After a 73-61 win over the Itasca Wampus Cats, The Italy Gladiators (24-3) have already clinched the 1A-1 Region II District 15 District Championship with one game left to play. Currently 9-0 in district play, the Gladiators finished last season as a regional finalist and are poised to take another stab at winning the state championship.

Gladiator head coach Kyle Holley and assistant coaches Larry Mayberry and Josh Ward have several weapons available to them on the team’s roster with practically a different player leading the team in scoring each week. The featured weapon against Itasca, however, was junior point guard Jasenio Anderson who lead the Gladiator attack with 28-points on Saturday.

Gladiators Heath Clemons, Oscar Gonzalez, Colton Campbell, John Isaac and Larry Mayberry each scored a basket in the 1st quarter. Jasenio Anderson’s first two scores were 3-pointers before finishing the opening period with 8 to help Italy take an 18-9 advantage into the 2nd quarter.

Isaac added 4 more points in the 2nd. Larry Mayberry scored inside and De’Andre Sephus nailed a 3-pointer from the outside. Anderson went 3-of-4 from the line in the quarter, swished another 3-pointer with an Itasca defender directly in his view and added 2 field goals.

With the 1st half winding down Italy’s Anderson lofted a half court shot that banked in at the buzzer. A stunned Anderson stood their in disbelief as his teammates rushed him to celebrate the phenomenal 3-pointer.

As promised, The Jasenio Anderson Show had officially hit the air waves as the shot catapulted Anderson and the Gladiators into prime-time stardom.

Anderson’s fourth 3-pointer gave him a total of 21-points in the 1st half and it gave Italy a 40-29 lead at intermission.

Italy’s John Isaac put on a show in the 3rd, scoring 13 of Italy’s 17-points. Campbell and Anderson both made baskets as Italy managed to discourage Itasca from making any real surge during the frame.

Itasca trailed Italy 57-45 as the game moved into the 4th quarter. Itasca’s fans were unable to change the channel while Gladiator Nation kept turning up the volume. Campbell and Mayberry scored 4-points each, Clemons put in 1-of-2 free throws and Isaac was good for another basket.

Anderson signed-off with 5 more points to finish with 28 total as Italy won the heated battle 73-61 to claim the district championship. Isaac scored 21 as Anderson and Isaac combined for 49 of Italy’s 73-points. Even Johny Carson and Ed McMahon would be jealous of these two.

Congratulations to coaches Kyle Holley, Larry Mayberry and Josh Ward, and to manager Anna Viers for all they do for the team. Also, thanks to the players for bringing the district championship back to Italy!

Italy Gladiator scoring:

Go Gladiators!