Gladiators defeat DeLeon in Area 85-50. Bring on Gateway!

Image: Heath Clemons(2) bounce passes to Ryan Ashcraft(4) for 2-points — After bounce passing around a DeLeon Bearcat defender, Italy’s Heath Clemons(2) casually watches teammate Ryan Ashcraft(4) make the bank shot as the Gladiators win the 1A area championship, 85-50.

Heath Clemons(2) bounce passes to Ryan Ashcraft(4) for 2-points — After bounce passing around a DeLeon Bearcat defender, Italy’s Heath Clemons(2) casually watches teammate Ryan Ashcraft(4) make the bank shot as the Gladiators win the 1A area championship, 85-50. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lexie says it all — Italy High School cheerleader Lexie Miller has a message for the Gladiators.

Lexie says it all — Italy High School cheerleader Lexie Miller has a message for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pump up the crowd — Italy High School cheerleader Jaleecia Fleming pumps up the crowd to start the area championship game between Italy and DeLeon.

Pump up the crowd — Italy High School cheerleader Jaleecia Fleming pumps up the crowd to start the area championship game between Italy and DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pitching in — A long way from home, members of the Italy High School baseball team, Ross Stiles, Justin Buchanan and Caden Jacinto, arrive in Hamilton to cheer on the basketball team.

Pitching in — A long way from home, members of the Italy High School baseball team, Ross Stiles, Justin Buchanan and Caden Jacinto, arrive in Hamilton to cheer on the basketball team. (Barry Byers)

Image: Up for grabs — With the area championship up for grabs, Italy Gladiator Jasenio Anderson(11) out wrestles a DeLeon Bearcat for control of the ball.

Up for grabs — With the area championship up for grabs, Italy Gladiator Jasenio Anderson(11) out wrestles a DeLeon Bearcat for control of the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here for the team — Corrin Frazier, who played for the Italy J.V. Boys squad this season, and alumni Dontavius Clemons, who played on Italy’s regional finalists team last season, were in Hamilton to support the Gladiators against DeLeon.

Here for the team — Corrin Frazier, who played for the Italy J.V. Boys squad this season, and alumni Dontavius Clemons, who played on Italy’s regional finalists team last season, were in Hamilton to support the Gladiators against DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jasenio breaks thru — Italy’s Jasenio Anderson(11) finds a crease in the bearcat defense about as wide as Cranfills Gap (a small town the bus passed thru on the way to the game).

Jasenio breaks thru — Italy’s Jasenio Anderson(11) finds a crease in the bearcat defense about as wide as Cranfills Gap (a small town the bus passed thru on the way to the game). (Barry Byers)

Image: Kort near the court — Kort Holley, the son of Italy’s head coach Kyle Holley, is never too far from Dad’s side.

Kort near the court — Kort Holley, the son of Italy’s head coach Kyle Holley, is never too far from Dad’s side. (Barry Byers)

Image: No match for John — DeLeon did not have an answer for this. John Isaac(10) seemingly jumped out of the Hamilton gym Friday night on his way to scoring 23-points. I guess the dome in Italy offers John a little more head room.

No match for John — DeLeon did not have an answer for this. John Isaac(10) seemingly jumped out of the Hamilton gym Friday night on his way to scoring 23-points. I guess the dome in Italy offers John a little more head room. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheer power! — Clad in Italy playoff t-shirts, the Gladiator cheerleaders kept the fans fired up during the area championship game between Italy and DeLeon.

Cheer power! — Clad in Italy playoff t-shirts, the Gladiator cheerleaders kept the fans fired up during the area championship game between Italy and DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Larry Mayberry — Italy center Larry Mayberry(13) puts up a shot over DeLeon. Mayberry finished with 5-points in the area championship game.

Larry Mayberry — Italy center Larry Mayberry(13) puts up a shot over DeLeon. Mayberry finished with 5-points in the area championship game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Taking it all in — Honorary mascot Taylor Souder tries to get a handle on the moment.

Taking it all in — Honorary mascot Taylor Souder tries to get a handle on the moment. (Barry Byers)

Image: John keeps jumping — Gladiator John Isaac(11) goes up for 2 more while being clawed by a Bearcat defender.

John keeps jumping — Gladiator John Isaac(11) goes up for 2 more while being clawed by a Bearcat defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jasenio defies gravity — Jasenio Anderson(11) defied the DeLeon defense as well finishing the game with 18-points.

Jasenio defies gravity — Jasenio Anderson(11) defied the DeLeon defense as well finishing the game with 18-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Heath elevates — Heath Clemons elevates just enough to swish one of his two 3-pointers over the outstretched paw of a DeLeon Bearcat.

Heath elevates — Heath Clemons elevates just enough to swish one of his two 3-pointers over the outstretched paw of a DeLeon Bearcat. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anderson again — Jasenio Anderson(11) and the Italy Gladiators move one layup closer to State.

Anderson again — Jasenio Anderson(11) and the Italy Gladiators move one layup closer to State. (Barry Byers)

Image: Wowed the crowd — Italy’s John Isaac(10) wowed the crowd with his aerial accuracy.

Wowed the crowd — Italy’s John Isaac(10) wowed the crowd with his aerial accuracy. (Barry Byers)

Image: At the Point — Point guard Jasenio Anderson(11) picks up a point from the foul line.

At the Point — Point guard Jasenio Anderson(11) picks up a point from the foul line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Still jumping — Even the Energizer Bunny® would be impressed with John Isaac’s(10) performance.

Still jumping — Even the Energizer Bunny® would be impressed with John Isaac’s(10) performance. (Barry Byers)

Image: We are #1 — IHS cheerleader Sierra Harris reminds DeLeon fans who’s #1!

We are #1 — IHS cheerleader Sierra Harris reminds DeLeon fans who’s #1! (Barry Byers)

Image: Dez delivers — Italy’s Desmond Anderson(15) gets open down court for an easy 2-points against DeLeon as Jase Holden(33) tracks the play.

Dez delivers — Italy’s Desmond Anderson(15) gets open down court for an easy 2-points against DeLeon as Jase Holden(33) tracks the play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Man on a mission — Gladiator Colton Campbell(5) was on his game scoring 16-points in the area championship game. When Reporter Karen Mathiowetz asked Campbell, “What got into you tonight?” teammate Heath Clemons leaned in and said, “Colton ate his Wheaties this morning.”

Man on a mission — Gladiator Colton Campbell(5) was on his game scoring 16-points in the area championship game. When Reporter Karen Mathiowetz asked Campbell, “What got into you tonight?” teammate Heath Clemons leaned in and said, “Colton ate his Wheaties this morning.” (Barry Byers)

Image: Exit playoffs to the right — Italy head coach Kyle Holley and athletic director Craig Bales show DeLeon’s fans the door as they help them exit the playoffs.

Exit playoffs to the right — Italy head coach Kyle Holley and athletic director Craig Bales show DeLeon’s fans the door as they help them exit the playoffs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Who will we whip next? — Lady Gladiator softballers Katie Byers, Anna Viers, Morgan Cockerham and Alyssa Richards wonder where the next playoff game is? Italy will play Gateway Monday night in Midlothian at 7:00 p.m.

Who will we whip next? — Lady Gladiator softballers Katie Byers, Anna Viers, Morgan Cockerham and Alyssa Richards wonder where the next playoff game is? Italy will play Gateway Monday night in Midlothian at 7:00 p.m. (Barry Byers)

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