Grandview — The Grandview Zebras have had a consistent basketball program for years, respected for their long-range shooting abilities. Often, varsity games between Italy and Grandview must be decided in the final minutes and Friday night was no different.

Gladiators vs. Zebras:
Starting for head coach Aidan Callahan and the Italy Gladiators are 6’3" Larry Mayberry at center, 5’10" Jasenio Anderson at the point, 5’10" Heath Clemons at forward, 6’0" Colton Campbell at forward and 6’0" Jase Holden at guard. Just as important to the Gladiators’ cause against Grandview were the bench points.

Ryan Ashcraft, Devonta Simmons and 6’8" Sophomore Cole Hopkins, who earned his stripes against the Zebras on Friday, accounted for nineteen points off the bench for the Gladiators to help Italy outscore Grandview by thirteen.

As expected, Grandview did manage five three-pointers to Italy’s three. However, Anderson and company converted several and-1 opportunities to more than make up the difference. Anderson’s 25-point night, to lead all scorers, was the biggest factor as Italy improves their overall record to 16-5 and remains undefeated in district play.

True to form, Grandview drills a 3-pointer after collecting the opening tip-off. Italy trailed 7-0 before Holden finished a Gladiator fast break with a layup to make the score 7-2. Grandview responds with another 3-pointer to lead 10-2. The Zebras miss the front end of a 1-and-1 and Callahan opts to take an Italy timeout.

Anderson inbounds to Holden who scores inside to make the score 10-4. Italy’s defense creates a fast break opportunity and Anderson does the honors at the offensive end, 10-6, Grandview still leads. Hopkins enters the game and makes his presence known quickly. Hopkins is called for a foul while blocking a Zebra shot but Grandview only made 1-of-2 to lead 11-6 with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter.

Moments later, Hopkins collected a defensive rebound and Anderson eventually spots up for a Gladiator 3-pointer to pull Italy back into contention, 11-9. Anderson then steals the ensuing inbound pass from the Zebras and lays it in while being fouled. Anderson hits the bonus shot to give Italy the lead, 12-11, with 3:54 on the clock. Anderson steals the ball away from the Zebras again and passes to Clemons who puts in a layup to help Italy go up by three, 14-11.

Grandview makes the second of a two free-throw shots to end Italy’s 8-point run, 14-12. Clemons responds with a three-pointer over a Zebra defender in his view, 17-12, with 2:02 still to play in the first. The Zebras answer with a quick layup at the opposite side of the floor, 17-14. After a Zebra timeout, Grandview puts in a series of three free-throws before the quarter ends. Italy still leads 17-16 heading into the second.

Anderson makes a stylish layup to start the next quarter, 19-16, Italy leads. The Zebras reach the basket quickly, 19-18. Anderson finds Clemons in the lane and Clemons scores over the front of the rim, 21-16. The Zebras record two free-throws at the 5:40 mark, 21-18. The Zebras are allowed two more free shots on their next trip down and swish both, 21-20. Italy misses a pair of free-throws and foul the Zebras in the back court. In the bonus, Grandview makes 1-of-2 to tie the game for the second time, 21-21.

Clemons knocks down an open 15-footer from the left side and Italy leads again, 23-21. The Zebras go 1-of-2 from the line again, 23-22. Holden puts in two Gladiator freebies to help Italy keep the pressure on, 25-22, with 2:40 left in the first half. The Zebras knock down another 3-pointer to tie the game for the third time, 25-25.

At the 1:32 mark, Anderson reaches the foul line and makes both to regain the lead for Italy, 27-25. The Zebras, fueled by the cheers from their fans, retie the contest 27-27. Italy gets several shots near the goal but none will fall. The Zebras eventually collect the rebound and get fouled shooting on the way to their basket.

Both free-throws drop in and Grandview reclaims lead, 29-27, with 0:43 remaining before halftime. The Zebras turn an arrant pass by Italy into an easy breakaway bucket to lead 31-27 at the break.

A minute goes by in the third quarter before Anderson drives in, makes the layup and draws the and-1. Italy pulls within 1-point after Anderson puts in the foul shot, 31-30. Clemons then maneuvers his way in to the heart of the Zebra defense and scores to give the Gladiators back the lead, 32-31. Grandview answers back to reclaim the lead, 33-32. Hopkins rebounds a free-throw miss by Italy and scores while still in the the air. Fouled on the aerial put back, Hopkins misses the and-1 but Italy is up one, 34-33, with 5:57 left in the quarter.

Grandview’s three-point attempt is off the mark but an offensive rebound gives the Zebras back the lead, 35-34. Defensively, Anderson draws a charging call against Grandview and follows up with a three-pointer to wound the Zebras, 37-35. Grandview ties the game for the fifth time at thirty-seven all. 1:45 goes by before Italy’s Ryan Ashcraft scores to give the Gladiators the advantage, 39-37, with 2:45 to play in the third.

The game ties for the sixth time, 39-39. Anderson scores but Grandview does as well and the game ties for the seventh time, 41-41, and remains so heading into the final and deciding quarter.

Simmons grabs an Italy miss, scores the follow and the Gladiators lead 43-41 early. Grandview is fouled shooting but misses both foul shots. Hopkins collects an offensive rebound on Italy’s end and easily scores over the hapless Zebras, 45-41, Gold and White leads by four. The Zebras struggle to score in the fourth quarter. However, a five-second call against Italy and a bench warning charged to the Gladiators, who disliked the call, fired up Grandview and the Zebras nail a three-pointer to pull within one, 45-44.

Anderson gets the ball to Holden cutting underneath. Holden then wraps a pass around a Zebra defender back to Hopkins who was open on the left block for another Gladiator basket. Italy now leads 47-44 with 4:34 left in the contest. The relentless Zebras hit a spot-up three-pointer from the left corner to tie the game for the eighth time, 47-47, with 4:13 left.

Italy gets called for charging. Hopkins is called for a foul while blocking a Grandview shot attempt. The home team misses both free-throws and Anderson grabs the rebound. The Zebras create a turnover and charge up court on the fast break. The Zebras miss the shot and Ashcraft draws an over-the-back call against Grandview’s rebounders to regain possession for Italy. Anderson is fouled shooting and makes both foul shots to propel the Gladiators back in front, 49-47.

There would be no more ties and no more lead changes. It was Italy in the final three minutes. Anderson put in a layup and two free shots to give the Gladiators a 53-47 advantage. The Zebras put up one desperation three-point shot after another but none would drop. Italy’s Colton Campbell bounce passes to Ashcraft who scores to make the game 55-47. The Zebras miss another long shot attempt and Anderson corrals the rebound and gets held as he pushes the ball up the floor.

Grandview’s faithful jeer Anderson hoping to rattle the Gladiator Senior. Anderson makes the first to shush the crowd and then the second to give Italy a 57-47 lead. With 0:32 remaining, a strong rebound by Ashcraft sends him to the line where he hits 1-of-2 to increase Italy’s advantage, 58-47. Clemons gets a defensive rebound and is fouled. Clemons makes 1-of-2, as well, and Italy leads 59-47.

Ashcraft is fouled again rebounding another missed three-pointer by Grandview. Ashcraft swishes both to cap-off the scoring, 61-47. Hopkins gets a defensive rebound to end the intense matchup between two district rivals and Italy is now 5-0 in district play and stands atop their division as the only undefeated team.

Lady Gladiators vs. Lady Zebras:
In the District 15 2A matchup between the Italy Lady Gladiators and the Grandview Lady Zebras, Kaitlyn Rossa, Jameka Copeland, Megan Richards, Bailey Bumpus and Jimesha Reed start the game for Italy and Reed slaps the opening tip-off back to Copeland.

Bumpus passes to Reed down low and Italy leads 2-0 in the first fifteen seconds. Grandview ties the game 2-2 at the 6:22 mark. Reed records a block on defense but the Lady Zebras eventually get to the line and scores three the old-fashion way after making the and-1. Grandview leads 5-2 with 4:53 left in the opening quarter.

A Lady Zebra three-pointer makes the score 8-2. Rossa keeps Italy within striking distance with a jumper from the top of the lane, 8-4, with 2:40 left. Rossa fouls a Lady Zebra shooter and Grandview takes a 10-4 lead after making both free-throws. Rossa is forced to sit with two fouls at the 1:27 mark of the first.

Copeland gets the ball to Megan Richards who knocks down a 3-pointer from the right wing which cuts the Lady Gladiator deficit in half, 10-7. The score remains 10-7 going into the second quarter.

The Lady Zebras make two free-throws to start the second quarter and go up 12-7. Rossa returned to the lineup and followed her own three-point miss drawing a shooting foul on the put back. Rossa hit 1-of-2 to make the score 12-8. Reed records another block and then gets the steal on defense but Italy comes up empty on the offensive end.

Moments later, Copeland finishes a fast break and earns an and-1 upon scoring the layup. Copeland hits the free shot to pull the Lady Gladiators within one, 12-11, with 5:14 left in the quarter. Grandview answers Copeland’s effort with a shot over the front of the rim to increase their advantage 14-11. The Lady Zebras hit a three-pointer on their next rip down and go up 17-11 to match their biggest lead of the game.

Reed rebounds an Italy miss and puts in the follow, 17-13. Reed then takes advantage of a wide-open look at the goal, after receiving a lob pass, to keep Italy close 17-15. The Lady Gladiators have a chance to tie but miss the front end of a 1-and-1 while Grandview hits two free shots on their end to go up 19-15 with 2:00 remaining in the first half.

Grandview scores the last three points of the quarter and lead 22-15 at intermission.

Grandview starts the third quarter by drilling a three-pointer from the outside. Richards responds with a three-bomb of her own and the score is now 27-18. Grandview is not fazed and builds a 31-18 lead. At the 3:35 mark, Copeland pulls up for a jumper near the lane to make the score 31-20.

Reed gets a pass inside and hits a close-in jumper to dwindle down Grandview’s lead but the Lady Zebras are still in control, 31-22. After Grandview goes up 33-22, Richards knocks down another three-pointer. The Lady Zebras continue to lead 33-25 with 2:27 left in the third.

The Lady Zebras dominate the remainder of the period and squeeze in one last shot that beats the buzzer and gives Grandview a commanding 41-25 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Lady Gladiators come out in attack mode to start the fourth. Reed free-throws make the score 41-27 and a Copeland bank shot inside pulls Italy that much closer, 41-29. Chante Birdsong feeds Reed down on the block who scores the lay in and draws an and-1. The bonus shot rims out but the Lady Gladiators are within ten of Grandview with 5:53 remaining.

With the score 44-31, Richards hits a jumper outside the paint to make the game 44-33. Rossa scores a bank shot inside but the Lady Zebras remain well in front, 46-35, with 2:00 to go. Keyonne Birdsong steals the ball for Italy, dribbles past the three-point line and turns and swishes the triple with 1:20 left. K. Birdsong’s three-pointer makes the score 46-38 but Grandview puts in the next three points to secure a win over the Lady Gladiators, 49-38.

JV Lady Gladiators vs. JV. Lady Zebras:
Grandview builds a huge lead before Alma Suaste scores Italy’s lone point of the first quarter. Suaste hits the second of two shots from the foul line with 0:49 remaining.

In the second quarter, Paola Mata stumbles along the baseline but manages to push the ball to Suaste who scores Italy’s first basket at the 5:32 mark. Kendra Copeland then drives straight into the lane and pulls up for a bank shot to give the JV Lady Gladiators 5-points but Grandview leads big at halftime.

Italy plays a more physical contest in the second half in an effort to make something positive happen. Mata knocks down a jumper just beyond the right elbow and Italy has seven on the board. Suaste drives to the basket and draws a shooting foul. Suaste hits 1-of-2 and Italy has eight. K. Copeland draws a charging foul to help Italy on defense. Despite several rebounds and steals, Italy is unable to generate points.

Despite a tough scoring night, Italy’s defensive pressure does manage to hamper Grandview’s scoring production. Italy, however, doubles their first half points in the third and has a total of ten going into the fourth.

Mata steals the ball, drives to the basket and scores while drawing an and-1. The free-throw does not fall but Italy now has 12-points in the game. Copeland dribbles the length of the court and pulls up for a mini jumper to give Italy’s JV girls fourteen. Bernice Hailey scores inside to give Italy 16-points with 2:35 remaining.

K. Copeland follows up Hailey’s effort with an inside jumper to give Italy 18-points. Grandview mistakingly shoots at Italy’s basket and even that refuses to drop in for the JV Lady Gladiators. K. Copeland swishes in two free-throws to give Italy 20-points with 1:00 left in the game.

Both teams keep playing hard to the final buzzer. Overcoming a difficult first half, Italy’s JV girls put up 15-points in the second half to Grandview’s twenty-one. The Zebras ultimately win 59-20 but Italy’s JV girls never stopped competing and showed plenty of heart, battling from start to finish.

JV Gladiators vs. JV Zebras:
While the JV Lady Gladiators were playing in one gym, Italy’s JV Boys were taking on the Zebras in a separate gymnasium. Italy struggled in executing of their half court offense while Grandview continuously attacked the basket against Italy’s defense. With Italy’s shots glancing off the rim, Grandview wins the boys JV matchup 41-25.