The Gladiators clamp down on the Gators

Barry Byers Posted January 20, 2009 7:30pm Italy Gladiator Basketball

Image: Look Out Below — Italy’s #5 Dontavius Clemons climbs high for a block against the Dallas Gateway’s 6’ 6" big man. It was not easy, but Italy managed to out run, out leap and out last the Gators for a last second victory 87-85. The game was played at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster Friday night. — Look Out Below — Italy’s #5 Dontavius Clemons climbs high for a block against the Dallas Gateway’s 6’ 6" big man. It was not easy, but Italy managed to out run, out leap and out last the Gators for a last second victory 87-85. The game was played at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster Friday night. (Anne Sutherland)

The score is 8-8 at the 5:45 mark when Gateway’s “Big City” #24 hits inside making the score 10-8. Italy’s #11, Jasenio “the Beast” Anderson, counters finishing the fast break to tie the game 10-10. Gateway’s #12 pump fakes for 2 more points. Gateway leaps ahead 14-11, but J. Anderson scores for Italy making it 14-13. Gateway #12 creates in the lane to extend the Gators lead 16-13. With 2:33 left in the 1st period, Italy’s #12 Darrin Moore drills a 3-pointer to tie the game once more at 16-16.

Gateway’s #24 scores on an up and under move making it 18-16 Gators. However, Moore hits another 3-pointer to give Italy a 19-18 lead. J. Anderson manages back-to-back steals, but Italy can’t convert the turnovers into points. With 1:32 remaining in the 1st period, Gateway’s #23 hits a medium range jumper to regain the lead for the Gators 20-19.

Italy’s Heath Clemons drives and hits over Gateway’s “Big City” #24 giving Italy a 1-point advantage, 21-20 with :23 left. Gateway grabs the lead back 23-21. Italy inbounds to H. Clemons who releases a ¾ court shot as the 1st period expires. The 3-point shot by H. Clemmons banks in getting an ovation from Gladiator fans even though no points were rewarded for the toss. The Gators hang on to a 23-21 advantage heading into the next period.

Italy’s #5, Dontavius Clemons, starts the 2nd period off with a pair of free throws, after drawing a foul from Gateway’s #24. The score is tied again 23-23. Italy pulls ahead 27-25 at the 7:18 mark. The game gets tied once more 27-27 when H. Clemons scores making it 29-27. Then Italy’s Moore drives, gets fouled, makes both free shots and the score is 31-27.

Later in the period with 1:15 left, after a Gateway 3-point shot, the score is 41-41. Italy’s J. Anderson responds by scoring the next 4-points giving Italy a 45-41 lead. Anderson adds 2 free throws at the end of the period and the Gladiators take a 47-43 lead into the break.

Halftime

The 3rd period was more of the same, great players making great plays. The Gators did manage to build a 65-60 advantage with :41 left. Italy’s J. Anderson gets fouled on the drive and hits 1-of-2 free shots to make it 65-61.

The Gators answer and the score is 67-61, :27 left. Before the period ended, J. Anderson gets into the lane and slips a pass around Gateway’s “Big City” #24 to D. Clemons. Clemons scores the layup drawing Italy closer 67-63 going into the final period.

Trailing 68-63 at the 7:12 mark of the 4th, Italy’s Moore swishes another 3-pointer tightening the match 68-66. Clemons uses a ball fake and a bank shot to tie the game 68-68, 6:57 left. The Gators add 1 free shot at the 6:45 mark but Italy’s #10 John Isaac scores with 5:54 remaining to give the Gladiators back the lead 70-69.

5:32 shows on the clock when Gateway’s #24 gets fouled again and hits both free throws. The Gators now lead 71-70. Then H. Clemons puts in a layup, Italy leads 72-71. Gateway’s #24 draws another foul hitting 1-of-2 to tie the game 72-72. With 4:55 left, Italy’s J. Anderson drives and scores to give Italy the lead once more 74-72. The lead doesn’t last long as “Big City,” Gateway’s #24 gets the bucket and-1. The free shot drops and the Gators snatch the lead right back 75-74, 4:13 left. Italy’s #4 Diamond Rodgers gets an assist from J. Anderson and gets fouled shooting. Rodgers makes 1-of-2 to tie the game 75-75.

“Big City” #24 then hits a fade away and the Gators are rolling 77-75 with 3:25 left. Italy’s J. Anderson responds by going over “Big City” to tie the game 77-77.
“Big City” hits inside this time giving the Gators a 79-77 advantage. With 2:40 left, Italy’s #15 Desmond Anderson drops in a beautiful finger-roll to keep the contest tied 79-79.

Italy’s D. Clemons blocks a “Big City” shot from the top of the lane. Unfortunately, the Gladiators couldn’t convert it into points. “Big City” gets another shot at it and scores giving Gateway an 81-79 lead with 1:50 left. Italy’s J. Anderson draws a foul on the drive, connects on both free throws and we are tied again 81-81.

With 1:27 remaining, Gateway’s #23 scores to make the score 83-81, advantage Gators. Italy’s H. Clemons responds by tieing the game 83-83. Italy eventually secures the ball and H. Clemons passes ahead to John Isaac for the go ahead score putting Italy in control 85-83.

The Gators go inside to their bread and butter and “Big City” delivers to knot the game again 85-85, :27 left in the game. Italy’s J. Anderson responds by taking it to the rim and gets fouled by “Big City” with :23 remaining. Then the legend grew as Sophomore sensation #11 Jasenio Anderson steps to the line and sinks both free throws to make it 87-85 in Italy’s favor.

With :15 seconds left on the clock, Gateway allows the clock to run way down. With only :2 seconds left, the ball gets lobbed inside to “Big City” who gets fouled trying to tie the game. “Big City” misses both free shots and Italy holds on for the incredible win and, incredibly, this article is finally over!

Italy’s Top Performers:
MVP – #11 Jasenio “Beast” Anderson
Big Shot – #12 Darrin “Butter” Moore
Playmaker – #2 Heath Clemons
Block Party – #5 Dontavius Clemons

Anderson Was A Beast — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson gets out on the fast break. (Anne Sutherland)

“Snoop” Hoops — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons floats a jumper over the mighty Gator’s defense. (Anne Sutherland)

Anderson Pens A Gator — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson backs down a Gator defender and puts up the shot. (Anne Sutherland)

Moore Challenges — Italy’s #10 Darrin Moore takes the ball into the teeth of the Gator’s Defense. (Anne Sutherland)

Heath Gets Swamped — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons gets swamped by two Gators. (Anne Sutherland)

Clemons Rises — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons rises to the challenge constantly attacking the rim. (Anne Sutherland)

Diamond Gets Rough — Italy’s #4 Diamond Rodgers contests a Gator’s shooter. (Anne Sutherland)

Earning Points — The Gators definitely didn’t make it easy on the Gladiators Friday night. Points in the paint would have to be earned. (Anne Sutherland)

Jasenio Contorts — A flexible #11 Jasenio Anderson twist his way down the lane for 2-points. (Anne Sutherland)

Gators Can fly? — Athletes from both teams put on a show for the fans. (Anne Sutherland)

Timber — Italy’s #4 Diamond Rodgers collides into a tree trunk in the middle of the lane. (Anne Sutherland)

Fast Execution — Gateway’s #32 drives and dishes around Italy’s J. Anderson in mid air. (Anne Sutherland)

Mugged — Italy has the ball stripped inside against the mighty Gators defense. (Anne Sutherland)

Clemons Gets Clobbered — Not backing down all game, Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons attacks the big fellow. (Anne Sutherland)

Heath Gets Fouled — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons takes it strong to the glass against Gateway Friday night. (Anne Sutherland)

Poised Under Pressure — Italy Head Coach Kyle Holley stayed calm in a tense situation. (Anne Sutherland)

Strategizing — A total team effort between coaching staff and players made the difference in this one. (Anne Sutherland)

Anderson Splits — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson splits the two Gator defenders for a score. (Anne Sutherland)

Cut Diamond — Italy’s #4 Diamond Rodgers cuts into the lane to put up a shot. (Anne Sutherland)

John Isaac — Italy’s #10 John Isaac finishes the fast break against the Dallas Gateway Gators. (Anne Sutherland)

Anderson Bumped — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson gets bumped by the big man from Gateway. It was Italy’s Anderson who proved 6’ 6’’ is just a measurement…and not the measure of a man. (Anne Sutherland)

The Clencher — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson steps up and nails 2 free throws in the final seconds. The shots proved to be the game winners as Gateway’s #24 would miss both his free throws with :02 seconds left in regulation. (Anne Sutherland)