Italy — In the 7th grade girls game between Italy and Rio Vista, the opening minutes were dominated by the visiting Eagles who lead 5-0 going into the second-quarter.

Italy scores first to make the score 5-2. Italy takes off on the fast break and uses diagonal passing to push the ball up the floor. Guard Hannah Washington eventually passes to Shercorya Chance for another Italy basket and Rio Vista leads by only one-point, 5-4.

The Eagles respond with a jumper and go up 7-4 with 4:10 left before halftime. Chance passes to Kaci Bales who puts up a shot. Chance rebounds the miss and scores the follow to make the game 7-6. Washington inbounds to Chance for another Italy basket and Italy takes their first lead, 8-7, with 1:55 left before halftime.

Washington takes a shot and again Chance grabs the offensive rebound and scores the put back to increase Italy’s lead 10-7. Rio Vista answers with a jump shot to make the score 10-9 with 1:03 remaining.

The Eagles scored again with 0:45 to reclaim the lead, 11-10. Rio Vista goes 1-of-2 from the line and leads 12-10. Lillie Perry’s shot to beat the buzzer is off the mark and the Eagles hold their two-point lead at the break, 12-10.

Chance ties the contest 12-12 early in the third-quarter. Chance scores again to give Italy back the lead 14-12 and then puts in another basket to give Italy a four-point advantage, 16-12, at the 4:40 mark. Chance collects another offensive rebound and banks in the shot to give Italy an 18-12 lead.

The Eagles answer and make the score 18-14. Perry passes into Chance who extends Italy advantage back to six-points, 20-14, with 2:00 left in the third. Rio Vista scores six straight points to tie the contest 20-20. Chance, posted high in the lane, finds Ashlyn Jacinto open on the left block. Jacinto banks in the shot and Italy leads by two, 22-20. Rio Vista’s buzzer shot rims off and Italy leads going into the fourth.

Rio Vista ties the score 22-22 and the game stays tied at twenty-four when the final buzzer sounds. Both teams huddle and get ready for overtime. Rio Vista jumps out to a 29-24 advantage before Chance scores to pull Italy within three, 29-26. The Eagles add a free-throw and Chance does as well with 0:15 remaining.

The score is now 30-27 and the Eagles return to the foul line to put in one last point. Italy’s 7th grade girls gave it their all, but in the end, Rio Vista wins 31-27.

8th Grade Game:
A free-throw by Kelsey Nelson gives Italy a 4-0 lead at the 4:20 mark of the first quarter. Rio Vista puts in a free-throw as well to make the score 4-1. Jaclynn Lewis inbounds to Kortnei Johnson who makes the game 6-1. Johnson then steals the ball and races to the other end to give Italy an 8-1 edge. Both teams score again and Italy leads 10-3 to start the second-quarter.

Johnson makes a layup as does Tara Wallis to give Italy a 14-5 lead. Italy builds a 20-10 lead and a shot by Madison Washington makes the score 22-12 in Italy’s favor. Washington then passes the ball to Johnson who scores again to give Italy a 24-12 cushion. Wallis passes to Jaclynn Lewis who scores down low and extends Italy’s lead to 26-12. Alex Minton adds a free-throw and Italy leads 27-12 after three.

Rio Vista score six straight points to start the fourth-quarter. Lewis passes ahead to Johnson and Italy leads 29-18 with 3:00 remaining. A Wallis layup makes the score 31-18 and a Johnson jumper makes the game 33-18. Lewis records a block and Washington gets a steal but Italy is unable to generate any points.

Rio Vista scores inside to make the game 33-20. Kierra Wilson keeps the possession alive for Italy and Minton scores along the baseline to make the score 35-20. Johnson finished with fourteen-points and Wallis finished with nine-points to lead Italy’s 8th Grade team to victory, 35-20.

Go Italy!