Gladiators and Lady Gladiators renew old rivalry with Grandview

Image: Sophomore center Cole Hopkins(21) helps Italy outpoint Zebras — Italy’s bench players come up big against Grandview scoring nineteen points collectively to help the Gladiators stay undefeated in district play with a 61-47 win over the Zebras.

Sophomore center Cole Hopkins(21) helps Italy outpoint Zebras — Italy’s bench players come up big against Grandview scoring nineteen points collectively to help the Gladiators stay undefeated in district play with a 61-47 win over the Zebras. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mata has skills — Italy JV Lady Gladiator Paola Mata(12) finishes a fast break opportunity against Grandview.

Mata has skills — Italy JV Lady Gladiator Paola Mata(12) finishes a fast break opportunity against Grandview. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kendra scores — Italy’s Kendra Copeland(10) pulls up for a jumper over a Zebra defender during the girls JV game.

Kendra scores — Italy’s Kendra Copeland(10) pulls up for a jumper over a Zebra defender during the girls JV game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Baseline attack — Italy’s Paola Mata(12) attacks the Zebra defense along the baseline.

Baseline attack — Italy’s Paola Mata(12) attacks the Zebra defense along the baseline. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alma zones in — Italy’s Alma Suaste(32) goes to the line against the Grandview JV Lady Zebras while teammate Bernice Hailey(22) prepares to rebound.

Alma zones in — Italy’s Alma Suaste(32) goes to the line against the Grandview JV Lady Zebras while teammate Bernice Hailey(22) prepares to rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: Still shooting — Paola Mata(12) and her JV Lady Gladiators teammates played hard from tip-off to final buzzer despite trailing the Zebras early.

Still shooting — Paola Mata(12) and her JV Lady Gladiators teammates played hard from tip-off to final buzzer despite trailing the Zebras early. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jump shooter — Lady Gladiator Kaitlyn Rossa(3) shoots the long ball with teammate Bailey Bumpus(13) looking on.

Jump shooter — Lady Gladiator Kaitlyn Rossa(3) shoots the long ball with teammate Bailey Bumpus(13) looking on. (Barry Byers)

Image: High five — Lady Gladiator point guard Jameka Copeland(5) goes up strong against Grandview’s center.

High five — Lady Gladiator point guard Jameka Copeland(5) goes up strong against Grandview’s center. (Barry Byers)

Image: “Ro” Determined — Italy Lady Gladiator, Kaitlyn Rossa(3), looks determined to put in this free-throw against Grandview with teammate Megan Richards(22) ready to battle for the rebound.

“Ro” Determined — Italy Lady Gladiator, Kaitlyn Rossa(3), looks determined to put in this free-throw against Grandview with teammate Megan Richards(22) ready to battle for the rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: Go, Cope! — Italy’s Jameka Copeland(5) dribbles around Grandview’s defenses while Megan Richards(22) posts up.

Go, Cope! — Italy’s Jameka Copeland(5) dribbles around Grandview’s defenses while Megan Richards(22) posts up. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reed scores again — Lady Gladiator Jimesha “Mesh” Reed(40) takes advantage of a wide-open look at the basket.

Reed scores again — Lady Gladiator Jimesha “Mesh” Reed(40) takes advantage of a wide-open look at the basket. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan shoots — Lady Gladiator Megan “Rich” Richards(22) puts up a shot over three Zebra defenders.

Megan shoots — Lady Gladiator Megan “Rich” Richards(22) puts up a shot over three Zebra defenders. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kaitlyn inside — Lady Gladiator Kaitlyn Rossa(3) finds room in the paint to put up a shot over the Zebra defense as Shelbi Gilley(4) hustles in to help.

Kaitlyn inside — Lady Gladiator Kaitlyn Rossa(3) finds room in the paint to put up a shot over the Zebra defense as Shelbi Gilley(4) hustles in to help. (Barry Byers)

Image: Copeland scores — Jameka Copeland(5) scores underneath with teammates Kaitlyn Rossa(3) and Jimesha Reed(40) near by.

Copeland scores — Jameka Copeland(5) scores underneath with teammates Kaitlyn Rossa(3) and Jimesha Reed(40) near by. (Barry Byers)

Image: Getting ready to rumble — Italy’s Brandon Souder lays a shot in during warmups before the Gladiator matchup with district rival Grandview.

Getting ready to rumble — Italy’s Brandon Souder lays a shot in during warmups before the Gladiator matchup with district rival Grandview. (Barry Byers)

Image: Devonta displays hops — Devonta Simmons slams one home during pre-game warmups to the delight of Gladiator fans.

Devonta displays hops — Devonta Simmons slams one home during pre-game warmups to the delight of Gladiator fans. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here we go! — Larry Mayberry, Jr.(13) and Heath Clemons(2) do an aerial bump to get fired up for the Zebras during the pre-game introductions.

Here we go! — Larry Mayberry, Jr.(13) and Heath Clemons(2) do an aerial bump to get fired up for the Zebras during the pre-game introductions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Campbell goes up — Colton Campbell(5) tries to increase Italy’s first quarter lead for the Gladiators.

Campbell goes up — Colton Campbell(5) tries to increase Italy’s first quarter lead for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: “2” easy — Gladiator Heath Clemons(2) hits this 3-point attempt over a leaping Zebra.

“2” easy — Gladiator Heath Clemons(2) hits this 3-point attempt over a leaping Zebra. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cole earns stripes — An attacking Cole Hopkins(21) devours the Zebras inside the paint.

Cole earns stripes — An attacking Cole Hopkins(21) devours the Zebras inside the paint. (Barry Byers)

Image: Go, Jasenio, Glow! — Jasenio Anderson(11) had a highlight reel game against Grandview scoring 25-points to lead all scorers.

Go, Jasenio, Glow! — Jasenio Anderson(11) had a highlight reel game against Grandview scoring 25-points to lead all scorers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fans get rowdy — Gladiator Nation cheers on their team late in the contest.

Fans get rowdy — Gladiator Nation cheers on their team late in the contest. (Barry Byers)

Image: Holden hoops — Gladiator Jase Holden(3) gets up a shot despite being surrounded by Zebra defenders.

Holden hoops — Gladiator Jase Holden(3) gets up a shot despite being surrounded by Zebra defenders. (Barry Byers)

Image: Enough said — Gladiator Ryan Ashcraft(4) makes one final point to help Italy send a statement to other district challengers. Ashcraft finished with 7-points and was perfect from the line hitting all three free-throw attempts.

Enough said — Gladiator Ryan Ashcraft(4) makes one final point to help Italy send a statement to other district challengers. Ashcraft finished with 7-points and was perfect from the line hitting all three free-throw attempts. (Barry Byers)

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