Italy’s 7th Grade Boys:
A free shot by J.T. Escamilla gives the Italy 7th grade boys basketball team a 1-0 lead over Irving North Hills (INH) with 4:58 left in the opening quarter. Teammate John Byers dazzled the “Coliseum Crazies” with a reverse layup to put Italy up 3-0 with 3:53 still to go.

Chace McGinnis was a monster on the boards for Italy all game long ensuring INH was 1 and done on their offensive end. Kelton Bales kept putting himself in the right spot earning two trips to the free throw line, before game’s end, while securing several rebounds as well.

Byers, in the role of gunslinger, launched several downcourt passes creating fast break opportunities but Italy just couldn’t convert any points with their transition game.

Italy only leads by 3-0 after the 1st, but in this evenly matched contest, 3-points is a significant advantage.

In the 2nd, INH scores at the 4:51 mark to make things interesting, 3-2. Sticking to their guns, Italy’s Escamilla keeps calling the offensive sets and the team continues to execute. The shots just refuse to drop in, and with 0:25 left in the half, INH earns a trip to the line with a chance to take the lead.

With some tough luck of their own, both INH free shots are off the mark and Escamilla fires a 3-point shot from halfcourt at the buzzer. The shot was off to the right but Italy’s 7th grade had a 3-2 lead and the momentum at halftime.

At the 5:09 mark of the 3rd quarter, Escamilla gets pinned on the baseline and purposely bounces the ball off the leg of an INH defender to preserve the possession for Italy. No points came from the heads up play, but less than a minute later, Italy’s Colton Petrey swished in a 3-pointer putting Italy up 6-2 with 4:13 left in the 3rd.

INH mounts a comeback and, with 2:25 left in the quarter, manages to tie the game 6-6. Byers answers the challenge and shoots Italy back in front 8-6.

After missed 2 free throws, INH puts in a 3-pointer to take their first lead of the game 9-8, 1:05 to go.

Byers shoots the 3-ball in retaliation but it rolls off the rim. McGinnis snags the rebound and kicks it out to Cody Boyd who rattles in the 7-footer to reclaim the lead for Italy 10-9, 0:40 left in the 3rd.

After a technical foul is charged to Italy, INH has a chance to steal the lead back. The technical shots rimmed off and Italy holds their 10-9 lead going into the last quarter.

McGinnis rebounds a 3-point miss by INH, and moments later, Petrey knocks down a jumper from the left corner and Italy again leads by 3, 12-9 with 3:15 remaining in the game.

Byers gets to the line and hits 1-of-2 as Italy’s fans begin to sense a victory. INH grabs a defensive rebound but Escamilla steals the outlet pass and gets fouled on his way to the hoop. The basket counts but the bonus free throw bounces out.

Leading 15-9 with 2:40 left in the game, Italy’s defense tries to close the door on INH. Free shots give INH 2-points and keep them within striking distance 15-11.

McGinnis and Tyler Vencil stay active on the boards and a timely rebound by Bales setup the dagger by Petrey. Petrey’s fast break layup made the score 17-11 and secured the second win of the season for Italy’s 7th grade team, with both wins coming against Irving North Hills.

Italy’s 8th Grade Boys:
Italy’s Treyvon Robertson rebounds an INH miss and dribbles down for the first points of the game, 2-0. Deiondre Cockran finishes the fast break for Italy to give the home team a 4-0 edge.

Point guard Justin Wood pulls up from the right elbow and Italy has a commanding 6-0 lead with 3:20 left in the 1st.

Italy finishes the 1st quarter by hitting 2-out of-4 free shots to lead 8-0 going into the 2nd quarter.

Battling back, INH scores 6 straight points to make the game 8-6 with 4:18 left in the half. An assist from Robertson to Wood, on the fast break, scores two more for Italy, making the game 10-6 with 1:52 left.

A 3-pointer by Cockran, with 1:20 to go, gives Italy a 13-6 cushion. INH makes it 13-8, but a 3-point blast from Darol Mayberry gives Italy a 16-8 lead at intermission.

INH gives Italy’s 8th grade team all they could handle in the 3rd quarter. Being outscore by INH 14-9, Italy clings to a 25-22 lead heading into the final minutes.

In the 4th, Cockran, Wood and Robertson each score a basket but a fresher INH team completed their comeback to win the week one rematch 33-31, deafeating Italy by 2-points for the second time this season.

Scores and stats from the Jr High Girls’ games against Irving North Hills:

7th grade girls: (24-15 Italy)

8th grade girls: (20-18 Italy)