Italy vs Grandview – Pack The Dome Night

An exciting night for basketball, the Gladiators and Lady Gladiators varsity and JV teams left it all on the court against the visiting Grandview Zebras. Fans from both sides were into the action as the night marked the final games of the season for both Lady Gladiators’ teams.

Throughout the night, teams representing the IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) performed halftime shootarounds, enjoying their opportunity to show their skills under the dome. Also during each halftime and during timeouts, Clover Stiles announced the winners of door prizes and food coupons graciously donated by Stiles, as well as:

• McDonald’s of Italy
• Exxon’s Tiger Mart of Italy
• Keng Wok of Italy

Italy’s JV girls’ head coach Tina Richards and assistant coach Erik Wilson were left with a reduced squad after several players were added to the varsity roster on Tuesday. Italy’s girls gave it their best shot but Grandview got the win inside the old Italy gym.

Italy’s JV boys made a strong showing against Grandview’s JV and avenged an earlier season loss to the Zebras with a 29-28 comeback win at home. Grandview led 24-20 at the start of the final quarter but five fourth-quarter points from Caden Jacinto, who finished with eight-points total including two three-pointers and a pair of free-throws to lead Italy, proved to be the difference and gave Italy their only win on the night.

After making the playoffs last season in 1A, and despite a strong start early on, the Lady Gladiators were unable to achieve the same feat in their return to 2A basketball. An inspired effort by head coach Stacy McDonald’s crew came up short against Grandview who achieved the season sweep against Italy’s ladies during Pack The Dome Night.

The Lady Gladiators will face next season without senior Shelbi Gilley but will return many of their starters, including Kaitlyn Rossa, Jimesha Reed, Megan Richards, Keyonne Birdsong and playmaking point guard Jameka Copeland. Chante Birdsong and Alyssa Richards, who was injured throughout the season, will be in the mix as well.

Coming off a win over Keene to lock down a spot in the 2A playoffs, the Varsity Gladiators were just one win away from claiming their second consecutive, undefeated in district, district championship with last year’s accomplishment coming at the 1A level.

In Italy’s way, this past Tuesday, were the Grandview Zebras, who with only two district losses themselves, still have hopes for the district crown as well. A win for Italy would have sealed the championship but Grandview managed to pull off the upset amidst an enthusiastic Italy Coliseum crowd, 58-52.

Jasenio Anderson led the Gladiator effort with 18-points including four three-pointers. Jase Holden put in fifteen-points but Grandview took advantage of Italy’s two games in two nights schedule and stole the win.

Italy vs. Maypearl:
On Friday, Italy’s JV Gladiators continued to roll and got the win over visiting Maypearl. Head coach Larry Mayberry will try to cap off another successful season with a win over Axtell tonight starting at 5:00 p.m. inside Italy Coliseum.

Needed a win to stay one step ahead of Grandview in the district race, Italy regathered themselves and took care of business against visiting Maypearl on Friday. Italy led 25-15 but the Panthers roared back and tied the game 33-33 with buzzer-beating three-pointer to finish the third-quarter.

Maypearl kept their momentum going to lead 38-33 early in the fourth-quarter but back-to-back three-point daggers from Gladiator Jasenio Anderson gave Italy control 39-38. Both sides traded baskets before Italy’s Heath Clemons, Colton Campbell and Jase Holden helped Anderson finish Maypearl 54-44.

A win over Axtell tonight, in Italy, will give the Gladiators and head coach Aidan Callahan outright claim to the district Championship and avoid a possible tie with Grandview. Axtell will be bringing their rowdy fans so everyone be at the dome tonight to help the Gladiators accomplish goal number one. Game time will be at 6:30 p.m.

Go Italy!