Italy Coliseum, 1st Round – The Italy Gladiator’s varsity Boys were leading 12-0 before the Mildred Eagles scored their first bucket. The scoreboard at the end of the first period showed Italy in control 18-7.

Italy made the first 5-points of the second quarter after a Jasenio Anderson 3-pointer. After some back-and-forth scoring, J. Anderson passes across the lane to John Isaac to make the score 33-18 with 2:58 left in the first half. However, Mildred managed to put in the last 6 points of the second quarter and the score at halftime was 36-24, with Italy still holding a comfortable lead.

Mildred’s post player #23 began to dominate the lane by the third period. He would earn a double-double before the night was through for points and rebounds. The scoring continued to go back-and-forth as Italy and Mildred began trading baskets. The third period ended with Mildred gaining ground 43-34.

At the 7:04 mark of the fourth period, Mildred’s #3 scores drawing the and-1 but misses the free throw, the score is 43-36. Mildred would finally score again at the 5:38 point to make the score 43-38. Italy’s Anderson tries to thwart the Mildred comeback with a steal and a layup to make it 45-38. J. Anderson then draws a shooting foul but goes 1 for 2 to make the score 46-38.

Italy would put in the next 6 points upping their advantage 52-38. Then Mildred’s #3 gets fouled and hits 1 of 2, the score is 52-39. Then Mildred gets within 10-points of Italy and the score is now 52-42. At the 1:30 mark, Mildred gets an easy bucket in the lane and the score is 52-44.

Mildred’s #23 steals and scores a layup to close-the-gap 52-46 with :44 left. Again the Eagles then steal and score 4 straight points to make the score 52-50 with :13 remaining. Italy was in the bonus when Dontavius Clemons gets fouled and is awarded a 1-and-1 from the charity line. Unfortunately for Italy, the first shot catches the front of the rim keeping the score 52-50. Mildred’s #20 was then able to drive and tie the game up 52-52 sending this duel under the dome into overtime.

Italy’s Isaac hits to make it 54-52 with 2:00 left in overtime. Mildred’s #33 answers to tie the game again 54-54. Isaac scores to make the the contest 56-54 in favor of Italy with 1:48 left in the extra period. Italy’s J. Anderson gets fouled and is allowed a 1-and-1 opportunity. Hitting 1 out of 2 free throws, Italy had a 3-point edge 57-54 with 1:32 left. Mildred hits a critical bucket to stay alive 57-56 with 1:12 remaining.

Italy’s J. Anderson gets a steal and lays it in left handed for the 59-56 lead with :45 left. The game is still 59-56 with only :28 left when Mildred’s #20 receives a flagrant foul call for shoving H. Clemons down to stop the clock. Mildred forces a late turnover but is unable to score again. The Gladiators win 59-56 in overtime surviving the 1st round of the tournament.