Game 1 — Italy JV Lady Gladiators:
In the first of four games against Itasca on Pack The Dome Night, the Italy JV Lady Gladiators were locked in a battle of wills with the JV Lady Wampus Cats, in a contest that wasn’t decided until the final seconds.

Itasca opened the game with full court pressure and stuck with the strategy for 4 quarters. Fortunately, Italy’s JV girls handled Itasca’s press masterfully, managing to put points on the board.

Both teams traded baskets at the 5:00 mark of the 1st quarter to make the score 2-2. Itasca went up 4-2 but Khadijah Davis was fouled making a layup and swished the and-1 to give Italy a 5-4 edge.

Itasca answered quickly and and lead 6-5 with 3:00 left. From there, neither team could get an easy look at the hoop but Itasca did sink 1-of-2 free throws to lead after the 1st, 7-5.

Itasca scored first in the 2nd quarter but not until the 2:45 mark. Soon after, Italy’s Danyelle Baugher hit a slick fall away jumper from the right block to keep the JV Lady Gladiators close, 9-7.

Italy’s Mary Tate followed Baugher’s effort with a 3-point bomb as the JV Lady Gladiators jumped in front 10-9, 1:20 remained in the half. Itasca responded swiftly by passing thru Italy’s press defense for two baskets and reclaimed the lead 13-10 before intermission.

With only 6 girls on the JV roster, Italy stayed with the JV Lady Wampus Cats in the 3rd. Tate, Baugher, Davis, Nikki Brashear, Sa’Kendra Norwood and Shelbi Gilley kept Itasca contained and only trailed by 1-point, 15-14, going into the final quarter.

In the 4th, with 2:58 left in the game, Itasca was holding on to a 20-18 lead over Italy’s JV girls. A turnover caused by Itasca’s press defense netted them 2 more points and gave the visiting team a 4-point lead, 22-18, with 2:37 left.

A pair of Itasca free throws extended their lead to 24-18, 1:32 remained. Closing in on the final minute, with the game on the line, Tate dribbled her way free and hit a baseline jumper to shrink the deficit 24-20. With 0:54 showing on the clock, Italy’s Brashear earned a shooting foul and stepped up to the line. Courageously, Brashear put in both free throws to make the score 24-22, Itasca was still in front.

Italy had a chance to tie but the shot careened off the rim and sent Itasca speeding down the floor for the game sealing layup. The Lady Wampus Cats held on and the 1st win of the night went to Itasca, 26-22.

Italy JV Lady Gladiators scoring:

Game 2 — Italy JV Gladiators:
Following the lead of Coach Larry Mayberry, who looked sharp in his gold suit coat and slacks, the Italy JV Gladiators knifed thru the Itasca JV Wampus Cats’ defense with little resistance. Italy’s Kyle Jackson scored the first two baskets followed by scores from Bubba Itson and Brandon Souder to give the JV Gladiators a quick 8-0 start. Itasca finally scored to make it 8-2 at the 4:00 mark of the 1st quarter. Unphased, Itson, Jackson and a 3-pointer by Ta’Cory Green increased Italy’s lead 15-2.

Itasca scored the next 4-points but baskets by Cole Hopkins, Green and a buzzer-beating layup by Quinton Sargeant gave Italy a 21-6 cushion.

In the 2nd, Itasca made the score 23-6 but then a Jackson steal and drive to the hoop made the score 25-6. Again, Itasca put in 4 straight points but Sargeant scored the next 6-points to give Italy a 31-10 advantage.

Ethan Saxon put in one more basket before the half ended and Italy’s JV boys got to relax at halftime, enjoing a comfortable 33-15 lead over Itasca.

An Itson steal and score made it 35-15 followed by a Jackson score to make it 37-15 early in the 3rd quarter. Jase Holden made the score 39-17 and then a steal by Sargeant and an assist to Jackson gave Italy’s JV a 41-17 lead. Sargeant stole the ball again and passed to Itson for 2 more as Italy was leaving no doubt, taking a 43-17 lead.

Scores by Hopkins and Green pushed the Italy lead to 47-17 and then Itasca made the score 47-19. Sargeant hit back-to-back baskets and then Reid Jacinto puncuated the quarter with a 3-pointer to give Italy’s JV a 54-21 heading into the 4th.

Baskets by Jackson and Devonta Simmons made the score 58-23. An Itson 3-pointer bumped the score up 61-23. Italy’s Jackson, Saxon and Green added another basket each before it was over as the Italy JV Gladiators made it look easy against the Itasca JV Wampus Cats, 67-32.

Italy JV Gladiators scoring:

Game 3 — Italy Lady Gladiators:
In a rematch with Itasca’s Lady Wampus Cats, the Lady Gladiators try to avenge an 18-point loss at the paws of the Lady Cats back on January 8. The Lady Gladiators are a much improved team since the last meeting between these two and the results Tuesday night were different as well.

Kaitlyn Rossa put in two free throws to give the Lady Gladiators a 2-0 lead. Itasca tied but Rossa scored near the rim to put Italy up 4-2. Itasca tied the game and then took a 6-4 lead. Italy’s Jameka Copeland tied the contest 6-6. Itasca went up 8-6 only to have Rossa tie things back up 8-8.

Itasca was up 9-8 after going 1-of-2 from the line and then scored a basket to go up 11-8. Rossa answered to make the score 11-10 and then was fouled shortly after and made 1-of-2 from the line to tie the game once again, 11-11.

Itasca put in the last 4-points of the opening quarter to take a 15-11 lead into the 2nd.

Italy’s Jimesha Reed scored inside to make the game 15-13, Itasca still in front. Itasca built a 19-13 advantage but Rossa cut it to 19-14 going 1-of-2 from the line. Itasca went up 22-14 but a Copeland basket kept the Lady Gladiators close, 22-16. Italy’s Jaleecia Fleming tightened the match even more with a score, 22-18 Itasca.

Copeland made it 24-20 but Itasca scored just before the buzzer to take a halftime lead of 26-20 into the locker room.

Behind 29-22 in the 3rd, Rossa scored inside to keep Italy within striking distance, 29-24. Copeland stole the ball and passed to Rossa to make the score 29-26. Fleming pulled the Lady Gladiators within 1, 29-28. Itasca made it 34-28 but Rossa scored again allowing Italy to stay close, 34-30.

Itasca went up 6, 36-30. Italy’s Brianna Burkhalter scored to make the game 36-32. Itasca hit 1-of-2 free throws but Rossa scored in the paint putting pressure on the Lady Wampus Cats, 37-34 Itasca. Italy’s Jimesha Reed went up strong and making the hoop and drawing a foul. Reed completed the 3-point play and the game was tied 37-37. Another score by Reed made the game 39-37 in Italy’s favor.

Unfortunately, the Lady Gladiators couldn’t manage another point while Itasca scored 6 straight points to lead late in the game with a 43-39. With 0:03 left and 4-points down, Rossa got the call to shoot a 3-pointer but her effort dropped beneath the rim and Itasca’s Lady Wampus Cats managed to survive Italy Coliseum with a 43-39 win.

The good news is, the Lady Gladiators now know they can defeat Itasca’s Ladies, and Itasca’s Ladies now know Italy could very well beat them if these two were to meet later on.

Italy Lady Gladiators scoring:

Game 4 — Italy Gladiators:
After being knocked out of the playoffs by the Gladiators last season, Itasca was looking for revenge Tuesday night in Italy. However, Italy head coach Kyle Holley had his army prepared to defend the dome as a legion of Gladiator fans gathered for Pack The Dome Night in full support of the home team.

Italy’s John Isaac put the Gladiators up 2-0 and then Colton Campbell blocked an Itasca shot attempt to keep “Gladiator Nation” cheering loudly. Next, junior point guard Jasenio Anderson swished in a 3-pointer to give Italy a quick 5-0 lead.

Itasca responded with a bucket and 2 free throws from Desmond Guy helping the Wampus Cats stay close, 5-4 Italy. Cambell scored in the lane for the Gladiators to make the game 7-4. Itasca’s B.J. Jackson made it 7-6 but an Isaac steal and drive to the basket kept Italy in front, 9-6. Itasca’s Opie Mayberry hit 2 free throws and then Guy scored to give Itasca a 10-9 lead, 2:31 to go in the opening quarter.

Italy senior forward Desmond Anderson scored and drew a shooting foul. The free throw missed but Itasca’s Guy didn’t, scoring twice more to give the upset minded Wampus Cats a 14-11 lead by the end of the 1st quarter.

Immediately in the 2nd, Italy’s J. Anderson stole the ball and laid it in for 2-points making the score 14-13, Itasca leads. Another hoop by Guy pushed Itasca’s lead back to 3, 16-13. Apparently bored of toying with the Cats, Italy went on a 15-point run initiated by Clemons who pulled the Gladiators within 1-point, 16-15.

Isaac matched the effort by Clemons to reclaim the lead for Italy 17-16. J. Anderson created another steal and drove to the hoop to make it 19-16, putting Italy ahead by 3. Clemons then stole the ball and dished to Isaac to make the score 21-16. Returning the favor, Isaac stole the ball and passed to Clemons who increased Italy’s lead to 7-points, 23-16.

Continuing to press, J. Anderson stole the ball again and scored drawing the and-1. The free throw dropped in and Italy lead 26-16. Again, J. Anderson stole the ball away from Itasca and passed ahead to Dan Crownover who was fouled in the act of shooting. Crownover was good on both free throws, 28-16 Italy.

Itasca finally ended their drought when O. Mayberry dropped in two more free throws to make the score 28-18. Moments later, Gladiator Ryan Ashcraft scored inside while being fouled. Ashcraft hit the and-1 as Italy expanded their advantage 31-16 to seize control of the contest. J. Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer followed by 3 free throws from Itasca to bring the 1st half to a close, Gladiators on top 34-21.

Baskets by Clemons and sophomore Larry Mayberry kept Italy on track to open the 3rd. Defensively, Campbell registered his second blocked shot against Itasca and J. Anderson stole the ball yet again. J. Anderson then passed over to Clemons who scored to keep Italy well in front, 40-27.

Itasca managed to cut Italy’s lead to 9, but a mini run by the Gladiators was capped off by a D. Anderson steal and dish to J. Anderson to help Italy regain control 45-31. Itasca closed in again to tighten the game 45-34 but Italy’s Isaac sliced into the lane to demoralize the Wampus Cats and distance the Gladiators 47-34.

D. Anderson was fouled on his way to the hoop and hit 1-of-2 free throws, 48-34 Italy’s lead. L. Mayberry scored in inside again giving Italy a 50-34 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th, baskets by L. Mayberry and Isaac, plus 2 Ashcraft free throws, temporarily thwarted Itasca’s hopes of a comeback, Gladiators up 56-40. Suddenly, the Wampus Cats heated up from the field and put in 10 straight points to pull within 6, 56-50.

The Gladiators responded with fury and Isaac scored to get the final phase of Italy’s statement game underway, 58-50. L. Mayberry scored in the paint and earned an and-1. The bonus shot counted and Italy went up 61-50. On the defensive end, L. Mayberry swatted a Guy shot attempt bringing the Gladiator faithful to their feet.

Clemons received an inbound pass near midcourt and dribbled all the way in for the layup. Behind 63-50, Itasca’s Guy went 1-of-2 from the line to make the game 63-51. Guy is forced to foul Italy’s D. Anderson who swished in both free throws to make the score 65-51.

Itasca’s guy hit 1-of-2 technical foul shots. Isaac scored to make it 67-52. Guy finished his night with a 3-pointer and then fouled Clemons near the end of the game. Clemons swished in both free throws to seal the win over Itasca 69-55.

The Gladiators are now 4-0 in District and three of the IHS basketball teams will face Waxahachie Advantage tonight at Italy Coliseum with the JV Gladiators tipping-off at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Lady Gladiators at 6:30 p.m. and the Gladiators at 8:00 p.m.

Italy Gladiators scoring:

Stats provided by Karen Mathiowetz and Rita Garza.