The Coliseum, 2nd Round – The Italy Gladiators challenged All Saints in the 2nd round of the Italy Invitational Tournament Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at the IHS Coliseum.

Italy tied the score 2-2 at the 6:34 point but All Saints would score 6 straight points before a pair of Jasenio Anderson free throws made the score 8-4. All Saints scores again but Italy’s Heath Clemons hits off a dribble and drive to the basket to make it 10-6 with 1:40 left in the first period. At the :49 mark, All Saints gets fouled and makes both free throws securing the lead at the end of the first period 12-6.

All Saints scores the first four points of the second period and lead 18-6 at the 4:45 mark. Italy’s H. Clemons pops a 3-pointer to cut the All Saints lead in half 18-9. Italy gives up another bucket but Dontavius Clemons manages to hit 1 free throw after being fouled and the score is 20-10.

All Saints scored 2-points but Italy answered with three straight 3-pointers. Italy’s H. Clemons hit the first 3-pointer to make the score is 22-13 at the 3:40 mark. Then J. Anderson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make the score 22-19 with 3:20 left before the break. All Saints player #11 powered in a bucket making the score 24-19 with 1:35 left in the second period. Italy’s J. Anderson adds 1 free throw and and H. Clemons puts in another 3-pointer to make the halftime score 24-23 with All Saints leading by one.

The Gladiators take the lead quickly in the third period. By the 6:45 mark, Italy was winning 31-24 before All Saints big man #11 scored in the paint to make it 31-26. Thanks to Italy’s pressure on defense creating steals, The Gladiators climb to a 40-26 lead with the help of a 3-pointer by Darrin “Butter” Moore. The scoring went back-and-forth at a rapid pace capped off by All Saints player #3 who hit a 3-pointer making the score 49-37 with 41.6 showing on the scoreboard. After the third period ended, All Saints was awarded 1-point after clarification on a 3-point shot that was mistakenly ruled a 2-point basket. Therefore, the score at the end of the third period was 49-38 with Italy in control.

Italy kept scoring well into the fourth period. At the 5:32 mark, H. Clemons passes to J. Anderson who gives an assist to Oscar Gonzalez to give the Gladiators a 54-42 advantage. All Saints was still in the game thanks to All Saints player #10, who made a bucket in the lane and a 3-pointer the old fashioned way. The score was 58-47 with 3:10 left in the game. All Saints gets within 8-points of Italy but the Gladiators hold on for a 68-56, 2nd round victory. The win put the Gladiators into the Tournament Championship game played against Trinity Christian this past Saturday.