Italy Lady Gladiators vs. Milford – Round 1:
ITALY — The Lady Gladiators (6-1), head coached by Stacy McDonald, entered the 2010 Italy Invitational Tournament with high expectations. Wasting no time, during their first round game against the Milford Lady Bulldogs, Italy’s ladies built an early 10-0 lead in the first 2:35 of the opening quarter.

Milford made the game 10-2 when Megan Richards swished in a 3-point bomb to give Italy a 13-2 advantage. Kaitlyn Rossa scored inside before Richards ripped down an offensive rebound and earned a trip to the foul line after being hacked on the follow. Richards hit 1-of-2 to give Italy a 16-2 cushion with 1:05 remaining in the quarter. Milford split two free-throws to make the score 16-3 and then forced a turnover on defense.

Italy’s Jameka Copeland stole the ball right back for the Lady Gladiators and squeezed in one more basket to end the quarter with Italy on top 18-3.

Chante Birdsong bounced a pass into Italy’s powerful center, Jimesha Reed, for a quick lay in to start the second quarter, 20-3 Italy at the 7:40 mark. Reed scores another inside basket and Italy extends their lead 22-3. Copeland hits 1-of-2 from the line and teammate Kyonne Birdsong records a fast break layup to give Italy a 25-3 lead.

With the game 25-5 after Milford’s Jamie McIntyre scored in the lane, Rossa knocks down a long-range jump shot and Italy continues to roll, 27-5 with 3:00 remaining in the half. An energetic addition to the Lady Gladiators this season, Bailey Bumpus pulls off consecutive steals resulting in a 3-point look for Rossa, that skims the front of the rim, and a fast break layup for Copeland, 29-5 Italy.

With time ticking down, Milford continues their struggles against Italy’s tenacious defense and a turnover sends Copeland racing up the court who then passes over to Rossa for another fast break basket to end the half. Italy smiles their way into the locker leading Milford 31-7.

Coach McDonald pulled in the reins on Italy’s offense the remainder of the game. Italy’s Jimesha Reed scored 4-points in the third and K. Birdsong added a basket to give the Lady Gladiators a 37-11 lead heading into the final quarter.

Reed scores eight of her game high 18-points in the fourth as the Lady Gladiators defeat Milford in round one, 54-15. Milford’s Jamie McIntyre finished with 9-points to lead the Lady Bulldogs scoring effort.

Italy Lady Gladiators vs. Venus – Round 2:
Kyonne Birdsong led the way for the Gladiators during their round two win over the Venus Lady Bulldogs. K. Birdsong hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter and swished in three consecutive 3-pointers during the second half to lead all scores with 15-points.

Sister Chante Birdsong knocked down a 3-pointer in the first quarter as well while Megan Richards dropped in two 3-pointers, one in the first quarter and another in the second quarter, to finish with 8-points.

Showing her versatility, Jimesha Reed made a fourth quarter transition from center to point guard and finished with 5-points to help Italy defeat Venus 37-23. Jameka Copeland scored 4-points and Bailey Bumpus added a bank shot from the paint to help send the Lady Gladiators into the the Championship game with a match-up against Dallas Gateway.

Italy Lady Gladiators vs. Gateway – Championship:
The Lady Gladiators enter the Tournament Championship game against the Dallas Gateway Lady Gators who have been victorious over Italy in their four previous match-ups. But this is a new season and this is a much improved, battle tested, Lady Gladiator team under the guidance of Coach McDonald.

Kyonne Birdsong continued to have a hot hand in the opening quarter to lead the Lady Gladiators with 5-points, including another 3-point bomb. Megan Richards drilled a 3-pointer in the opening minutes as well as receiving scoring help from Kaitlyn Rossa with 2-points and a free-throw from Jameka Copeland to give the Lady Gladiators an early cushion, 11-4 after one quarter of play.

Copeland added another free-throw in the second, Jimesha Reed scored a basket inside and Rossa found her rhythm scoring 6-points to give the Lady Gladiators a 20-10 haltime lead.

Rossa highlighted the third quarter with a 3-point swish from the right corner while teammates Copeland, K. Birdsong, Richards and Bailey Bumpus each scored from the field to give Italy a 31-19 edge and all the momentum going into the final quarter. Italy holds a 31-19 lead and stands 8:00 minutes away from claiming the tournament championship.

With the Lady Gators demoralized, Rossa scored six of her game high 17-points in the fourth. Reed put in 6-points as well as Italy outpointed Dallas Gateway 19-10 in the games final quarter to become the 2010 Italy Invitational Tournament Champions with a 50-29 win over the team from Dallas county.

Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa earns the Italy Invitational Tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. Teammates Megan Richards and Jameka Copeland are selected to the All-Tournament team.

The Italy J.V. Lady Gladiators, coached by Tina Richards, participated in the tournament as well. In their two games against both Venus and Milford’s Varsity squads, Italy’s J.V. ladies played scrappy and gained valuable experience that will benefit them the remainder of the season.

Italy Gladiators vs. Venus J.V. – Round 1:
A total team effort, the Italy Gladiators Varsity boys began their Italy Invitational Tournament with a round one win over the Venus J.V. Bulldogs who were a last minute addition to the tournament. Heath Clemons lead the Gladiator effort in the opening quarter with 7-points including, one 3-pointer, to help Italy build a 27-2 advantage going into the second quarter.

Colton Campbell carried the Gladiators in the second period scoring ten of his 18-points during the frame. Italy’s Ryan Ashcraft scored four of his 12-points in the second, as well, and the Gladiators cruised into halftime leading 58-9.

Jase Holden put in eight of his 14-points during the third quarter and De’Andre Sephus added 5-points while on his way to a 22-point performance to lead all scores. Italy went ahead 82-12 by the end of the third and finally finished off the Venus J.V. Bulldogs 100-15.

Starting point guard Jasenio Anderson took a back seat in this one with 6-points while Devonta Simmons scored 8-points. De’Andre Rettig powered in 5-points while teammates Brandon Souder and Larry Mayberry each scored a basket during the convincing win.

Italy Gladiators vs. Frost – Round 2:
Jasenio Anderson passes to Jase Holden who then dishes to Colton Campbell for an aerial lay-in to give Italy a 6-2 lead. Larry Mayberry gets a big-time block on the defensive end before Anderson pulls up on the right wing and swishes a jumper to make the score 8-2. Anderson then passes inside to Heath Clemons who makes the score 10-2 in Italy’s favor.

Clemons hits a free-throw and Frost scores inside to make the score 11-4. Moments later, Anderson drives the right baseline and floats up a shot that drops in to make the score 15-7. De’Andre Sephus follows Anderson with a 3-pointer to distance the Gladiators 20-7 with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter. Anderson steals the ball from the Polar Bears and lays it in to give Italy a 22-7 lead before the first quarter ends.

To open the second quarter, Frost hits 1-of-2 from the line. Italy’s first possession of the quarter resulted in all five Gladiators putting up a shot with Clemons finally getting an attempt to fall, 24-8 Italy leads.

Frost makes a bit of a run but Campbell connects on a running floater in the lane, 28-14 Gladiators still in control. Both sides trade hoops before Anderson steals the ball again and drives down the lane to finger roll in a layup, 32-20 Italy leads. Off the inbound pass, Frost puts in a 3-pointer to make the game 32-23 but Ryan Ashcraft grabs an offensive rebound and scores the put back. Ryan’s effort beats the buzzer and gives the Gladiators a 34-26 advantage at the break.

Italy outscores Frost 21-2 during the third quarter and erase any hopes of a Frost upset. The Gladiators lead 55-28 after three and go on to win round two 74-34 over the Polar Bears. Next up, Italy will rematch the Kerens Bobcats in the tournament championship game. Kerens won the I.I.T. last season with a win over Italy and have become, somewhat of, an early season measuring stick for the Gladiators.

Italy Gladiators vs. Kerens – Championship:
Italy’s Larry Mayberry scores 4-points in the first quarter, including two free-shots, to help the Gladiators start out with a 13-9 lead going into the second quarter.

In the second, Italy’s Heath Clemons, Colton Campbell and Jasenio Anderson each knock down 3-pointers to ensure a halftime lead for the Gladiators, 26-25 over Kerens.

Anderson puts in another 3-point shot and scores 5-points in the third quarter but Kerens gets 6-points from Trey Lindsey as the Bobcats take a 41-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Anderson scores 6-points in the fourth along with 4-points by Clemons as the Gladiators lead 56-53 with just seconds remaining. Despite three 3-pointers in the fourth by Kerens, the Bobcats needed a miracle to stay alive in this one.

Kerens’ prayers were answered when a clutch 3-point shot by Paul Fugua, his second in the quarter, beats the buzzer and ties the game 56-56. Kerens celebrates as if they have won and Fugua races around the court in triumph. In reality, however, the game is extended another 3:00 and the tournament championship game will now have to be decided in overtime.

The Bobcats take the early lead in overtime as Fugua drills another 3-pointer. Anderson matches Fugua with a 3-point dagger of his own but it’s Lindsay who puts the Bobcats on top 67-66 with a leaner inside and 0:12 left on the clock.

Opting not to call a timeout, Gladiator head coach Aidan Callahan lets his players inbound the ball and race to the other end. Jase Holden drives underneath the basket and kicks out to Devonta Simmons who was open inside the left elbow.

Simmons puts up a bank shot that rims off but Simmons follows his shot and out leaps Bobcat defenders for the offensive rebound. The put back by Simmons sneaks in and Italy slips back in front 68-67. Kerens quickly inbounds with a few seconds remaining but the desperation half court shot pounds off the top of the backboard and Italy’s fans flood the dome floor and converge on Simmons in the process.

The dramatic 68-67 victory gives the Gladiators claim to the 2010 Italy Invitational Championship and a chariot load of confidence going forward.

When asked if they should have used a different strategy to close out regulation, Gladiator assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr. stated, "Absolutely not. By hitting a 3-pointer, all they could do was tie us. We chose to play the odds instead of risking an and-1 call.

Kerens scoring leaders:

Congratulations to the Gladiators and the Lady Gladiators on their I.I.T. Championship victories. It was a fun three days of basketball.

Go Italy, Go!