Recently, Lady Gladiator head basketball coach Stacy McDonald touched up the 1997 State Champs basketball originally painted by Stevan McKey, a 1994 Italy alumnus, to honor the team after the Italy Gladiators made their dream a reality.

With the 2009-2010 Lady Gladiators in the midst of a playoff run themselves, McDonald took the initiative to purchase needed supplies, construct the scaffolding and put in late night hours to update the paint-chipped basketball homage.

McDonald remarked, “I first noticed the damaged ball while earlier in the season while sitting in on some of our local youth pee-wee basketball games. It disheartened me to know the younger kids were supposed to be inspired by the fading artwork. What message was it sending them? And when my team began practicing in the facility more and more, I had to give it a shot.”

“Suddenly, I began to realize the ball wasn’t the only thing needing a new coat of paint in the old gym. The entire gym was due a new coat of paint. Graffiti covered the bleachers where the kids climb and play during the games and sit during pep rallies,” McDonald added.

With that revelation, coach McDonald removed her whistle and picked up a paint brush in an attempt to refresh the 1997 State Champs basketball, and additionally, touched up parts of the walls and covered markings on the bleachers.

“I would love to be apart of a state championship team here in Italy and I would hope our team would be remembered properly. The 1997 team deserves to have their accomplishment continually honored,” stated McDonald.

Brenda Davis, the mother of Keith Davis who was a senior on the 1997 State Championship team, made these comments regarding McDonald’s efforts, “Keith feels saddened when he returns to the old gym where his team spent so many hours fulfilling their goals. The basketball meant everything to them but some of the names could hardly be read anymore. I’m so thankful that coach McDonald took it upon herself to keep the memory of the team’s accomplishments going strong.”

Davis went on to say, “Hopefully, the ball will continue to inspire the next generation of players that are growing up with the same dreams. After Coach McDonald finished, I took notice of the pee-wee players when they stepped onto the old gym floor. The kids would point up at the wall and say, ‘Look! They repainted the basketball.’ It matters.”