Italy — During the Italy JV Boys Basketball Tournament held in Italy on Saturday, the JV Gladiators needed to move past Rice in the first round to make into the championship game.

To ensure Italy’s success, JV head coach Larry Mayberry gave the “Fire at will” command to his long-range weapons. With the Italy’s defenses at DEFCON 1, Mayberry’s scoring machine launched a vicious assault on Rice’s front line and put in 29-points in the first quarter.

Guard Caden Jacinto accounted for twelve of Italy’s first quarter points including one 3-pointer. Cousin Reid Jacinto added a long-rang 3-point missile as did Darol Mayberry and guard Eric Carson. Carson scored 7-points in the opening quarter and teammates Zain Byers and T.J. Cockran each put in a 2-point basket.
Rice could only muster 6-points in retaliation fire and Italy’s JV led 29-6 going into the second.

The war waged on Italy’s battle tested Gladiators continued to unleash a barrage of bombs over Rice. T.J. Cockran knocked down a 3-pointer as did R. Jacinto. Haden Woods crossed enemy lines and scored a basket close in. C. Jacinto scored a 2-pointer and Carson scored three total in the second quarter. Raheem Walker scored a bucket inside while T.J. Cockran finished the quarter with 5-points total.

A 17-point quarter, Italy’s JV Boys led Rice 46-20 at halftime as the two sides enjoy a temporary peace agreement.

Rice finally counter-attacked and fired a 3-point bomb in the third quarter. However, Italy’s Walker puts in 6-points, T.J. Cockran hit his second 3-pointer and scores five in the period. Byers adds four more while Carson and R. Jacinto make one basket each. The JV Gladiators outpoint Rice 21-9 in the quarter and lead 67-29 going into the fourth.

Italy finaly ends the battle in the fourth outscoring Rice 11-7. D. Mayberry hits his second three-bomb and T.J. Cockran hits his third. Walker adds one last basket to finish with 10-points and Jalarnce Jamal Lewis scores inside. C. Jacinto makes 1-of-2 from the line and Italy wins 80-38. Coach Mayberry congratulates the troops and resets the Gladiators’ state of readiness back to DEFCON 5.

JV Gladiators’ roster and scoring totals vs. Rice:

Tournament Championship – Italy vs. Blooming Grove:
Blooming Grove defeats A+ Academy in the first round by a score of 51-26 and meets Italy’s JV Gladiators in the tournament championship game at 2:15 p.m. Coach Mayberry spots the blip and his radar, resets Italy’s defenses to Defcon 1 and deploys his Gladiators onto the court.

Caden Jacinto knocks down two 3-point bombs as does Eric Carson who finished the opening quarter with five. Jalarnce Jamal Lewis put in 6-points near the basket while T.J. Cockran and Raheem Walker dropped in two grenades to give Italy a 21-6 first quarter advantage.

After delivering a 3-bomb already, T.J. Cockran highlights the quarter by knocking down his second 3-pointer while being fouled. He then hits the and-1 to complete the 4-point play and finishes the period with 7-points. C. Jacinto drops another 3-pointer like an artillery shell, Carson goes 1-of-2 from the line as does Lewis. Walker banks one under the basket to help Italy’s JV Boys lead Blooming Grove 37-12 at the break.

Blooming Grove counter strikes despite T.J. Cockran’s third 3-pointer of the game. The flying Lions went into rapid fire mode and outscored Italy 17-9 in the third quarter. Carson and Lewis each scored a basket during the attack and T.J. Cockran finished the shootout with 5-points. However, Italy still lead 46-29 heading into the final quarter.

T.J. Cockran has another 5-point quarter while landing his fourth 3-pointer of the battle. Lewis puts in 6-points while Carson and Darol Mayberry score one basket each. Ultimately, Italy wins the fourth quarter battle outpointing Blooming Grove 15-10, Italy wins the war 61-39 and the JV Gladiators win the Italy JV Tournament Championship. Gladiator Nation’s winning ways are preserved…DEFCON 5.

J.V. Gladiators’ roster and scoring totals vs. Blooming Grove:

Consolation game:
Rice wins the Consolation Championship 56-46 over A+ Academy.

Go, J.V. Gladiators!