IYAA Basketball’s opening day 2011 proves exciting for all!

Image: Italy’s Evan Cunningham pulls up for a jump shot over Hillsboro — Against Hillsboro Baby Blue, Italy’s Evan Cunningham(13) takes a shot from the right elbow with Jahiyah Hall(4) in rebounding position during K-2nd co-ed basketball action inside the old Italy gym on Saturday.

Italy’s Evan Cunningham pulls up for a jump shot over Hillsboro — Against Hillsboro Baby Blue, Italy’s Evan Cunningham(13) takes a shot from the right elbow with Jahiyah Hall(4) in rebounding position during K-2nd co-ed basketball action inside the old Italy gym on Saturday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Seeing the floor — Italy’s Evan Cunningham(13) passes to teammate Joseph “Baby Joe” Phillips(11).

Seeing the floor — Italy’s Evan Cunningham(13) passes to teammate Joseph “Baby Joe” Phillips(11). (Barry Byers)

Image: Believe! — Italy’s Brodie Hugghins(2) takes his pre-game free-throw before his team’s game against Hillsboro Baby Blue.

Believe! — Italy’s Brodie Hugghins(2) takes his pre-game free-throw before his team’s game against Hillsboro Baby Blue. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here’s the plan — Coaches Derrick Cunningham and Roy Stephens talk to their troops during a timeout.

Here’s the plan — Coaches Derrick Cunningham and Roy Stephens talk to their troops during a timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Andrew eyes the target — Andrew Celis prepares to shoot a layup during warm-ups inside the Little Gym located in Hillsboro.

Andrew eyes the target — Andrew Celis prepares to shoot a layup during warm-ups inside the Little Gym located in Hillsboro. (Barry Byers)

Image: Katie shoots — Katie South practices a layup before her team’s game against Hillsboro

Katie shoots — Katie South practices a layup before her team’s game against Hillsboro (Barry Byers)

Image: Creighton goes up — Creighton Hyles(13) takes a practice jumper with dad and coach, Charles Hyles, looking on.

Creighton goes up — Creighton Hyles(13) takes a practice jumper with dad and coach, Charles Hyles, looking on. (Janie Adair)

Image: Pressure the ball — Bryce DeBorde and Reese Janek try to detour the inbound pass.

Pressure the ball — Bryce DeBorde and Reese Janek try to detour the inbound pass. (Janie Adair)

Image: We got it! — Italy Yellow’s Kort Holley(10) and Bryce Deborde(1) try to control a loose ball.

We got it! — Italy Yellow’s Kort Holley(10) and Bryce Deborde(1) try to control a loose ball. (Janie Adair)

Image: Eyes on the ball — Italy Yellow (K-2nd) coach, Charles Hyles, reminds his son Chase Hyles to never, ever, take his eyes off the ball.

Eyes on the ball — Italy Yellow (K-2nd) coach, Charles Hyles, reminds his son Chase Hyles to never, ever, take his eyes off the ball. (Janie Adair)

Image: Awaiting result — Creighton Hyles is mesmerized with the outcome of a teammate’s free-throw attempt.

Awaiting result — Creighton Hyles is mesmerized with the outcome of a teammate’s free-throw attempt. (Janie Adair)

Image: Almost had him — Italy Yellow’s Kort Holley(10), Bryce Deorde(1) and Evie South(3) try to triple trap a Hillsboro dribbler.

Almost had him — Italy Yellow’s Kort Holley(10), Bryce Deorde(1) and Evie South(3) try to triple trap a Hillsboro dribbler. (Janie Adair)

Image: Looks familiar… — Kort Holley dribbles up the floor. Kort’s father, Kyle Holley, also grew up dribbling the ball for Italy and is an assistant coach for Italy Yellow.

Looks familiar… — Kort Holley dribbles up the floor. Kort’s father, Kyle Holley, also grew up dribbling the ball for Italy and is an assistant coach for Italy Yellow. (Janie Adair)

Image: Together we can — Hooping cousins Andrew Celis(14) and Jeramiah Gutierrez(30) talk strategy while changing to defense.

Together we can — Hooping cousins Andrew Celis(14) and Jeramiah Gutierrez(30) talk strategy while changing to defense. (Janie Adair)

Image: Not bad at all — Italy Yellow coach Charles Hyles congratulates his team on a well played first game.

Not bad at all — Italy Yellow coach Charles Hyles congratulates his team on a well played first game. (Janie Adair)

Image: Cool Shirts! — Micki Bland, Michelle Richards, Casandra Jeffords and Darla Wood sport their individually sewn Italy Gladiator shirts that Micki organized as a fund raiser for the IYAA and were on sale at the concession stand.

Cool Shirts! — Micki Bland, Michelle Richards, Casandra Jeffords and Darla Wood sport their individually sewn Italy Gladiator shirts that Micki organized as a fund raiser for the IYAA and were on sale at the concession stand. (Barry Byers)

Image: Concentration is key — Tylan Wallace practices a free-throw while Trevor Mott, Payton Grant and Michael Hughes are set to go next.

Concentration is key — Tylan Wallace practices a free-throw while Trevor Mott, Payton Grant and Michael Hughes are set to go next. (Barry Byers)

Image: Looking good — Jarvis Harris and James Walton just moments before they take the court.

Looking good — Jarvis Harris and James Walton just moments before they take the court. (Barry Byers)

Image: Get that rebound! — David De La Hoya outreaches Hillsboro Black for a rebound back in the old Italy gym for his Italy White team head coached by Edwin Wallace.

Get that rebound! — David De La Hoya outreaches Hillsboro Black for a rebound back in the old Italy gym for his Italy White team head coached by Edwin Wallace. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jameka and Ryisha — Authentic Lady Gladiators stop by to check out the future Italy High School stars that are currently playing in the IYAA. Jameka Copeland plays for the varsity Lady Gladiators’ squad and Ryisha Copeland plays for the JV Lady Gladiators.

Jameka and Ryisha — Authentic Lady Gladiators stop by to check out the future Italy High School stars that are currently playing in the IYAA. Jameka Copeland plays for the varsity Lady Gladiators’ squad and Ryisha Copeland plays for the JV Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Carter scores — Cameron Carter and Italy Gray get the job done against Hillsboro Maroon.

Carter scores — Cameron Carter and Italy Gray get the job done against Hillsboro Maroon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cameron to Kenneth — Cameron Carter leaves a bounce pass for teammate Kenneth Norwood, Jr. who scores the bucket to finish the 2-on-1 fast break.

Cameron to Kenneth — Cameron Carter leaves a bounce pass for teammate Kenneth Norwood, Jr. who scores the bucket to finish the 2-on-1 fast break. (Barry Byers)

Image: Emmy’s ready — Italy Lime Green’s Emmy Cunningham loves to play and is ready to win in this her first season at the 5th and 6th grade level.

Emmy’s ready — Italy Lime Green’s Emmy Cunningham loves to play and is ready to win in this her first season at the 5th and 6th grade level. (Barry Byers)

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