Head Coached by Larry Mayberry, this JV squad was one of the most talented Italy has ever put on the floor. Their only loss of the season was after the Christmas break against the 3A Ferris Yellow Jackets. The Italy Gladiators JV Boys are officially the 15-A Junior Varsity District Champions after going udefeated in District play with an 8-0 record, 15-1 overall.

When you have a team that believes in the coach and a coach that trusts his players you have what is known as a winning combination. Most of all, the teamwork displayed by this unselfish group was extremely impressive. No time was wasted on bad attitudes or complaining to referees. It was full speed all the time with a workman like commitment. The Italy JV squad took care of business and they did it with class.

It was a luxury for Coach Mayberry that no matter which player he sent into the game he was going to get their very best. The support the guys gave each other and the respectful way they responded to Coach Mayberry’s no nonsense coaching style made the Italy JV worth the price of admission.

Before they could call themselves Champions, the Italy JV had to contend with Itasca. Italy jumped out to 9-0 lead before Itasca finally scored to make the game 9-2. Thanks to a smothering Gladiators defense that was challenging every pass and contesting every Itasca shot attempt, Italy took a 13-4 advantage into the 2nd period.

Italy’s Jase Holden #4 intercepted an Itasca pass at midcourt and took it to the rack in the first 11 seconds of the 2nd. Itasca scored after a rare offensive rebound and the score was 15-6, 7:20 left in the half. Kyle Wilkins #50 scored the next 4-points helping Italy build a 21-8 lead. Then Colton Campbell #5 added a free throw, after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, making the game 22-8.

At the 4:44 mark of the 2nd, Deandre Sephus #3 steals and passes over to Campbell for 2-points, then Campbell steals and scores. Campbell then steals again and passes over to Sephus to make the score 28-8 with 3:52 left. After Itasca scored 4-points straight, Italy’s Corrin Frazier #10 scored to make it 30-8 in Italy’s favor. Following Simmons was big Larry Mayberry #13 with a put-back to make the game 32-14. Italy went on to take a comfortable lead into the halftime break 34-16.

Halftime – Varsity Girls Coach Stacy McDonald introduced the Italy Lady Gladiators JV squad. The Lady Gladiators JV, coached by Tina Richards, were named 15-A Junior Varsity League Co-District Champions for the 2009 basketball season. The Italy JV Lady Gladiators honored were:

Lupita Luna #5
Melissa Smithey #10
Alma Suaste #12
Danielle Baugher #20
Shelbi Gilley #21
Kaytlyn Bales #22
Sa’Kendra Norwood #23
Khadijiah Davis #34

Several Italy players made plays in the 3rd period. Holden finished the fast break with a layup. Ryan Ashcraft gave an assist to Frazier for another Italy score. Ethan Saxon made a steal and scored a layup followed by some fancy dribbling by Saxon to penetrate through the Itasca defense for another bucket. Also, Frazier passed ahead to Kyle Jackson #2 for a layup. Jackson also added a 3-pointer in the period at the 1:30 mark. Italy’s Bobby Wilson #33 dished the rock to Brandon Souder #11 to close the period out for the Gladiators JV, 53-26.

Italy’s Wilkins starts the 4th period by getting a 3-point play the old fashion way. Ashcraft gathers a deflected Itasca pass and scores and then steals another and passes ahead to Sephus for two. Sephus scored again and the score was 63-28 at the 5:20 mark of the 4th. Later in the period, Mayberry found a loose ball and gave it to Saxon who laid it in making the score 69-29 with 3:25 left.

Itasca just didn’t have any answers for the problems Italy was giving them. Italy and Itasca traded shots the rest of the way. Italy’s Ashcraft stole the ball and passed to Saxon who capped off the night for the Gladiators JV, 75-35, and making the Championship season official. The players representing the Italy JV Gladiators in the this game were:

Eduardo Garcia #1
Kyle Jackson #2, 5-points (one, 3-pointer)
Deandre Sephus #3, 12-points (two, 3-pointers)
Jase Holden #4, 12-points
Colton Campbell #5, 15-points
Corrin Frazier #10, 4-points
Brandon Souder #11, 2-points
Larry Mayberry #13, 4-points
Ethan Saxon #21, 10-points
Ryan Ashcraft #22, 4-points
Bobby Wilson #33
Kyle Wilkins #50, 9-points

The Italy Neotribune would like to Congratulate both the Italy JV Boys & Girls basketball squads on their Championship seasons.