By james art 
Jennina Smith was one of the smallest players on the court on Friday, January 31, 2025, but that did not stop her into the paint for a contested shot against Naples. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza, Italy – Simon Gilbert rises above most of their peers – and outside – the basketball court.
But the 6-foot-8 Junior Vicenza Center uses its size advantage on Friday night in a way that he could never play video games.
Gilbert scored 18 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 10 shots in winning 82-63 over Naples’ wild cats, proving that high-octane cougars can do quite well when the game is also slowing down.
Gilbert gave his teammates that he feeds his ball and said a pair of recent Powerhouse losses from Division I Wisbaden – the only losses of Vicenza this season – may both played a big role in his performance.
“My Guards took the ball,” he said. “We learned (against Wisbaden) that we have to work more with the ball to get the best shot.”
It is quite difficult to get better photos than Gilbert received much Friday. He was 6 inches higher than each Wildcat defender. And he did not shoot – except from the free throw line – more than a few meters from the basket. This included a pair of immerships.
Gilbert has never played basketball before his first year. Before that: “I haven’t played many sports. I mostly played video games, “he said.
Vicenza coach Jesse Woods taught him three different steps. Woods said Friday is Gilbert’s best game in his career.
“And he is still growing,” Woods said.
But while the Gilbert’s crime was welcome to the courage attack, he really was that he really stood out – not only blocks 10 shots, but he changed a lot as Wildcats were more than aware of his presence when they went into closing S
The Cougars led only 14-10 after a quarter, but the advantage of the 29-13 second quarter essentially made fans wonder only what the winning margin would be. Vicenza reached the lead to 36 points several times, but Naples fights each time to avoid the completion of the game due to the Dodea-EUROPE rule of mercy.
“We didn’t give up,” said Wildcats coach Craig Lord. “I guess we just exceeded them. [Avoiding the mercy rule] Our short -term goal has become. “
Naples did this thanks to some hot shooting. Both Robinson and Jetin Jones hieramia have contacted long distances repeatedly in the second half, while Wildcats scored 50 points after Anthract. Robinson ended with match 28, and Jones had 19.
Dylan Horigan had 20 points, and Ben Harlow 18 for the couges playing Montenegro Academy on Saturday after the falcons and wild cats play each other.
Simon Gilbert, a 6-foot-8-inch junior in Vickey, seems to be alone under the basket at times on Friday, January 31, 2025. He had a triple double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples’ Jettyn Jones embarks on a basket against Vicenza Washington on Friday, January 31, 2025 in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Ben Harlow from Vicenza scored almost all of his 18 points on Friday, January 31, 2025, near the basket at the Cugars victory by 82-63 over Naples. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples’ Jeromia Robinson became hot in the fourth quarter on Friday, January 31, 2025, and ended with the highest 28 points in the loss of Wildcats from Vicenza. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Joe Kelly from Vicenza set off for a shot on Friday, January 31, 2025, with 82-63 victory over Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/stars and move)
Kamden Kasparek in Naples puts a float before Simon Gilbert reached him on Friday, January 31, 2025. Gilbert reached 10 shots at night and changed a lot more in the victory of the couges 82-63. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Girls
Vicenza 52, Naples 31: A cold second quarter doom and Wildcats in the initial game, as Cougars uses an advantage of 27-2 to open a nearby game that never approached after.
Naples turned the ball over 24 times only in the first half. Jennina Smith (10 thefts of Vicenza (10 thefts) and Trishauna Lewis (eight thefts) were special pests in urgent protection, which seems to have become a trademark of the team.
“We are looking to see how [opposing teams] Work with the ball and if they have only one bare, we are harassed by this player, “said Vicenza coach John Cochut.
In this case, Naples Jr. Emma Heavy carries much of the responsibility for lifting the ball on the court. Heavy paid attention and eventually began to turn the tables. It ended with a game with tall 12 thefts. But at that time the result was good in hand.
“When we cannot secure the ball and do not insult two passes, these are not good formulas for success,” said Naples coach Jim Davis.
Wildcats actually overcome the couges in the second half, as Vicenza slightly relieved his pressure and tried a more slow approach to insult. Kohut admitted that his team was struggling to adapt to this new tempo, and this was a good chance of working on a more slow approach.
“We are doing well when we are active and pressing,” he said. “When we retreat a little …”
Smith ended with 17 points and Lewis 16 for the couges, while Havi had a team 12 for Naples.
The Vicenza Trishane Lewis threw the ball when Madisun Myers from Naples and Jennina Smith of Naples and Vicenza reach for the ball on Friday, January 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza’s Yareli Telles blocked a shot from Emma Havi from Naples on Friday, January 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Jennina Smith from Vicenza launched a three -point shot while coach John Kohut and Watch Friday bench, January 31, 2025, playing against Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza’s Yareli Telles shot while surrounded by Naples players in a match on Friday, January 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Trishauna Lewis is set as an attempt to shoot three points against the Naples’ wild cats in a game on Friday, January 31, 2025, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)