Italy Lady Gladiators vs. Teague Lady Tigers:

After defeating the Rice Lady Bulldogs 31-20 on day 1 of the Kiwanis Classic Basketball Tournament at the Navarro College campus in Corsicana, the Italy Lady Gladiators were matched up with the Teague Lady Tigers on day 2.

The Lady Gladiators lead 4-0 at the 3:50 mark of the first quarter but the 16th ranked, 3A Teague Lady Tigers, clawed back into the game and lead 5-4 with 1:50 left.

After a time-out taken by Italy’s Coach Stacy McDonald, Kaitlyn Rossa scored quickly to give the lead back to Italy 6-5. Jaleecia Fleming added 2 free throws and the Lady Gladiators lead 8-5 after the first quarter.

Fleming scored a jumper from the right wing with 6:10 to go in the 2nd to keep Italy ahead 10-7. A basket followed by a 3-pointer from the Lady Tigers gave Teague the lead once again 12-10 with 4:48 left and then extended their lead 14-10 just seconds later.

A bounce pass from Alyssa Richards inside to Jimesha Reed made the score 14-12. Unfortunately, Teague answered with another 3-pointer to leap to a 17-12 halftime advantage.

It took only 25 seconds to score in the 3rd to increase their lead 19-12 but a Megan Richards 3-pointer kept Italy close 19-15. Teague scored again but M. Richards followed her own miss from the 3-point line and turned it into 2-points to make the game 21-17, 5:53 left in the 3rd.

M. Richards did connect on her next attempt from beyond the arc to pull Italy within 1-point, 21-20. Teague responded and rebuilt a 26-20 lead when Italy’s Chante Birdsong, who was moved up from the JV squad for the tournament, powered her way for a layup with 3:42 to go in the quarter.

The next trip down, Rossa grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on her way back up. Rossa made the two free throws putting pressure on Teague who was now leading 26-24.

On a mission, Birdsong dribbled around Teague’s zone defense to tie the game 26-26. Rossa would give Italy the lead with just 0:15 left in the 3rd with a bucket in the lane. Teague muscled their way for the tie and added the and-1 to hold court 29-28 going into the final quarter.

Birdsong attacked the Lady Tigers’ defense for another layin to reclaim the lead for Italy 30-29 with 7:45 left in the game. Teague made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the match 30-30 and then ripped an offensive rebound from Italy’s hands scoring the put back to steel back the lead 32-20.

Teague was back in business and put in two more buckets to take a commanding 36-30 lead. A bounce pass from M. Richards to Fleming inside for a score and a free throw by Birdsong gave Italy hope at 36-33, 3:39 left in the game.

Fleming answered a Teague basket by swishing a baseline 7 footer to make the score 38-35 with 3:15 still to go.

Teague lead 42-35, at the 2:28 mark, but a Rossa offensive rebound and score made the game 42-37. Teague scores again but Rossa made two free throws keeping hope alive for Italy, 44-39. Teague scores yet again but a pass from Rossa setup a 3-pointer by Fleming to make the score 46-42. Unfortunately, there was only 0:27 left on the clock and one final basket sealed the deal for the Teague Lady Tigers 48-42.

The loss setup a match between the Lady Gladiators and the Mildred Lady Eagles for the Consolation Championship on Wednesday.

Italy Gladiators vs. Frost Polar Bears:

After making a quick meal of the Rice Bulldogs on day 1 of the Kiwanis Classic 62-34, Italy was paired with the Frost Polar Bears on day 2.

Against Frost, Italy only lead 15-11 after the first quarter as the Gladiators prepared for a war against their long time rival.

Italy’s John Isaac started the second quarter by making 3-of-4 free throws, followed by a driving layup by Jasenio Anderson, giving the Gladiators a 20-13 edge. On the offensive end, Colton Campbell scored inside to make the game 22-13 and then Isaac blocked a Polar Bear shot on the defensive end at the 4:00 mark.

Frost put points on the board but an Anderson layup made the score 24-16. The Polar Bears added one last bucket and the halftime score was 24-18 in Italy’s favor.

In the second half, the Gladiators began pulling away as Isaac scored to make the score 47-35 with 6:05 left in the game.

During one stretch, Anderson drove into the lane for a layup, got fouled on his next shot attempt, converting both free throws and then was fouled while making another layup. Anderson swished the and-1 foul shot to put Italy up 53-36 with 4:21 remaining.

The score was 53-40 when “big man on campus,” Larry Mayberry, scored with 1:38 to go, making the score 55-40. Anderson added one more layup, while Frost only managed a single point in the final minute, to make the final total 57-41 for a day 2 win in favor of the Gladiators.

Italy’s defense, lead by Desmond Anderson, did just enough to slow any real progress by the Polar Bears. However, Frost played a competitive game against Italy by handling the Gladiator press as well as anyone has this season.

The Gladiator victory set up a Kiwanis Tournament rematch between 1A Italy and the 2A Kerens Bobcats. Kerens won the 2008 Championship game, between these two, but anything could happen when Italy and Kerens collide.