Italy Wins! Claims Regional Quarterfinal Championship!

Image: Italy Gladiators Win — The Italy Gladiators win the Regional Championship against Itasca. They will travel to Abilene on Friday, March 6 in the next leg of their journey.

Italy Gladiators Win — The Italy Gladiators win the Regional Championship against Itasca. They will travel to Abilene on Friday, March 6 in the next leg of their journey. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Desmond Anderson — #15 Desmond Anderson puts up a big fight against Itasca.

Desmond Anderson — #15 Desmond Anderson puts up a big fight against Itasca. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: John Isaac

John Isaac (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Slick Pass — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons dishes over to #10 John Isaac on the fast break.

Slick Pass — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons dishes over to #10 John Isaac on the fast break.

Image: Diamond Inside — Italy’s #4 Diamond Rodgers works hard in the paint for the Gladiators.

Diamond Inside — Italy’s #4 Diamond Rodgers works hard in the paint for the Gladiators.

Image: Cat And Ball — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons tries to take a Wampus Cat’s ball away from him.

Cat And Ball — Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons tries to take a Wampus Cat’s ball away from him.

Image: “Head” Mascot — Italy’s Mascot got the big head late in the game once the Gladiators had the game wrapped up.

“Head” Mascot — Italy’s Mascot got the big head late in the game once the Gladiators had the game wrapped up.

Image: Isaac Attacks — Italy’s John Isaac goes for it against an Itasca defender.

Isaac Attacks — Italy’s John Isaac goes for it against an Itasca defender.

Image: Pump Fake — Italy’s #50 Kyle Wilkins draws a shooting foul against Itasca.

Pump Fake — Italy’s #50 Kyle Wilkins draws a shooting foul against Itasca.

Image: Fighting for Rebound — Italy’s John Isaac #10 tries to tip the rebound to his teammates.

Fighting for Rebound — Italy’s John Isaac #10 tries to tip the rebound to his teammates.

Image: Accepts Challenge — The Italy Gladiators rose to the challenge as Dontavius Clemons #5 challenges an Itasca shooter.

Accepts Challenge — The Italy Gladiators rose to the challenge as Dontavius Clemons #5 challenges an Itasca shooter.

Image: Defending the “Gold” — Itasca’s #5 Mikey Marshall tries to shoot over the ultimate defender, Dontavius (Maximus) Clemons #5.

Defending the “Gold” — Itasca’s #5 Mikey Marshall tries to shoot over the ultimate defender, Dontavius (Maximus) Clemons #5.

Image: Clemons Creates — Itasca couldn’t cover Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons one-on-one.

Clemons Creates — Itasca couldn’t cover Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons one-on-one.

Image: Butter-It-Up — Italy Head Coach Kyle Holley tried to stick “Butter” on Itasca’s hot shooters.

Butter-It-Up — Italy Head Coach Kyle Holley tried to stick “Butter” on Itasca’s hot shooters.

Image: Jasenio Hits The Gas — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson put the pedal to the metal and turned the Wampus Cats into roadkill.

Jasenio Hits The Gas — Italy’s #11 Jasenio Anderson put the pedal to the metal and turned the Wampus Cats into roadkill.

Image: Anderson Avoids — Jasenio Anderson #11 avoids the paw of an Itasca defender as he goes up for 2 of his 26-points.

Anderson Avoids — Jasenio Anderson #11 avoids the paw of an Itasca defender as he goes up for 2 of his 26-points.

Image: Marshall Gets Corraled — Clemons and Isaac laid down the law against Itasca’s #5 Mikey Marshall.

Marshall Gets Corraled — Clemons and Isaac laid down the law against Itasca’s #5 Mikey Marshall.

Image: Our Lane — Dontavius and Jasenio crash the board against Itasca.

Our Lane — Dontavius and Jasenio crash the board against Itasca.

Image: Isaac Shoots — Italy’s John Isaac #10 puts up 2 of his 30-points against the Cats.

Isaac Shoots — Italy’s John Isaac #10 puts up 2 of his 30-points against the Cats.

Image: Oscar To Pass — Oscar Gonzalez #3 looks to pass inside.

Oscar To Pass — Oscar Gonzalez #3 looks to pass inside.

Image: Wilkins Defends — Italy’s #50 Kyle Wilkins whomps the Wampus Cats as he gives Coach Holley valuable minutes in the game.

Wilkins Defends — Italy’s #50 Kyle Wilkins whomps the Wampus Cats as he gives Coach Holley valuable minutes in the game.

Image: Feeling Good — Italy’s feeling good late in the game knowing their about to knock Itasca out of the playoffs by beating their rivals and claiming the Regional Quarterfinal Championship 78-71.

Feeling Good — Italy’s feeling good late in the game knowing their about to knock Itasca out of the playoffs by beating their rivals and claiming the Regional Quarterfinal Championship 78-71.

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