The 2009 Italy Invitational Basketball Tournament begins Thursday, December 3 and wraps up on Saturday, December 5.

Italy’s Varsity Lady Gladiators, along with the JV and Varsity Gladiators, will all three be competing in the tournament.

In the girls bracket, Lady Gladiator Head Coach Stacy McDonald and her Varsity Girls, Venus, Milford, Mildred, Grace Prep, Ferris, Malakoff and Teague will all be competing for the tournament championship.

In the boys bracket, Gladiator Head Coach Kyle Holley and his Varsity team, Coach Larry Mayberry’s JV Gladiators, Milford, Venus, Mildred, Palmer, Teague and Kerens will all be vying for the trophy.

It’s possible both JV and Varsity Gladiator teams could play in the tournament championship game against one another. Wouldn’t that be interesting? Coach Holley vs Coach Mayberry. Sounds like a horror movie. Not since Predator vs Terminator or Jason vs Freddie Kruger has a matchup been so anticipated!

Good luck to all the teams competing in the Italy Invitational with the first game beginning at 9:00 a.m on Thursday, December 3 between Milford’s Lady Bulldogs and the Venus Lady Bulldogs.

Coach McDonald and the Lady Gladiators will play at 12:00 noon on Thursday against the Mildred Lady Eagles.

Coach Holley and his Varsity Gladiators will play at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday against the Mildred Eagles.

Coach Mayberry’s JV Gladiators will play at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday against the Palmer Bulldogs.