Hamilton — The Italy Gladiators (26-4) crossed a dam in Whitney, climbed a mountain in Meridian and then drove straight to the basket in Hamilton before overcoming one final obstacle, the DeLeon Bearcats (19-10), to win the area championship game 85-50.

Thanks to a 10-0 start in district play, the Gladiators, who fininshed a perfect 11-0 in district, earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs and an automatic bi-district championship win before facing the DeLeon Bearcats Friday in Hamilton.

DeLeon was hoping the Gladiators’ armor would be a bit rusty after Italy received the 1st round bye. Afterall, the Bearcats already experienced playoff action with a 49-48 bi-district win over Eldorado. However, a layup by Italy’s Jasenio Anderson and a jump shot swished in by John Isaac to give the Gladiators a quick 4-0 lead, helped DeLeon to realize they wouldn’t be so lucky.

To their credit, DeLeon responded and tightened the gap 4-3. Italy’s Anderson tried to hold back DeLeon by hitting 1-of-2 from the free throw line making the score 5-3. DeLeon countered and knocked down a 3-pointer to take the lead 6-5 with 5:30 left in the 1st quarter.

Italy’s Larry Mayberry hit the second of 2 foul shots to tie the game 6-6 at the 4:23 mark. Isaac soon followed with a jumper near the paint to give the lead back to Italy, 8-6. DeLeon answered on their next possession to tie the game again 8-8 and Bearcat fans really thought they were on to something.

To remind DeLeon’s faithful of what they were up against, Italy’s Heath Clemons lead a 3-on-2 fast break culminating in a wrap-around pass from Clemons to Anderson who trailed the play down the middle of the lane to get the layup. The effort reestablished a 10-8 Gladiator lead.

Next, a pass from Anderson ahead to Clemons gave Italy a 12-8 advantage followed by another basket from Isaac to keep Italy in front 14-10. An Anderson 3-pointer gave Italy a 17-10 lead, with 1:17 left in the 1st quarter, before a steal and a score by Anderson pushed the Gladiators even farther ahead, 19-10. DeLeon added a basket as the opening quarter wound down but Italy had gained control with a 19-12 edge going into the 2nd.

Italy’s Head Coach Kyle Holley called a play for Isaac during the break between quarters and Italy executed the command as Isaac’s jumper swished thru to put Italy up 21-12. DeLeon answered but Italy’s Colton Campbell matched the Bearcats to make the score 23-14.

An Isaac free throw made the game 24-14 at the 6:00 mark of the 2nd. Then the Gladiator defense began to really disrupt DeLeon in the backcourt. A turnover and a pass from Campbell to Isaac gave Italy a 26-14 lead. A pass from Anderson to Campbell gave Italy a 28-14 cushion followed by another Bearcat turnover created by Anderson off of DeLeon’s inbound pass. Anderson passed over to Isaac to make the game 30-14, timeout DeLeon!

The Bearcats caught their breath during the pause in action and scored quickly out off the break. An Isaac jumper from beyond the right elbow spoiled any Bearcat thoughts of a rally. Anderson and Campbell both scored from the floor but back-to-back trips to the line resulted in two DeLeon free throws making the score 36-18.

After two more Bearcat free throws, Isaac blocked a DeLeon shot but the ball ended up in the hands of the enemy who reversed in the layup to make the score 36-22. Italy’s Anderson hit 1-of-2 free throws to close out the 1st half scoring as Gladiator Nation enjoyed a 37-22 halftime lead.

Colton Campbell put in 8 of his 16-points in the 3rd quarter to lead the Gladiator charge in the 2nd half. Clemons added 5-points including a 3-pointer while Anderson put in 5-points in the 3rd as well. Isaac put in 2-points during the quarter as Italy carried a 57-33 lead into the 4th.

In the final quarter, several Gladiators got in on the act. Isaac scored 8 of his 23-points, Clemons scored 5 more including another 3-point dagger and Larry Mayberry put in 4-points. Ryan Ashcraft scored a layup off a beautiful bounce pass from Clemons. Aaron Thomas was the recipient of a Sephus pass to score 2-points. Campbell hit 2 free throws and Desmond Anderson got out in the open for an easy layup.

In the final minutes, Jase Holden made 4-of-6 free throws while De’Andre Sephus went 1-of-3 from the line as the Gladiators did in DeLeon 85-50 to win the 1A Area Championship and move one step closer toward their ultimate goal.

Italy advances to the regional quarterfinals and will play the Dallas Gateway Gators on Monday night in Midlothian at 7:00 p.m. The winner of the match will advance to the regional tournament in Abilene.

Go get ’em Gladiators!

Italy scoring: