Italy’s Junior High boys show court skills during tournament action

Image: Chace McGinnis(32) helps Italy Gold win over Venus — Italy 8th Grader Chace McGinnis(32) goes up for 2-points against Venus during the Italy Junior High Basketball Tournament held at the dome on Saturday. Italy Gold defeated Mildred in round one but lost to Venus in round two, 39-26.

Chace McGinnis(32) helps Italy Gold win over Venus — Italy 8th Grader Chace McGinnis(32) goes up for 2-points against Venus during the Italy Junior High Basketball Tournament held at the dome on Saturday. Italy Gold defeated Mildred in round one but lost to Venus in round two, 39-26. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trick shot — John Escamilla(11) swishes a free-throw with one arm behind his back.

Trick shot — John Escamilla(11) swishes a free-throw with one arm behind his back. (Barry Byers)

Image: More the merrier — Italy’s Cody Boyd(10) leaps along the baseline and takes a shot over two Venus’ defenders.

More the merrier — Italy’s Cody Boyd(10) leaps along the baseline and takes a shot over two Venus’ defenders. (Barry Byers)

Image: John is relaxed — John Escamilla(11) puts in a free-throw from the foul line.

John is relaxed — John Escamilla(11) puts in a free-throw from the foul line. (Barry Byers)

Image: I’m open! — Cody Boyd(10) battles to get open for teammate John Byers(44) who is trying to inbound the ball.

I’m open! — Cody Boyd(10) battles to get open for teammate John Byers(44) who is trying to inbound the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan shoots — Ryan Connor(13) takes a shot from the wing while teammate Chace McGinnis(32) fights for rebounding position.

Ryan shoots — Ryan Connor(13) takes a shot from the wing while teammate Chace McGinnis(32) fights for rebounding position. (Barry Byers)

Image: Boyd at the line — Cody Boyd(10) concentrates before taking a shot from the foul line.

Boyd at the line — Cody Boyd(10) concentrates before taking a shot from the foul line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jump shot — John Byers(44) shoots from the baseline.

Jump shot — John Byers(44) shoots from the baseline. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fast breaking — Cody Boyd(10) pulls up for a jumper as teammate Kelton Bales(55) heads for the rebound.

Fast breaking — Cody Boyd(10) pulls up for a jumper as teammate Kelton Bales(55) heads for the rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: Nice play — John Escamilla(11) steals the inbound pass from Venus and scores.

Nice play — John Escamilla(11) steals the inbound pass from Venus and scores. (Barry Byers)

Image: Chace from the stripe — Chace McGinnis(32) knocks down a free-throw in the fourth-quarter against Venus as teammate John Escamilla(11) looks on.

Chace from the stripe — Chace McGinnis(32) knocks down a free-throw in the fourth-quarter against Venus as teammate John Escamilla(11) looks on. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cody fires away — Cody Boyd(10) is required to carry a shooting license during the games.

Cody fires away — Cody Boyd(10) is required to carry a shooting license during the games. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bales believes — Kelton Bales(55) prepares to shoot a free-throw.

Bales believes — Kelton Bales(55) prepares to shoot a free-throw. (Barry Byers)

Image: Up and away — Chace McGinnis(32) flies high to finish the fast break.

Up and away — Chace McGinnis(32) flies high to finish the fast break. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan tweaks the ankle — Ryan Connor(13) exited the Italy Gold game against Venus after scoring a basket in the third quarter.

Ryan tweaks the ankle — Ryan Connor(13) exited the Italy Gold game against Venus after scoring a basket in the third quarter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rising stars — The 2011 8th Grade Gladiators Basketball team are: Cody Boyd, John Byers, Kelton Bales, John Escamilla, Chace McGinnis, Ty Windham (7th grader), Kyle Fortenberry and Ryan Connor (7th grader) who was treating an injured ankle on the bench.

Rising stars — The 2011 8th Grade Gladiators Basketball team are: Cody Boyd, John Byers, Kelton Bales, John Escamilla, Chace McGinnis, Ty Windham (7th grader), Kyle Fortenberry and Ryan Connor (7th grader) who was treating an injured ankle on the bench. (Barry Byers)

Return to story