Abilene — After moving past Clyde Eula on Friday 52-51 to claim the regional semi-final championship, the Italy Gladiators (28-5) locked horns with the Bronte Longhorns in the regional final championship game on Saturday.

Italy made it to the Regional Final game last season but lost to the Roscoe Plowboys, finishing one game shy of a bid to the state tournament. The Gladiators were hoping to redeem their loss from a year ago by defeating the Bronte Longhorns, in round two of regionals, and return to Austin where Italy last won the state championship in 1997.

The Longhorns, however, had their own aspirations of getting to Austin and after controlling the opening tip, Bronte eventually hit a fall-away jumper from the right baseline to take an early 2-0 lead.

Italy’s John Isaac tied the game 2-2 but a 3-point play gave Bronte the lead back 5-2. Jasenio Anderson answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game again, 5-5. The Longhorns went up 7-5 but a Colton Campbell 3-pointer gave Italy their first lead of the game, 8-7.

With 5:18 still to go in the 1st, Anderson stole the ball and passed ahead to Campell, giving Italy a 10-7 advantage. Bronte pulled within 1-point but Italy’s Heath Clemons scored to keep distance between the Gladiators and the Longhorns, 12-9.

At the 3:13 mark of the 1st quarter, Bronte knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the regional final contest yet again, 12-12. With 0:48 remaining in the opening quarter, Italy’s Anderson swished a 3-pointer but Bronte answered right back with a 3-pointer of their own. And after one, the game was tied 15-15 with neither side willing to budge.

Campbell got the fireworks started in the 2nd with another 3-pointer to put Italy up 18-15. Two free throws by Bronte made the score 18-17 but then another Anderson steal and a drive to the basket gave Italy a 20-17 cushion.

Bronte’s main threat, 6’5" #2 Dakota Rawls, stepped back and drilled his 3rd 3-pointer of the 1st half to tie the match once again, 20-20 at the 5:35 mark of the 2nd. Bronte then retook the lead 22-20 but a steal by Anderson, who scored the bucket and swished the and-1, put Italy back in front 23-22.

Bronte went up 24-22 and then a Jase Holden 3-pointer reclaimed the lead for Italy, 26-24. The celebration by Gladiator fans was cut short when the 4th 3-pointer by Rawls dropped thru to give Bronte a 1-point advantage, 27-26.

Campbell got a clean look inside and Italy went back in front, 28-27. Holden then followed in a missed shot to put Italy up by 3, 30-27. Bronte wouldn’t go away and pulled back within 1, 30-29. Italy’s Isaac hit his second basket of the game to reestablish Italy’s 3-point edge, 32-29.

With 1:02 left in the 1st half, Anderson stole the ball and exchanged it for 2-points giving the Gladiators their biggest lead of the game, 34-29. Bronte scored one last time before the half ended and the Gladiators and their fans were feeling confident going into halftime with a 34-31 lead.

Bronte made 1-of-2 free throws to start the 2nd half. Then a Bronte 3-pointer reclaimed the lead for the Longhorns, 35-34. Isaac answered the Bronte surge with a basket to put Italy back in front 36-35.

Bronte put in the next 5-points to go up 40-36 and then Italy’s Campbell stole the ball and banked in the layup to cut the deficit 40-38. Rawls banged in another 3-pointer to give the Longhorns a 43-38 margin and then Italy’s Isaac squeezed off a round to pull Italy within 3, 43-40.

Anderson then drove to the basket, was fouled as the ball slipped thru the net and converted the bonus free throw to tie the game 43-43. With 1:01 left in the 3rd quarter, Anderson followed up the effort on the next trip down with a 3-point bomb as Gladiator Nation erupted in cheers.

With 0:27 left, Italy’s press forced a turnover by De’Andre Sephus but Campbell’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark. The Gladiator’s had regained momentum, however, and held a 46-43 lead going into the 4th.

One final quarter and the Bronte Longhorns were all that stood between the Gladiators and a trip to the state tournament in Austin. A Campbell steal resulting in two made free throws by Clemons put Italy up 48-43. Bronte scored to make the game 48-45 but a steal by Clemons resulted in 3-points by Anderson to give the Gladiators breathing room, 51-45.

Bronte responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game the game 51-51 as Gladiator fans were now holding their collective breaths. Bronte added a free throw to go up 52-51 but Campbell made 1-of-2 on the other end to tie the game 52-52, 4:49 remaining.

Bronte’s Rawls was then fouled 3 consecutive trip down the floor and made 6 straight free throws to put the Longhorns up 58-52. Italy was fouled but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and then a Gladiator turnover with, 0:59 left, really put the Gladiators up against a wall.

Bronte failed to come away with any points and Italy earned another trip to the line. Unfortunately, Italy missed the front end of a 1-and-1 yet again. Forced to foul the Longhorns, Bronte missed their bonus shots as well setting up a 3-point try by Anderson the rolled out. Bronte made 1-of-2 free throws to go up 59-52. With 0:42 left, Clemons hit a 3-pointer to give Italy fans hope, 59-55.

The Gladiators, still needing to foul, sent Rawls back to the line. Rawls hit both free shots to put the Longhorns up 61-55. With 0:17 left, Italy earned a trip to the foul line on their next trip down but missed the first shot of a 1-and-1. With 0:09 left, Italy fouled Bronte in the act of shooting and the Longhorns added 1 more free throw to go up 62-55.

Anderson dribbled to the 3-point line of Bronte and swished it thru to make the game 62-58. Hoping for a steal…hoping for a miracle. Italy was unable to intercept Bronte’s inbound pass and the Longhorns dribbled out the last few seconds of Italy’s dream to win the regional final championship and return to State for the first time since 1997.

In an act of class, the Gladiators remained on the floor to congratulate the Bronte Longhorns on their accomplishment before heading to the locker room. Despite the tears of Gladiator fans, the 2009-2010 Italy Gladiators, their cheerleaders and their fans enjoyed another incredible playoff run.

A special thanks to Italy’s head coach Kyle Holley, assistant coaches Larry Mayberry and Josh Ward and to the players for all your hard work the past two seasons!

Congratulations to our seniors: John Isaac, Desmond Anderson, Oscar Gonzalez, Dan Crownover and Aaron Thomas. Your efforts will inspire Gladiators for many years to come.

Thank you Rita Garza and Karen Mathiowetz for keeping stats and everyone associated with Italy Gladiator basketball. Also, thanks to all the Gladiator fans who followed the team every mile, shared every smile and matched every emotion along the way.

Gladiator scoring and Playoff roster:

Bronte point leader:

Gladiators 2009-2010 results:

District Champions (Undefeated in District)
Bi-District Champions
Area Champions
Regional Quarterfinal Champions
Regional Semi-Final Champions
Regional Finalists
28-5 overall record

We are proud of you!