IYAA Week 10 – A successful IYAA season ends in dramatic fashion!

Barry Byers Posted March 12, 2010 1:30pm IYAA Basketball

Image: Italy 20 Coach Scott Rodgers points the way for Mikey South(4) — Congratulations to Italy 20 coaches Scott Rodgers and Aaron Itson who wrapped up their season on Tuesday with a 30-15 win over Hillsboro Red. — Italy 20 Coach Scott Rodgers points the way for Mikey South(4) — Congratulations to Italy 20 coaches Scott Rodgers and Aaron Itson who wrapped up their season on Tuesday with a 30-15 win over Hillsboro Red. (Barry Byers)

Game 1 (3rd & 4th Boys) – Italy 20 vs. Hillsboro Red:

In the consolation playoff game, Italy 20 head coached by Scott Rodgers and assisted by Aaron Itson, wrapped up their final game of the season with a 30-15 win over Hillsboro Red.

Italy 20’s Ryder Itson lead the team in scoring with 13-points and James McIntyre put in 9-points, including a 3-pointer. Stockard Smithwick and Alex Hernandez both scored 3-points. Payton Grant made 2-points while Ty Hamilton and Ethan Rogers scored 1-point apiece.

Alex Garcia, Mikey South and Garret Janek played great on both sides of the ball to help Italy 20 finish strong!

Game 2 (3rd & 4th Boys) – Italy 21 vs. Hillsboro Black:

Italy 21 coached by Edwin Wallace, got their second playoff win against Hillsboro Black with a 32-23 victory. The win earns Italy 21 a spot in the championship game on Thursday in Hillsboro at 7:30 p.m.

Italy 21’s Taron Smith put in a game-high 14-points to lead “Wallace’s Warriors.” Tylan Wallace scored 8-points while Trevor Mott and Al Waits both scored 3-points. Austin Lowe made 2-points while brothers, Cason Roberts and Cade Roberts, scored 1-point each.

Gary Escamilla and Kiunte Lucas battled hard on the boards for Coach Wallace to give Italy 21 momentum going into the championship game.

Game 3 (5th & 6th Boys) – Italy 31 vs. Italy 29:

Italy 31, head coached by Shederick Walker and assisted by Glen McClendon, were jumping for joy and running victory laps after their team’s upset win over Italy 29 on Tuesday. Italy 29’s head coach Ken Norwood and the “Norwood Netpoppers” finished in 1st place in the 5th & 6th grade boys division yet again and had a chance to go undefeated for their 3rd straight season.

However, Italy 31 stayed close throughout and came from behind to pull out the amazing upset. After a score by Joseph Celis gave Italy 31 a 44-42 lead, Italy 31 tried to seal the deal from the line on their next trip down. The front end of a 1-and-1 missed but a fast-reacting Lance McClendon snatched the offensive rebound and put up a shot that dropped in to give Italy 31 a 46-42 lead.

Italy 29 was unable to tie the game before the buzzer and the stand-clearing celebration started. Italy 31’s head coach Shederick Walker took off around the gym in a victory lap to puncuate one the most exciting games ever played in IYAA Sports.

Despite the last second loss, it was hard to remove the smile from Italy 29’s Coach Norwood’s face, knowing his players gave it all they had during the game and that his team finishes the season with their, third straight, 1st place finish.

“We’ve been perfect for awhile now. To finally be in a tight game was a good experience for the boys,” said a pleased Coach Norwood.

Italy 31’s Markavion Thompson lead all scores with 16-points. Daren Cisneros scored 8-points, Lance McClendon scored 7-points and Joseph Celis put in 5-points. Fabian Cortez, Michael Hughes and Michael Wilson put in 2-points each. Jacob brooks scored 1-point as every player on the Italy 31 roster scored during the dramatic win.

Top scorers for Italy 29 were Christian Gatlin with 12-points including a 3-pointer. Kenneth Norwood, Jr. scored 8-points including two 3-point baskets. Cameron Carter dropped in 7-points and Kevin Johnson made 5-points.

Kendrick Norwood added 4 more, Chasston Wilson put in 3-points. Jarvis Harris scored 2-points and Hunter Ballard added another. Jarred Gatlin played hard on defense for Coach Norwood as Italy 29 will have several players returning next season to make yet another championship run.

IYAA Sports, “The winning tradition starts here.”

Garret Janek — Italy 20’s Garret Janek(12) attempts his pre-game layup before the contest against Hillsboro Red. (Barry Byers)

Ball control — Alex Hernandez(10) manages to bring the ball up the court with a Hillsboro Red defender on his hip pocket as teammate Garret Janek(12) stays on the wing. (Barry Byers)

Ryder Itson scores — With teammate James McIntyre(2) in position to rebound, Italy 20’s Ryder Itson(5) finishes the fast break and ends the night with a game-high 13-points. (Barry Byers)

Stockard scores — Stockard Smithwick(20) put in 2-points during the win over Hillsboro Red as Mikey South(4) and Ty Hamilton(11) get in position to rebound. Smithwick finished with 3-points in Italy 20’s final game of the season. (Barry Byers)

Super Cason — Italy 21’s Cason Roberts(4) is ready to defend the backboard and protect the lead. (Barry Byers)

Cade Roberts — Sharp shooter Cade Roberts(12) uses his eagle-like vision to spot the rim and put up shots. (Barry Byers)

Father & son — Italy 21 head coach Edwin Wallace and his son Tylan Wallace(2) prepare to take on Hillsboro. (Barry Byers)

Italy 21 breaks — Italy 21 (3rd & 4th Boys) breaks the huddle before their 2nd playoff game and then breaks the spirit of Hillsboro Black after getting a 32-23 win to earn a spot in the championship game on Thursday in Hillsboro. (Barry Byers)

Kiunte Lucas — Stephen Mott observes a jumper by Italy 21’s Kiunte Lucas(10) who demonstrates his “Jaws of Life” technique before the game against Hillsboro Black. (Barry Byers)

Money! — Italy 21’s Taron Smith(5) hits a fadeaway over a Hillsboro Black defender. Smith finished with a game-high 14-points. (Barry Byers)

Gotcha, Coach! — Coach Edwin Wallace instructs Gary Escamilla(1) during the game against Hillsboro Black. (Barry Byers)

The hook shot — Tylan Wallace(2) flips up a baby hook shot to score 2 of his 8-points on Tuesday as teammate Gary Escamilla(1) was there for the rebound. (Barry Byers)

Jarvis Harris — Italy 29’s Jarvis Harris(3) stays relaxed before his team’s game against Italy 31. (Barry Byers)

Proud Grandad! — Ernest Smith stands with his grandson Taron Smith(5) after the win over Hillsboro Black. From Milford, Taron is just one of the many athletes from neighboring towns that participate in IYAA Sports. (Barry Byers)

What a view — Aarion Copeland and Charisma Anderson check out the action during Italy 29’s and Italy 31’s game from above the players’ benches. (Barry Byers)

Kendrick at the line — Just a 4th grader, Italy 29’s Kendrick Norwood(10) holds his own amongst 5th and 6th grade competition. (Barry Byers)

Christian Gatlin — Italy 29’s Christian Gatlin(3) is one of the IYAA’a top marksmen. (Barry Byers)

Pressure at the buzzer — Chasston Wilson(11) gets pressure from teammates before shooting to beat the buzzer that signals the end of intermission. (Barry Byers)

Cameron looks smooth — Italy 29’s Cameron Carter(11) shoots a technical free shot during the game. (Barry Byers)

Here we go! — Coach Ken Norwood breaks the huddle with his team before their game against Italy 30. (Barry Byers)

Lance shoots — Italy 31’s Lance McClendon(12) leaps toward the goal as Italy 29’s Kevin Johnson(5) and Cameron Carter(11) try to slow his path. (Barry Byers)

Blocked! — Italy 29’s Cameron Carter(11) blocks a shot attempt by Italy 31. In the end, however, Italy 31 managed to pull off the upset 46-42 in the final game of the season for both teams. (Barry Byers)

Jumping for joy — Italy 31 stretches it out before the game and then pulls out an upset win against Italy 29 in the Tuesday night finale. Italy 31 came from behind to win 46-42 in one of the most exciting IYAA games ever played at the old Italy gym. (Barry Byers)