances.
It was a heartbreaking finish for the Tigers, who took a 17-1 record into the contest and broke through to the final day of play of the tournament for the first time in years.
Jalissa Jobity, the subject of a box-and-one defense from the Lions, still managed to score a game-high 19 points before fouling out with 5 minutes, 15 seconds to play.
AFNORTH turned the ball over 25 times, but the Tigers had trouble scoring once they regained the ball.
“Our defense should turn into offense,” Hohenfels coach Monique Jones said. “But the shots just weren’t falling today.”
Jones said she thinks the title-game appearance is another positive step for her program, though she is losing four senior starters.
The Lions, who feature players from six different countries – “a reflection of our (NATO) alliance,” Wise said – will lose three seniors as well and Keeton is expected to transfer to Ramstein.
