Dallas — After a 10:00 a.m shoot-around inside Italy Coliseum, the 2A Italy Gladiators players, coaches and cheerleaders loaded onto the school bus and ventured into downtown Dallas to challenge the 3A Mineral Wells Rams inside the American Airlines Center (AAC) on Thursday.

After parking, the entire Gladiator crew made their way by foot to the arena. Both schools were allowed into the front entrance and then thru a tunnel leading to the home court of the Dallas Mavericks. With a revolving Mavericks logo showing on the overhead scoreboard and wonderment showing on everyone’s faces, each team made their way down the steps and to their respective locker rooms, via the same route taking by the Dallas Mavericks and other NBA stars.

Italy’s head coach Aidan Callahan had the team dress and then return to the stands before going thru their first warmup during halftime of a girls game between Mineral Wells and Wichita Falls Ryder. The Gladiators then returned to the locker room to make final preparations before their game against the Rams.

Again, Italy made their way toward the court. The players filed into a dark tunnel before entering the brightly lit, vast interior, of the AAC. No doubt, experiencing the same adrenaline rush the Mavs themselves must feel when entering the arena.

And after performing their usual pre-game chant at center court, only this time atop the Dallas Mavericks logo, the Gladiators got in one last warmup before the game. With Coach Callahan sitting in the captains chair and assistant coaches Larry Mayberry, Sr. and Josh Ward playing the role of co-pilots, seniors Heath Clemons and Jasenio Anderson represented Italy as team captains and then every player from both squads were introduced before the tipoff.

Minerals Wells scored first but a drive by Clemons, quickly, tied the game. Clemons was unable to convert the and-1 and the game remained tied 2-2. Colton Campbell steals a Rams pass and gets fouled going to the basket. Campbell hit the second of two free-throws to give Italy a 3-2 lead. Anderson then tracks down a deflected ball near midcourt and lays it in for two more points, 5-2 Italy leads.

The Rams score but Clemons does as well, 7-4 Italy. Mineral Wells knocks down a 3-pointer to tie the game for the second time, 7-7 with 5:58 left in the first quarter. Anderson gets held on his way up to the rim and earns a trip to the line. Anderson also makes the second of his two free-throws to give Italy a 1-point advantage, 8-7 with 5:30 to play in the first.

The Gladiators execute a 2-on-1 fast break with Jase Holden finishing from the block, 10-7 Italy. The Rams charge back up the court and drain another 3-pointer, tying the game for the third time 10-10. Anderson responds with a running one-hander along the right side of the lane, 12-10 Italy.

Moments later, Ryan Ashcraft steals the ball and darts a pass to Anderson who gets to the opposite end for a layup, 14-10 Gladiators. The Rams refuse to allow Italy to build any long-term momentum and knock down their third 3-point bomb of the first quarter. The score is now 14-13 with Italy ahead by one. A steal and a behind-the-back pass by Mineral Wells’ junior point guard Hunter Fincher results in a pair of free-throws for the Rams. Skylar Flaska puts in both freebies and the Rams reclaim the lead 15-14.

A fast break layup puts the Rams up 17-14 followed by two more made free-throws to give Mineral Wells a 19-14 cushion. Larry Mayberry, Jr. grabs a defensive rebound for the Gladiators and finishes the play with an offensive rebound and a score on the put back, 19-16 Rams lead. Devonta Simmons creates a steal but Italy is unable to score underneath. The Rams rebound the miss and score quickly, 21-16 Mineral Wells on top.

The Rams add one final first quarter basket after securing a loose ball and then squeezing in a layup. Mineral Wells takes a 23-16 lead into the second quarter.

Italy’s Anderson scores on the Gladiators’ first possession of the second. Anderson’s pull up jumper at the top of the lane makes the score 23-18. Anderson then drives thru the Rams defense but his shot attempt refuses to fall. Fortunately, Italy’s Brandon Souder rebounds the miss and drops in a shot at point-blank range. Rams continue to lead 23-20.

Mineral Wells’ offense gains altitude and soars to a 29-20 advantage. Souder delivers a pass to Anderson who flies in for the layup to make the score 29-22. De’Andre Sephus dribbles his way in from the left wing and gets fouled while shooting. Sephus lands hard on the hardwood but manages to hit 1-of-2 from the line, 29-23.

With the Rams up 31-23, Mayberry works the low block to score inside, 31-25 Rams. The slick maneuver by Mayberry forces Mineral Wells to take a timeout with 4:22 remaining in the first half.

The Rams score out of the timeout but neither team can find the range for the next couple of minutes. The Rams eventually make 1-of-2 from the line and take a commanding 34-25 lead, 2:02 remains before halftime. The Rams add a baseline jumper and lead 36-25. With Mineral Wells leading 38-25, Cole Hopkins blocks a Rams shot and Anderson eventually gets to the foul line. Anderson makes both charity shots to close the gap, 38-27.

Controlling the airspace inside the ACC, Hopkins blocks a Rams shooter again, grabs the loose ball and passes ahead to Anderson who has just enough time to launch a shot from half-court. Anderson’s shot attempt is off the mark and Mineral Wells leads at halftime 38-27.

The Rams score first to start the second half. Anderson makes 1-of-2 from the line and the score is now 40-28. Mayberry scores inside after getting the assist from Anderson, 40-30 Rams lead. Mayberry then rebounds an Anderson miss and scores again, 40-32 Rams lead. Timeout Mineral Wells with 5:28 to play in the third.

The Rams score next but Clemons hits a jumper from the left wing and the score is now 42-34. Holden drives into the lane, contorts and scores, 42-36 with the Rams still ahead. Clemons then steals the ball and passes to Anderson who finishes with a fast break layup to make the score 42-38. Mineral Wells answers on their return trip, 44-38.

Anderson drives the baseline and draws a shooting foul. Both free-throws roll in for Anderson and Italy is now within four, 44-40. At the 2:47 mark of the third, Anderson gets held trying to score. Again, Anderson has the shooter’s touch and gets both free-throw attempts to roll in. Italy closes in 44-42 and the Rams begin searching for solutions. Anderson steals the Rams’ ensuing inbound pass and goes up quick toward the basket. Anderson is fouled shooting once again, and again, Anderson knocks down both free-throws to tie the game for the fourth time, 44-44.

Clemons jump stops and pops to give Italy back the lead 46-44. However, the Rams answer at the other end of the Mavs court and score while being fouled. The Rams convert the and-1 and retake the lead 47-46. Clemons drives the baseline and bounce passes to Mayberry who scores to reclaim the lead for the Gladiators, 48-47. Mineral Wells adds a free-throw to tie and eventually leads to start the final quarter 51-50.

Fincher scores for the Rams and Mineral Wells leads 53-50 early in the fourth. Campbell records a crowd-oohing block on the defensive end and then swishes in an NBA 3-pointer at the other end to tie the game for the 5th time, 53-53. Fincher scores inside for the Rams but Clemons knocks down another Gladiator 3-pointer from NBA range and Italy leads 56-55. The Rams take a timeout with 6:18 remaining.

Fincher scores two consecutive layups and the Rams lead 59-56. Anderson makes the game 59-58 but the Rams score again to go up 61-58. A Campbell steal results in an Anderson jumper from the left corner, 61-60 with Italy trailing by 1-point. Flaska puts in a pair of free-throws for the Rams but Italy’s Anderson matches Flaska’s effort, 63-62. The Rams add another freebie and take a 64-60 lead. Coach Callahan calls a Gladiator timeout with 3:29 left.

Jacob Velasquez and Fincher both record layups for the Rams and Mineral Wells leads 68-62. The Rams add to their lead and go up 71-62. Anderson drives into the lane and leaves the ball for Mayberry who scores easily, 71-64, Rams lead by seven with 1:35 remaining.

Fincher hits two Rams’ free-throws. Mayberry passes out to Campbell who hits an open jump shot along the left baseline, 73-66. With time ticking away, Italy is forced to foul the Rams who are attempting to run out the remaining clock. Mineral Wells adds three more free-throws before the game’s end and eventually get the win over the Italy Gladiators 76-66.

Despite the loss, Italy’s Anderson was upbeat upon exiting the American Airlines Canter and made this comment regarding the opportunity to play on the NBA stage, “It was fun! If I wasn’t so sore, I would’ve enjoyed it even more.”

After the game, Gladiator Nation made their way to a nearby El Fenix® restaurant that Coach Callahan had reserved for the team and fans. The meal was delicious and the conversation even better. Everyone returned to the ACC to enjoy the matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs that began at 8:30 p.m. The school bus, with Coach Ward behind the wheel, departed Dallas and arrived back in Italy around midnight. It was a great day to be a Gladiator!

Special thanks to Gladiators’ head coach Aidan Callahan and Italy ISD for allowing italyneotribune.com to document the teams experience. Also, thanks to the American Airlines Center security and staff and the Dallas Mavericks organization for all their cooperation.

Gladiators conquer Dallas – Additional photographs