After Kyle Jackson punched the ball away from the Whitney JV Wildcats, Italy’s Jase Holden came up with it, dribbled across midcourt, and finished with a left handed layup putting the JV Gladiators on the board first.

Jackson then scored consecutive baskets including a spinning catch and layup off a downcourt pass from Holden to give Italy’s JV a quick 6-0 lead. The Wildcats made a couple of baskets but a made basket by Ethan Saxon while falling backwards made the score 8-4, Italy still in front.

Corrin Frazier then penetrated into the lane and dished to Jackson who was cutting to the basket. Jackson drew the foul and scooped the shot up and in. The and-1 missed but Italy’s JV held a 10-6 advantage.

Italy’s Brandon Souder then stole the ball and finished the solo fast break to add to the JV Gladiator lead 12-6. Italy tried to run time off the clock and take the last shot of the 1st quarter but a Wildcat steal ruined the plan. As Whitney tried to layin the last second shot, Holden caught back up to the play and swatted the ball out at the buzzer preserving Italy’s 12-6 lead to start the 2nd.

Italy’s Ta’Cory Green, Cole Hopkins and Jackson each hit a 3-pointer in the 2nd quarter. Two layups by Holden and a put back by Souder gave Coach Larry Mayberry and his JV Gladiators a one touchdown lead at halftime 27-20.

Whitney’s JV Wildcats went wild to start the 3rd scoring 6 quick points to close the deficit 27-26. Green swished his second 3-pointer of the game to answer the Wildcat surge to keep Italy’s JV in front 30-26. Things settled down a bit and Saxon’s sweeping left handed layup made the score 32-26 with 5:25 left in the 3rd quarter.

Another 3-point attempt by Italy air balled but Jackson was camped under the Whitney basket and guided the misfire in for a score. Italy’s JV now leads 36-28 with 4:10 left in the 3rd.

Aaron Thomas made 1-of-2 free shots with 2:30 left and then scored inside off of an assist from Holden giving the JV Gladiators a handsome lead going into the final frame 39-30.

The Wildcats began the 4th quarter ripping off 8 straight points pulling within 1-point, 39-38. Coach Mayberry called a timeout with 6:40 still showing on the clock.

With 6:17 left in the game, a layup by Whitney gives the Wildcats a 40-39 lead, their first lead of the match. After failing to get any points on Italy’s next possession, Holden stole the ball back and fed it to Devonta Simmons for 2. Seconds later, Holden is fouled and makes 1-of-2 free shots to increase Italy’s lead 42-40.

A Brandon Souder basket followed by another Holden basket made the score 46-40 with 4:39 left. A basket by Whitney cuts the Gladiator lead to 2. Souder again scores inside to keep old gold ahead 48-44. With 1:28 left, Frazier gets fouled and hits 1-of-2 free shots making the score 52-48.

Whitney then put in the 3-ball cutting the lead down to 1-point, 52-51. Whitney fouls and Holden returns to the line again. Holden is able to add one more point to the Italy cause to make the game 53-51.

The Gladiator defense holds and Holden earns a trip back to the foul line. Holden makes good on both free shots for Coach Mayberry and Italy’s JV goes up 55-52 with 24.7 seconds left.

The Wildcats earn a trip to the foul line but miss both charity shots. Italy misses their opportunity to seal the deal after coming away from the foul line pointless. With the score still at 55-52, Whitney goes for the tie. The Wildcat shot is wild and the ball heads out under the Gladiator basket.

An Italy rebounder leaps and saves the ball back into the hands of a waiting Wildcat directly under Italy’s goal. The quick layup over the front of the rim beat the buzzer but not the home team. Luckily, Italy didn’t foul the Whitney shooter on the put back and the JV Gladiators win by a whisker over the Whitney Wildcats 55-54.

Whitney High Scorer:
J.Q. Echols, 22-points

The Italy Gladiators lead 7-0 to start things off against the Whitney Wildcats and never looked back as Italy’s Heath Clemons scored 8-points in the 1st quarter while Jasenio Anderson put in 13-points, including 5-of-7 from the free throw line, to build a 21-12 Gladiator lead over the Wildcats going into the 2nd quarter.

Larry Mayberry got on the board with a basket over the Wildcats, however, it was Italy’s John Isaac with the hot hand in the 2nd. Isaac scored 13-points and went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe as Italy totaled 27-points to Whitney’s 16 during the 8:00 stretch.

Dan Crownover highlighted the quarter by anticipating a Wildcat wing pass and returning it to the other end for a layup with 1:00 left in the 2nd. De’Andre Sephus put in the final 4-points of the half to give the Gladiators a 48-28 lead at the break .

Jasenio Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer in the 3rd as did Oscar Gonzalez who scored all 5 of his points in the quarter. Both Colton Campbell and Clemons added 4-points each as the Gladiators were now coasting to the finish line 68-43.

Issac scored 6-points and J. Anderson added one last basket in the 4th. Whitney actually outscored Italy 15-8 in the final quarter but Italy Head Coach Kyle Holley had already reigned in his forces back in the 3rd.

The Gladiators defeated the Whitney Wildcats, easily, 76-58. It was a good win for the Gladiators as they seem to be clicking on all cylinders in time for District.

Italy Stats:
Jasenio Anderson made 7-of-9 free shots.
John Isaac made 5-of-6 free shots in the 3rd.

Whitney High Scorer:
Kennerson, 16-points