JV Boys Game:
The JV Gladiators trail late in the third, 33-23, but quickly battled back to get within three-points of Whitney’s JV Wildcats, 35-32, before the end of the quarter. In the fourth, Darol Mayberry drew a charging foul against the Wildcats to keep Whitney off the board. Moments later, Eric Carson stole the ball and passed to Raheem Walker who made the score, 35-34, with 4:55 remaining in the game.

Walker generates another score by disrupting Whitney’s inbound pass and Italy leads 36-35. Whitney, however, rebuilt a lead and went up 41-36 with 1:23 still to play. Carson makes good on a pair of free-throws to keep Italy close, 41-38.

T.J. Cockran makes two free-throws, as well, but Italy still trails 43-40 with 0:52 left to play. In the games final seconds, Italy had a chance but came up empty from the foul line and just missed on two three-point shot attempts allowing Whitney to hang on for the 43-40 win.

JV Girls Game:
Italy’s Kendra Copeland, Ryisha Copeland and Paola Mata started the game confidently from the field and the JV Lady Gladiators lead 9-6 after the first-quarter. Whitney found their rhythm, however, and led 18-11 at halftime inside Italy’s old gym. The JV Lady Wildcats continued to roll in the second half and eventually won the matchup 59-32.

Varsity Girls Game:
A jumper by Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa makes the score 20-14 but Whitney answers back to go up 22-14. Jameka Copeland puts in a jumper from the right elbow to keep Italy close, 22-16, with 4:32 to play in the first half.

Rossa pulls up along the baseline and hits again to make the score 22-18. Whitney scores five-straight points to lead 27-21 before Copeland can hit from the lane with 0:04 left to make the score 27-23 at the break.

Whitney keeps the pressure on throughout the third and builds a 44-30 advantage as the game moves into the final quarter. The Lady Gladiators reassert themselves, early in the fourth, and Copeland scores under the hoop to make the game 44-32.

Keyonne Birdsong adds a three-pointer to pull Italy within 9-points of the Lady Wildcats, 3:25 to play. Whitney pulls away from there and goes up 54-37. An offensive rebound and follow by Rossa makes the game 54-39. Italy gets another score from Bailey Bumpus and one last bucket by Copeland but Whitney’s Lady Wildcats get the win, 59-43, inside Italy Coliseum.

Varsity Boys Game:
Heath Clemons drives in and dishes to Jase Holden who scores to put Italy up 4-3. Larry Mayberry, Jr. blocks a Wildcat shot and collects the loose ball. Mayberry passes to Jasenio Anderson who knocks down a three-pointer and Italy leads 7-3. The Wildcats answer with a three of their own and Italy leads by one, 7-6, with 5:50 to play in the first.

Whitney reclaims the lead, 8-7, but Cole Hopkins puts the Gladiators back in front, 9-8, at the 4:00 mark. Anderson takes off on a fast break and finds Holden for the finish. Italy leads 11-8. Italy’s defense gets a five-second call charged to Whitney’s inbound passer but the Gladiators are unable to increase their lead. Moments later, however, Anderson passes ahead to Holden who dishes to Hopkins inside to put Italy up 13-8.

Holden then steals the ball and passes to Ryan Ashcraft who gets the bucket and gives Italy a 15-8 advantage. Whitney takes a timeout with 2:01 to play in the first. Whitney then makes the score 15-12 but an alley-oop pass from Clemons to Hopkins keeps Italy in control, 17-12. Clemons drives the baseline and Italy leads 19-14. Whitney scores a layup to beat the buzzer and, at least in the first-quarter, the Wildcats have managed to match Italy’s athleticism and trail just 19-16 going into the second-quarter.

Colton Campbell grabs an offensive board and scores the put back to give Italy a 21-16 lead. Whitney pulls within one, 21-20, and Gladiator head coach Aidan Callahan calls for timeout. Whitney continues their run and hits a three-pointer to lead again 23-21. A Wildcat jumper makes the score 25-21 with 5:21 to play in the first half. Anderson responds with a steal and a then gets fouled while scoring a fast break layup. Anderson makes the and-1 but Italy still trails 25-24. Anderson repeats the process and the Gladiators go back in front 26-25.

Anderson steals the ball again and finds Clemons cutting to the basket. Italy leads 28-25. Whitney goes 1-of-2 from the line and then Clemons attacks from the wing and passes to Hopkins for the bank-in. Moments later, Holden adds a three-pointer and Italy leads 33-26. Another Anderson steal results in another Anderson layup and Italy leads 35-26. Clemons hits a jumper and Italy leads 37-28 with 2:20 remaining before the break.

Mayberry gets an offensive rebound, puts in the follow and Italy leads 39-28. Clemons passes to Holden who drills another three-pointer and Italy leads 42-28. Again, Whitney matches Italy’s three with one of their own to make the score 42-31. Ashcraft passes into Campbell who scores to make the game 44-31. Whitney scores the final five-points of the half including a buzzer-beating three-pointer but Italy still leads at intermission, 44-36.

Clemons scores Italy’s first five-points of the second half but Whitney starts with two three-pointers to keep pace and Italy leads 49-42. Anderson passes to Mayberry who passes over to Campbell and the Gladiators lead 51-42. Anderson steals the ball and maneuvers around a Wildcat defender to lay in a bucket and Italy leads 53-42.

Clemons passes across the Wildcat defense to Anderson who swishes a three. Holden grabs an offensive board on the next trip down and passes out to Anderson who swings it to Clemons for another Gladiator three-pointer and Italy leads 58-42.

Holden pulls up and knocks down a jumper. Holden then receives a pass from Ashcraft and scores the layup. Italy leads 62-43. Anderson passes ahead to Ashcraft and the Gladiators lead, 64-43, with 3:25 to play in the third.

Clemons scores three the old-fashion way and Anderson alley-oop passes to Devonta Simmons. Simmons basket was erased after being called for over-the-back. No worries for the Gladiators who outscored Whitney 25-8 in the quarter and lead 69-46 heading into the fourth.

Clemons scores one last three-pointer in the final quarter and Simmons scores back-to-back baskets to help Italy outpoint the Whitney Wildcats 83-50.

Go Italy!