Axtell — Reminiscent of the 1983 Houston Universtity Cougars’ basketball squad which is famously remembered as “Phi Slama Jama,” as mentioned by Italy’s assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr., the 2011 Italy Gladiators created a new nickname for themselves during pre-game warm-ups on Friday. Expect “I Slama Jama,” to be dunking their way to another district title this season.

The Gladiators delivered one slam after another with Devonta Simmons, De’Andre Sephus, Larry Mayberry, Jr. and Cole Hopkins all getting in on the act. Ryan Ashcraft and Heath Clemons were unable to pull off the assisted lob slam, but with the goal threatening to come crashing down, Italy’s head coach Aidan Callahan decided to rein in his high-flying Gladiators. “I want us to be able to play this game,” stated Coach Callahan with a grin.

Jasenio Anderson put Italy on the board first but Axtell ties the game 2-2. Mayberry secured an offensive rebound and scored on the follow, 4-2 Italy. Colton Campbell increased the lead to 6-2 and a steal by Sephus made the score 8-2 Gladiators after the resulting layup. Axtell makes the score 8-4 and then tries to execute the fast break but Hopkins rejects the shot attempt and passes to Clemons. Clemons fakes the drive and kicks out to Anderson who knocks down a three-pointer to give Italy an 11-4 advantage, 3:00 remain in the first-quarter.

Hopkins records another big block and Sephus gets a steal but Italy comes away without any points. Simmons battles on the offensive glass and eventually banks in a shot, 13-4 Italy. Axtell answers to make the score 13-6 and Coach Callahan takes a timeout with 1:22 on the clock.

Hopkins is fouled shooting after collecting an offensive rebound and hit two at the foul line, 15-6 Italy. Axtell adds one free-throw before the first-quarter ends but Italy leads 15-7 heading into the second quarter.

At the 6:30 mark of the second and shortly after Axtell inbounds, Sephus steals the ball from behind and turns for an easy lay in, 17-7 Italy. Axtell makes the game 17-8 and Mayberry hits 1-of-2 from the foul line to make the Score 18-7. Jase Holden passes into Mayberry on Italy’s next possession and Mayberry scores from the block, 20-8 Italy.

Ryan Ashcraft gathers in a defensive rebound and Hopkins receives a pass from Clemons for another Gladiator basket, 22-8 Italy. Despite another intimidating block by Hopkins, Axtell cuts Italy’s lead in half, 22-11. A pair of free-throws by the Longhorns make the score 22-13 but a Holden three-pointer from the top of the key pushes Italy’s lead to twelve, 25-13, with 1:00 to play in the first half.

Axtell adds a pair of free-throws to wrap up the low scoring first half, 25-15. A strategy that favors the Longhorns who seem unable to match the shooting capabilities of the Gladiators.

Axtell scores first to start the second half but Hopkins matches the Longhorns to keep Italy well in front, 27-17. Simmons drives into the lane and scores, 29-17. Simmons then steals Axtell’s inbound pass and scores close in to put Italy up 31-17. Sephus creates another steal and scores quickly to give the Gladiators a 33-17 lead. Hopkins attempts to dunk an aerial rebound but the ball rims off. Hopkins is called for hanging on the room which allows Axtell to put in two technical free-throws, 33-19.

Clemons hits a runner from the wing and Italy leads 35-19. Axtell scores four straight points and Coach Callahan calls another Gladiator timeout with 3:30 to play in the third. Axtell scores again but Hopkins scores near the rim and Italy leads 37-21.

Sparked by the near slam by Hopkins, Simmons steals another inbound pass and dunks the ball to give Italy a 39-17 lead. Sephus appears to reject an Axtell shot but Hopkins is called for body contact and the Longhorns get 1-of-2 from the line, 39-22. Clemons drives along the left baseline and hits to make the score 41-22 in Italy’s favor. An Axtell three-pointer gives the Longhorns hope and makes the score 41-25. Anderson is fouled trying score on the fast break but makes two from the foul line and Italy leads 43-25 with 1:41 left in the third-quarter.

The Longhorns score five straight points including another three-pointer with just over 1:00 to play, 43-30. Clemons attacks the Longhorns again and Italy leads 45-30. Axtell scores after an inbound lob then Italy misses a pair of free-throws and the third-quarter ends with Italy in charge, 45-32.

A minute runs off the clock to start the fourth before Anderson swishes a three-pointer to give Italy a 48-32 lead. Campbell secures an offensive rebound and scores the follow and Italy leads 50-32. Anderson hits from beyond the arc again and Italy leads 53-32 with 5:56 to play in the game. Hopkins gets another offensive rebound and scores the put back and Italy goes up 55-32.

Axtell makes the score 55-34 but Hopkins gets inside position underneath, receives the pass and then rises from where he stood to record Italy’s second slam of the contest, 57-34 Italy.

Moments later, with the score 59-40, Anderson pushes the ball up the floor and lobs a pass to Hopkins above the rim. Hopkins catches the ball and slams it thru as the duo execute the alley-oop play with 1:32 remaining. Hopkins makes the score 61-40 and Italy’s faithful, led by Gladiators’ mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood, are loving it!

With the score 61-41, Brandon Souder tracks down a rebound and dishes to Anderson who swishes in his third three-pointer to make the score 64-41. Axtell scores one last time and Italy adds one last free-throw to win again, 65-43. The Gladiators are now 6-0 in district play and 18-5 overall. After recording three dunks during the game, “I Slama Jama” has reached a new level.

Varsity Girls Game: 63-38
With Axtell’s fans pretending to read newspapers during the Lady Gladiators’ pre-game introductions, the Lady Longhorns became the main story of the first half and stampeded to a 13-0 lead. At the 4:26 mark, Italy’s Jameka Copeland passed to Shelbi Gilley who scored inside the paint to make the score 13-2, but Axtell continued their rapid pace. The Lady Longhorns led 21-2 going into the second-quarter.

Gilley scored again for the Lady Gladiators after receiving a pass from Keyonne Birdsong to make the game 21-4. Gilley then went 1-of-2 from the foul line but the Lady Longhorns still led by a wide margin, 21-5.

Copeland scores inside to make the score 27-7 and Gilley scores again to make the score 29-9. Copeland drives along the baseline to get another hoop to make the game 31-11 and Kaitlyn Rossa scores from the block to make the score 31-13. An Axtell three-pointer dashes Italy’s momentum with 0:15 remaining an the Lady Longhorns lead 34-13 at halftime.

Gilley hits a jumper from the left baseline but Axtell leads 38-15. Megan Richards passes to Copeland who knocks down an open jump shot to make the score 38-17 with 5:30 to play in the third. Rossa goes 1-of-2 from the foul line and Keyonne Birdsong drops in a three-pointer but Axtell is still in control, 40-21.

Copeland rises from the right elbow to score over Axtell’s defense and Gilley drives in for two more points. Italy struggles to slow down Axtell’s offensive production and the Lady Longhorns lead 51-25 as the game moves into the final quarter.

Copeland attacks the offensive paint to score inside but Axtell leads 57-27. Axtell scores but so does Copeland, 59-29 Axtell leads. Rossa hits a jump shot over two Lady Longhorn defenders to make the game 59-31. Rossa then drives, pivots back and hits another jumper from the middle of the lane, 61-33 Axtell leads with 4:35 remaining.

Rossa knocks down her third basket in a row but Axtell has no worries with a 61-35 lead. Richards hits a three-pointer for Italy but the rally started much too late and Axtell’s Lady Longhorns win 65-38 over the Lady Gladiators.

JV Boys Game:
Italy J.V. boys lead 10-6 going into the second-quarter. A layup by Caden Jacinto gives Italy a twelve-point lead. A defensive block by Deiondre Cockran keeps the JV Longhorns’ offense off the board allowing Raheem Walker to add two free-throws at the other end, 14-6 JV Gladiators lead.

With the score 16-8, Italy’s Jalarnce Jamal Lewis scores on a fast break and the JV Gladiators go up 18-8. Axtell goes 1-of-2 from the charity stripe but Zain Byers passes out of the post to Eric Carson who drills a three-pointer from the left corner to give Italy a 21-9 advantage. Axtell scores four straight before Darol Mayberry finds Byers inside for an open bank shot to make the score 23-13 with 0:40 left in the half.

Jake Escamilla battles to keep a JV Gladiator possession alive. After an Axtell foul, Italy inbounds to Mayberry who swishes in a three-pointer with 0:13 remaining. The half ends with Italy on top 26-13.

With the score 28-15 in the third, Carson scores inside to give Italy a 30-15 lead. Axtell, however, goes on a six-point run to make things interesting, 30-21. Carson then records a block with C. Jacinto saving the ball back to Walker. Walker passes to Carson who is fouled attempting a three-pointer. Carson hits 2-of-3 from the foul line to keep Italy well in front, 32-21, with 1:38 left in the third-quarter.

Italy scores two more baskets but Axtell lays in a buzzer-beater to end the third-quarter, making the score 36-23 heading into the final quarter.

A Lewis free-throw makes the score 37-23 with Italy leading. T.J. Cockran pushes the ball and C. Jacinto gets the fast break layup to give Italy a 39-23 lead. A T.J. Cockran free-throw makes the score 40-25 but Axtell goes on an eight-point run to pull within five, 40-35, with 1:20 remaining in the contest.

D. Cockran hits a running one-hander along the baseline to end Italy’s scoring drought and gives the JV Gladiators a 42-35 advantage with time ticking down. Axtell scores inside to make the game 42-37 but a pair of free-throws by Carson seals the deal for Italy’s JV Gladiators, 44-37.

JV Girls Game:
Italy’s JV Girls played in a separate gym during a game that coincided with the J.V. Boys game. Despite Italy’s best efforts, Axtell’s J.V. Lady Longhorns got the win.