Naples senior Thurman Bruner passes the ball while being defended by Rora’s Brian Leiba and Tyler Demerritt during a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 16, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – Naples’s Jeramiah Robinson wasn’t having the greatest shooting night by his own standards in a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European Basketball Championships.
The sophomore guard recorded just two points in the first half against Rota on Friday morning at Wiesbaden High School. While things picked up in the second half, he still was off the mark.
Yet with the game on the line, the Wildcats, especially coach Craig Lord, had no doubt to whom they were turning. And Robinson delivered, collecting a pass from Camden Kasparek and launching a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining to give Naples the lead for good in 46-44 victory over the Admirals.
The 5-foot-8 Newport News, Va.-native added a free throw with 27.1 seconds left to help punch the Wildcats’ tickets to Saturday’s final.
“When it came down to the wire, my team had faith in me,” said Robinson, who finished with 16 points. “They told me to keep shooting. So, that last shot was for them, especially for all the seniors on the team.”
Robinson’s shot came at the end of a cagey, controversial and back-and-forth matchup between Naples (10-6) and Rota (12-6).
The Admirals were whistled for nine offensive fouls, four of which went against star Tyler DeMeritt (16 points). Rota also picked up two technical fouls for delay of game violations following made baskets – one of which came at the 3:38 mark in the third quarter after a Christian Weaver basket in the lane tied the game at 26.
No team led by more than five points, and the game had eight lead changes.
“I can’t tell you how special that is,” Lord said of pulling out the victory. “That could have gone either way. It just bounced our way.”
In the second half, each time the Wildcats seemed ready to break away, Rota had an answer, even taking a 42-41 advantage with 4:41 left in the game when sophomore guard Jaden Decastro split a pair at the charity stripe.
Yet the Wildcats managed to respond themselves and held off another late comeback from the Admirals.
“Our coaches kept us calm and collected,” Robinson said. “They told us to keep pushing and don’t quit. Everyone had each other’s backs.”
With the win, Naples turns its attention toward the final, where it will face Vicenza.
Vicenza sophomore Simon Gilbert fights through the defense by Black Forest Academy senior Daniel Byle during a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 16, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Naples junior Jettyn Jones shoots over Rota senior Tyler DeMerritt during a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 16, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy senior Barney Sivonen shoots as Ben Harlow defends during a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European Basketball Championships on Feb. 16, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
The Cougars (14-4) got a little scare in their 53-29 victory over Black Forest Academy in their semifinal matchup. They trailed for much of the first quarter and only held a three-point advantage with 39 seconds remaining in the half after BFA senior Boston Dockery scored a bucket.
“It was very nerve-racking,” Vicenza coach Jesse Woods said of the start. “We start slow normally the first 4-5 minutes, but we were slow the whole first half. We had a little talk at halftime because they were looking at the ball and not attacking the ball.”
The second half released all tension from the game.
Vicenza ratcheted up the defensive pressure on the Falcons (5-9). BFA committed 28 turnovers over the final 16 minutes, and the Cougars turned them into points on the other end.
One stretch over the final 3:15 of the third frame snapped the elastic. Vicenza finished the quarter on an 11-0 run, starting with a Jace Herron steal and layup and ended with a jumper by Dylan Horrigan, who finished with seven steals.
“We ran it up in the second half,” said junior guard Ben Harlow, who totaled a game-high 16 points and chipped in with five steals. “Our full-court press started working, which is what we rely on a lot. It’s our bread and butter.”
It also helped the Cougars got Simon Gilbert back after missing half the first quarter. The sophomore center collided with BFA sophomore Nehemiah Perryman at the 6:06 mark in the first quarter and ended with a bloody lip that took forever to stem with gauze.
Gilbert also had to wear a girls Vicenza home jersey as the blood stains in his jersey couldn’t be removed.
The 6-7 center made his mark, swatting five BFA shots.
“He’s a game-changer, especially around the paint,” Woods said of Gilbert. “Guys are coming in for an easy shot, he makes them think twice about it.”
Looking forward to the final, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center on Clay Kaserne, the Cougars and Wildcats have faced off three times already this season, with Vicenza winning each time. That includes a 64-53 victory on Thursday in pool-play action.
“We’re not overlooking them,” Harlow said. “They’re a great team, and we have to come out with energy and match their energy and see how it goes.”