PACK THE DOME NIGHT! The Lady Gladiators and Gladiators are now focused on the Itasca Wampus Cats who will be coming to town Tuesday, January 26. It’s always an exciting matchup when these two rivals collide so we hope to see everyone inside the Coliseum. Make those signs, paint your faces and get ready to make some noise!

Game times vs Itasca:
4:00 p.m. – JV Lady Gladiators
5:15 p.m. – JV Gladiators
6:30 p.m. – Lady Gladiators
8:00 p.m. – Gladiators

Italy lady Gladiators:
The Lady Gladiators overpowered the Dallas Faith Family Academy Lady Eagles Friday night. Despite Alyssa Richards being out with a wrist injury, the team came thru for head coach Stacy McDonald giving her a very special gift on her birthday, a victory wrapped with a golden bow.

Kaitlyn Rossa lead the Lady Gladiator scoring effort with 9-points to get the party started in the opening quarter. Jimesha Reed added 6-points, Jaleecia Fleming put in 4 while Chante Birdsong and Brianna Burkhalter each scored a basket in the 1st. Megan Richards sizzled in a 3-pointer to light the candles for Italy as the Lady Gladiators headed into the 2nd quarter with a 26-5 advantage.

Italy slowed things down a bit in the 2nd but Rossa dropped in 4 more points, Jameka Copeland joined the fun hitting 1-of-2 free shots and M. Richards put in 2 as well while the Lady Eagles were starting to get that uninvited feeling after trailing 33-10 at the break.

In the 3rd, Italy played the bucket game dropping in several balls. Rossa scored the most points with 7 but M. Richards made the longest shots with two more 3-pointers. Fleming, K. Birdsong and Reed each dropped a ball in the bucket as well and the Lady Gladiators began piling up the party favors to lead 52-13 after 3 quarters of play.

Before the Lady Gladiators could sing Happy Birthday to Coach McDonald, they wrapped up the party by blowing out the candles on DFFA. Copeland scored a basket and Burkhalter made 1-of-2 free throws in the final quarter to give Coach McDonald a 55-13 win on her birthday. What a neat gift!

Italy Gladiators:
The State ranked Italy Gladiators are now 3-0 in District after defeating the Dallas Faith Family Academy Academy Eagles on Friday. Head coach Kyle Holley has his team firing on all cylinders after using the DFFA Eagles as tune-up before the big game against Itasca on Tuesday for Pack The Dome Night.

John Isaac put in 12-points in the 1st quarter, Colton Campbell was good for 4-points and Jasenio Anderson scored as well to give the Gladiators an early 18-6 lead.

Heath Clemons scored 5-points in the 2nd, including a 3-pointer, and Isaac added 4 more. Ryan Ashcraft and Larry Mayberry each scored in the quarter also as both sides traded baskets. However, Italy won the quarter 13-12 and took a comfortable lead into halftime, 31-18.

Refueling during the break, Jasenio Anderson hit the gas to give Italy’s offensive scoring machine a boost. Anderson lead all scores in the 3rd with 8-points while De’Andre Sephus had the green light and knocked down two 3-pointers for the Gladiators.

Isaac put in 5 more, Ashcraft added 3-points the hard way and Jase Holden got points on the board for Italy scoring down the lane. Larry Mayberry, Desmond Anderson and Clemons all scored baskets in the 3rd as well as the Gladiators totaled 31-points in the quarter to take a 62-24 lead.

Coach Holley dropped the Gladiator offense down into 1st gear but Italy still managed 19-points in the final quarter. Isaac scored 10 more and finished with 32-points in the contest, including going 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

Holden, Mayberry and Clemons scored 1 basket each and Sephus went 3-of-6 from the line in the 4th as Italy won over the DFFA Eagles, in dominating fashion,
81-33. Hopefully, the Gladiators can keep rolling and make roadkill out of the Wampus Cats on Tuesday during Pack The Dome Night!