Varsity Gladiators vs Hubbard:
Hubbard — In their season opener, the Italy Gladiators, who finished just two games away from a trip to Austin last season, used their quickness and experience to build a comfortable lead against Hubbard’s beefy lineup. Hubbard scored first by splitting a pair of free-throws and led 3-2 early. However, with Italy’s Jasenio Anderson leading the way, the Gladiators tied the game 4-4 and then Heath Clemons made two from the line to give Italy a 6-4 advantage. The Gladiators never looked back and were well in front by the end of the first quarter, 17-8.

In the second, Anderson drives beneath the goal and kicks out to De’Andre Sephus who knocks down a 3-pointer from the left side of the floor, giving the Gladiators a 20-8 advantage. Anderson follows up Sephus with three straight free-throws after being fouled while shooting from behind the arc, 23-14 Italy.

Hubbard scores, but consecutive layups by Anderson, push the Gladiators further out front, 27-16. Italy’s defense forces a turnover on the inbound and Simmons passes out to Anderson who swishes the 3-pointer to put the Gladiators up 30-16. Anderson roars along with the crowd as Hubbard takes a timeout at the 6:07 mark of the second quarter.

Hubbard is unable to make any progress after the timeout, and on their next possession, Anderson inbounds to Clemons who banks the block shot, Italy 32, Hubbard 16. Jase Holden steals the ball away from Hubbard and passes to Simmons who scores the deuce. Italy now has 34 while Hubbard is temporarily stuck on 16.

Anderson gets fouled in the backcourt and hits the front end of a 1-and-1 but misses the second, 35-16 Italy. Hubbard manages a free-throw after earning a shooting foul to break their dry spell, 35-17. Hubbard’s defense creates a scoring opportunity but the Jaguars can only convert 1-of-2 freebies, 35-18. Anderson is again fouled in the backcourt and makes both charity shots, 37-18.

Gladiators’ first year head coach, Aidan Callahan, inserts Brandon Souder into the lineup who electrifies Italy’s trapping defense. Hubbard eventually scores to make the game 37-18 but Clemons adds another Gladiator free-throw to keep Italy rolling, 38-20.

Hubbard’s center tips in a miss to make the score 38-22, still in favor of Italy. Just under the 2:00 mark, Coach Callahan calls for a timeout and Italy retakes the floor intent on dribbling the remaining seconds off the clock. The Jaguars cause a turnover and quickly score, forcing Italy to take their final timeout of the half, 38-24. The Gladiators burn the clock from 1:47 down to 0:31 when Clemons slices into the lane and draws a shooting foul. Clemons hits the second of the two free shots and the Gladiators lead 39-24. Hubbard comes up empty at the other end and Anderson dribbles out the final seventeen seconds to end the first half.

Hubbard strikes first, in the third, with a floater that finds the bottom of the net, 39-26. In retaliation, Anderson sprints the floor and finishes with a right handed layup, 41-24 Gladiators. Italy’s defense creates a chance for their offense and Clemons is fouled on the put back after snagging an offensive rebound. The ball does not drop but Clemons makes 1-of-2 from the line, 42-26 Italy leads.

Hubbard struggles on their offensive end and Anderson takes advantage, finding Simmons who scores inside, 44-26 Gladiators. Hubbard hits a 2-pointer followed by a 3-point bomb to close the deficit 44-31. Italy’s Colton Campbell answers right back with a 3-point dagger of his own and Italy maintains control, 47-31, with 5:20 left to play in the third quarter.

A rare goaltending call is charged to the Gladiators who slapped the backboard during a Jaguar shot attempt, 47-33. On Hubbard’s next trip down the floor, Clemons steals a Jaguar pass which was reminiscent of the James Worthy steal in the 1982 NCAA championship game between the North Caroline Tar Heels and the Georgetown Hoyas that sealed the Tar Heels’ 63-62 victory. Clemons then dishes to Sephus for the basket and a 49-33 lead for the Gladiators.

Hubbard is denied points while Clemons leaps for another offensive rebound and again is fouled on the follow. Clemons makes both free shots to give Italy a 51-33 cushion. Hubbard then goes 1-of-2 from the line, missing the second. Clemons pushes the fast break and passes ahead to Cambell for another Italy score, 53-34. Hubbard struggles to find points. Italy gains possession under their own basket and Holden inbounds to Campbell at the right elbow where Campbell swishes the 10-footer, 55-34 Italy with 2:50 left in the quarter.

Hubbard finally scores from the field but the Jaguars’ momentum is erased by Italy’s Bubba Itson who drives the length of the hard wood and floats up a shot that drops in, 57-36 Italy. The Gladiators add one more free shot while Hubbard pops a turnaround jumper to close out the third. Italy remains in charge, 58-38.

To start the fourth quarter, Hubbard adds 3-points to their total before Itson delivers a pass to Cole Hopkins who hits a short runner from the right side of the lane, 60-41. Clemons puts in a break-away layup, 62-41. Hubbard spins into a 3-pointer which is a precursor to the Jaguars upcoming aerial raid on the rim.

Despite several attempts, the Jaguars are unable to hit from long distance and settle for a pair of free throws. The game’s score is now 62-46 with Italy trying to withstand the Jaguars’ assault. Hubbard is fouled on an offensive put back and draws a technical foul as well. The Jags make 2-of-4 from the line to pull within 14-points, 62-48.

Anderson ups the intensity on defense and forces a Hubbard turnover. Anderson then lays a beautiful touch shot over the outstretched hands of one of Hubbard’s big men and gets the Gladiators’ offense back on track. Fouled in the act of shooting, Anderson scores the bonus shot and Italy leads 65-48.

The Gladiators score another basket and Hubbard puts in two charity shots to make the game count 67-50, with 4:01 remaining. Simmons records a block and Sephus gathers the loose ball and gets fouled. With Italy in the bonus, Sephus makes 1-of-2 free shots to push the Gladiators’ lead back to eighteen, 68-50.

With 4:10 left, Sephus fouls out. Anderson puts in two of Italy’s next three free throws to make the score 70-50, 3:56 left. Anderson dribbles beneath the Gladiators’ basket and passes out to Simmons who knocks down a 12-footer from the right baseline, 72-50. Clemons would later dish to Simmons for another Gladiator score and added another basket himself as the Italy Gladiators get their 2010-2011 season off to an impressive start with a 79-57 victory over the Hubbard Jaguars.

JV Gladiators vs Hubbard:
With the game tied 4-4, Hubbard knocks down a 3-pointer to make the score 7-4 in their favor. Hubbard adds a free-throw before Italy’s Trevon Robertson drills a 3-pointer to pull the JV Gladiators within one, 8-7 at the 3:00 mark of the first quarter.

Robertson gives the JV Gladiators a 9-8 lead with a leaping finger roll shot over the front of the rim, 2:15 left in the quarter. Hubbard reclaims the lead 10-9 with 1:45 still to go but Italy is unable to respond. Eric Carson’s long range buzzer-beater try misses left of the rim and Hubbard maintains their 10-9 edge after one.

With Hubbard ahead by 4-points, Carson pump fakes, drives into the middle of the lane and banks in a 2-pointer to make the score 13-11, Hubbard still has the lead. A Gladiator steal sets up Travis Cockran who scores on a fast break layup to tie the game 13-13. Hubbard quickly answers with a 3-pointer from the left side of the court, 16-13 Jaguars.

Robertson ties the game 16-16 with a pull-up 3-pointer, 2:05 remains before halftime. Hubbard goes 1-of-2 from the line and then scores four fast break points to take a 21-16 lead. Carson breaks away from the pack but is unable to finish with the Jaguars hustling back on defense and Hubbard continues to lead 21-16 at intermission.

At the 6:40 mark of the third quarter, Robertson steals the ball from the Jaguars and passes to Carson who makes the layup and pulls Italy within three, 21-18. Robertson battles in the post and forces Hubbard to throw the ball away. Unfortunately, the Gladiators are unable to convert the effort into points on the offensive end. Back on defense, T. Cockran and Jalarnce Jamal Lewis secure the rebound for the Gladiators. Caden Jacinto eventually scores for Italy to make the game count 21-20 with Hubbard still in front.

Italy has a chance for the lead but misses two free-throws. Lewis tries to block a Jaguar shot but is called for contact and Hubbard hits both free-throws to go up 23-20 with 2:15 left in the quarter. Italy fires back and Carson stretches the court and dishes to Justin Wood who banks in the shot from the left block, 23-22. Italy trails by one with 2:06 to play.

Despite a defensive rebound by Wood and a blocked shot by Deiondre Cockran, Hubbard leaps further ahead after scoring six straight points to lead after three, 29-22.

To start the final quarter, Hubbard scores again to go up 31-22. Hustling, T. Cockran steals Hubbard’s next inbound pass and scores a layup. The Jaguars still hold a solid lead, however, 31-24. Hubbard adds a free-throw to keep distance between them and the Gladiators, 32-24, with 4:56 remaining in the game.

Hubbard adds two more free-throws and takes a 34-24 lead. Italy’s Darol Mayberry dribbles around a Jaguar defender and pulls up for a left hand jumper down the left baseline, 34-26. Reid Jacinto follows with a 3-pointer from the left corner to close in on the Jaguars with 3:22 still to play, 34-29.

With Hubbard up 40-29, C. Jacinto, matches his cousin, and rises for another Gladiator 3-pointer to make the score 40-32 with 2:21 still showing. Crashing the boards, T. Cockran grabs an offensive rebound and scores the put back to make the game 40-34, timeout Hubbard.

The Jaguars hit a turnaround jumper out of the timeout to push their lead back to eight, 42-34. Hubbard hits 1-of-2 at the line to go up 43-34 with 1:36 remaining.

Robertson fouls out for the Gladiators and Jake Escamilla checks in. Trailing 45-35, Mayberry attempts a 3-pointer but the ball rolls off the rim. Mayberry does end up with a trip to the line and makes both free-shots, 45-37 Hubbard leads. Hubbard adds two free-throws to go up 47-37. Showing no quit, Carson takes a 3-point shot at the buzzer but the ball still will not drop as the Jaguars defeat the visiting JV Gladiators 47-37.

Despite the loss, Italy’s JV Gladiators are a talented squad with a few new faces this season. Expect head coach Larry Mayberry to find the right combinations and get the team headed in the right direction.

Go Gladiators!