Schedule change:

The varsity Gladiators (boys) have been rescheduled to play Itasca on Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m in Itasca. The JV boys game has been cancelled.

Lady Gladiators vs. Dallas Faith Family Lady Eagles:

The Lady Gladiators, under the guidance of second year head coach Stacy McDonald and assistant coach Tina Richards, got a win against the Dallas Faith Family Lady Eagles Tuesday night in Dallas.

Scoring in time to beat the buzzer, the “Lady G’s” built a 7-2 advantage to end the 1st quarter. In the 2nd, a Lady Eagle pass down court setup a 3-point play to pull Dallas Faith within 2-points, 7-5, 6:30 left.

Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa hit a medium-range jumper to push the Lady Gladiators ahead by 4, 9-5 with 5:39 to go before the end of the half. Rossa followed up with another score to make the game 11-5 and then Jaleecia Fleming increased Italy lead to 13-5.

Rossa hit a jump shot from the foul line to make the score 15-5 and then secured an offensive rebound and drew a foul on the put back. The shot didn’t drop but Rossa hit the first of two free throws making the score 16-5 which is how the 1st half ended.

In the 2nd half, both teams continued to press which kept the scoring down. Alyssa Richards swished a jumper from outside the left elbow to put Italy up 20-5. Moments later, Brianna Burkhalter passed to Rossa to make the game 22-5.

Jameka Copeland made a layup to finish the fast break to put the Lady Gladiators on top 24-5, with 5:00 remaining. Italy coasted through the final minutes and went on to win 29-12 to secure a spot in the Playoffs.

The Lady Gladiators finished in 3rd place in District for the second year in a row and qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row as well. The team will take on Bosqueville in the 1st round at West High School on Monday, February 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Let’s all be in West on Monday to help cheer the Lady Gladiators to victory!

Gladiators vs. Dallas Faith Family Eagles:

Heath Clemons swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start the scoring for Italy and added another in the opening quarter. Colton Campbell dropped in a 3-bomb as well, during the frame, and Oscar Gonzalez knocked down a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer giving the Gladiators a 22-10 lead after the 1st quarter.

Despite the efforts of the Dallas Faith Eagles to get the ball up the floor, Italy’s defense was just to stingy as the Gladiators outscored the Eagles 20-8 in the 2nd quarter. 3-point makes by Gonzalez and Jase Holden and 7-points from Jasenio Anderson in the 2nd, allowed Italy to take a 42-18 lead into the break.

Italy’s Larry Mayberry scored 4 of his 6-points in the 3rd as did Campbell. De’Andre Sephus scored 5-points, including another Gladiator 3-point shot, to help Italy enjoy a 61-31 lead after three quarters of play.

Sephus repeated his 3rd quarter output by scoring 5 more points during the 4th quarter, including another 3-point dagger. Five Gladiators finished the night scoring in double figures as Italy dominated the final quarter outscoring the Eagles 19-4.

Italy went on to win 80-35 which sets the table for a showdown with the Itasca Wampus Cats. An Italy win would help the Gladiators secure the district championship. The Gladiators will play Itasca on Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m. in Itasca. Italy’s final district game will be against Waxahachie Advantage on Tuesday, February 16.

Gladiator scoring:

The intensity just turned up a notch in Gladiator land so make it to the games ready to cheer! The Lady Gladiators and Gladiators have worked so hard to put themselves in these situations so let’s do our part for them.

Go Italy!