Top players square off in all-star games Saturday

For most players and coaches, the DODEA-Europe basketball season ended last weekend when six teams were crowned champions at the Clay Kaserne’s Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany.

But for 40 players and a handful of coaches, there’s still two more games to go.

Vilseck hosts a boys all-star game Saturday at the same time that Vicenza holds one for girls. Games are set to start at 2 p.m. following a skills competition and three-point contest at 10 a.m. that’s similar to the one put on annually by the NBA. Twenty athletes will be divided into two teams still to be determined at each location to take part in the games.

DODEA is holding the events to recognize some of the top basketball players in Europe as well as provide a showcase for those who might want to play in college.

Four head coaches whose teams won championships are among those who will direct the teams. It should be the final game for Stuttgart girls coach Robin Hess, who has said she plans to retire later this year, after leading her team to six Division I titles in the last seven seasons. Joining her is Matt Wise of D-III champ AFNORTH. Opposing them are Jim Davis of D-II champ Naples and Kristin Kachmar of Wiesbaden.

Coaching the boys are the Stuttgart team of Christopher Jackson and Michael Stevenson, whose teams have won back-to-back titles, against the Baumholder tandem of Dewayne Piggé and Clifton Mayo. The Bucs won five straight titles before taking third this year.

BOYS

GIRLS