Europe
Naples routs Sigonella to claim ASIL title
Stars and Stripes
February 11, 2011
Sigonella's Larry Stevenson gets set to take a free throw in Naples' 72-39 victory over the Jaguars on Friday night. The victory gave the Wildcats the American Schools in Italy title. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Sigonella's Larry Stevenson gets set to take a free throw in Naples' 72-39 victory over the Jaguars on Friday night. The victory gave the Wildcats the American Schools in Italy title. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Naples center Nigel Alexander breaks up a pass Friday in the Wildcats' 72-39 victory over Sigonella as players for both teams get ready to fight for the ball. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Sigonella's Christian McKissick is surrounded by Naples defenders Friday during the Wildcats' 72-39 victory that clinched the American Schools in Italy crown for Naples. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Naples junior point guard Jun Jun Gallardo tries to score against a host of Sigonella defenders during the Wildcats' 72-39 victory Friday. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
Naples point guard Jun Jun Gallardo pushes the ball up court in the Wildcats' 72-39 victory Friday over Sigonella, a win that clinched the regular-season American Schools in Italy championship for Naples. (Sandra Jontz/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy – The Naples boys basketball team is champion of the American Schools in Italy league once again.The unbeaten Wildcats routed Sigonella, 72-39, on Friday to clinch the league title. Sigonella had come into the contest with one loss and had to sweep the Wildcats during the weekend in order to claim the title.Naples' coach Craig Lord summed up the win with one word: defense."It was just defense. .. All our boys are good rebounders and we played good defense," he said.Aviano had won the last two ASIL crowns, but the Wildcats eliminated the Saints from the title race last weekend. That left only Sigonella - which will compete at the Division III tournament in the upcoming DODDS Europe Championships later this month – to challenge Naples."Our hearts left us," Jaguars head coach James McKissick said. "Still, they worked hard and put in a good game. But in the end, we just didn't do it."Naples (13-0) kept up the pressure all game."We never let up and play ‘til there are zero seconds on the clock," junior point guard Jun Jun Gallardo said. He finished with a team-high 28 points. Larry Stevenson led Sigonella (11-2) with 22.The two teams finish up the regular season Saturday. Naples will likely be seeded as one of the top teams in the Division II tournament along with once-beaten Bamberg.