Italy Gladiators defeat Mildred to win Region 2-AA Area Championship

Image: Gladiators get plenty of support during their Area win over Mildred — What a night for Italy Gladiator fans as the hometown heroes win big over the Mildred Eagles, 64-37, and claim another Area Championship.

Gladiators get plenty of support during their Area win over Mildred — What a night for Italy Gladiator fans as the hometown heroes win big over the Mildred Eagles, 64-37, and claim another Area Championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Directions to Robinson — Directions to Waco Robinson High School. Double click image to enlarge and set your print setup to “Fit to page” before printing.

Directions to Robinson — Directions to Waco Robinson High School. Double click image to enlarge and set your print setup to “Fit to page” before printing.

Image: Under the big “M” — Italy’s players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans stand for the playing of the National Anthem inside Midlothian’s gymnasium.

Under the big “M” — Italy’s players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans stand for the playing of the National Anthem inside Midlothian’s gymnasium. (Barry Byers)

Image: Buddies and basketball — Larry Roberts, Ronnie Compton and Richard Cook get seated before the big game between Italy and Mildred to decide the Region 2-AA Area CHampionship between Italy and Mildred.

Buddies and basketball — Larry Roberts, Ronnie Compton and Richard Cook get seated before the big game between Italy and Mildred to decide the Region 2-AA Area CHampionship between Italy and Mildred. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pre-game introductions — Jasenio Anderson(11) and teammate Heath Clemons(2) get ready to go for a win over Mildred.

Pre-game introductions — Jasenio Anderson(11) and teammate Heath Clemons(2) get ready to go for a win over Mildred. (Barry Byers)

Image: The air up there — Gladiator Cole Hopkins shows his ups during warm-ups.

The air up there — Gladiator Cole Hopkins shows his ups during warm-ups. (Barry Byers)

Image: By air and on land — Gladiator point guard Jasenio Anderson(11) helps Italy move past Mildred for the Area Championship.

By air and on land — Gladiator point guard Jasenio Anderson(11) helps Italy move past Mildred for the Area Championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: 2 talented — Gladiator Heath Clemons(2) used his acrobatic abilities to score against the Eagles Friday night.

2 talented — Gladiator Heath Clemons(2) used his acrobatic abilities to score against the Eagles Friday night. (Barry Byers)

Image: Attack mode — After only scoring 1-point in the first half, Jasenio Anderson finished with 20-points to lead all scores.

Attack mode — After only scoring 1-point in the first half, Jasenio Anderson finished with 20-points to lead all scores. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase in the paint — Jase Holden(3) leaps high under the rim for a bucket while teammate Devonta Simmons tracks the ball.

Jase in the paint — Jase Holden(3) leaps high under the rim for a bucket while teammate Devonta Simmons tracks the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: 2 for two — Senior Heath Clemons(2) jump stops and scores for the Gladiators to finish with 8-points on the night.

2 for two — Senior Heath Clemons(2) jump stops and scores for the Gladiators to finish with 8-points on the night. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anderson fast breaks — Elevating his game, Jasenio Anderson(11) puts in a two of his 19-points scored in the second half.

Anderson fast breaks — Elevating his game, Jasenio Anderson(11) puts in a two of his 19-points scored in the second half. (Barry Byers)

Image: 8th Graders cheer — Italy Junior High Cheerleaders Bailey DeBorde and Madison Washington help the varsity cheer squad keep Italy’s fans cheering.

8th Graders cheer — Italy Junior High Cheerleaders Bailey DeBorde and Madison Washington help the varsity cheer squad keep Italy’s fans cheering. (Barry Byers)

Image: Synchronized smiles — Gladiator mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood, and cheer mates Kaitlyn Rossa, Taylor Turner and Sierra Harris know how to strike a pose.

Synchronized smiles — Gladiator mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood, and cheer mates Kaitlyn Rossa, Taylor Turner and Sierra Harris know how to strike a pose. (Barry Byers)

Image: Leaping Larry — Gladiator center Larry Mayberry(13) powers in a shot over the Mildred defense.

Leaping Larry — Gladiator center Larry Mayberry(13) powers in a shot over the Mildred defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Our ball! — Senior Jasenio Anderson(11) prepares to inbound the ball for Italy.

Our ball! — Senior Jasenio Anderson(11) prepares to inbound the ball for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: This one’s in the basket — Gladiators head coach Aidan Callahan huddles with the team during a fourth-quarter timeout.

This one’s in the basket — Gladiators head coach Aidan Callahan huddles with the team during a fourth-quarter timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Go, Gladiators! — IHS Cheerleaders Taylor Turner and Sierra Harris keep up the noise!

Go, Gladiators! — IHS Cheerleaders Taylor Turner and Sierra Harris keep up the noise! (Barry Byers)

Image: All net — Going 10-of-12 from the line, Jasenio Anderson(11) benefits from extra shooting workouts during the week.

All net — Going 10-of-12 from the line, Jasenio Anderson(11) benefits from extra shooting workouts during the week. (Barry Byers)

Image: We won, we won! — Katie Byers and Anna Viers celebrate the Gladiators’ playoff win over Mildred.

We won, we won! — Katie Byers and Anna Viers celebrate the Gladiators’ playoff win over Mildred. (Barry Byers)

Image: Show time — Jasenio Anderson(11) scores the layup, draws the and-1 and still finds time display Italy’s #1!

Show time — Jasenio Anderson(11) scores the layup, draws the and-1 and still finds time display Italy’s #1! (Barry Byers)

Image: Loud and proud — The Italy Gladiators break the huddle proud after clipping the playoff wings from the Mildred Eagles.

Loud and proud — The Italy Gladiators break the huddle proud after clipping the playoff wings from the Mildred Eagles. (Barry Byers)

Image: AA Area Champions — They made it happen! Already 15-AA District Champions and Region 2-AA Bi-District Champions, the Italy Gladiators are now the Region 2-AA Area Champions after moving past the Mildred Eagles with a 64-37 win at Midlothian High School on Friday. Back row: Jasenio Anderson, Larry Mayberry, De’Andre Sephus, Colton Campbell, Cole Hopkins, Jase Holden, Brandon Souder, Caden Jacinto, Devonta Simmons and T.J. Cockran. Middle row: Jamal Jalarnce Lewis and Ryan Ashcraft. Bottom row: Heath Clemons.

AA Area Champions — They made it happen! Already 15-AA District Champions and Region 2-AA Bi-District Champions, the Italy Gladiators are now the Region 2-AA Area Champions after moving past the Mildred Eagles with a 64-37 win at Midlothian High School on Friday. Back row: Jasenio Anderson, Larry Mayberry, De’Andre Sephus, Colton Campbell, Cole Hopkins, Jase Holden, Brandon Souder, Caden Jacinto, Devonta Simmons and T.J. Cockran. Middle row: Jamal Jalarnce Lewis and Ryan Ashcraft. Bottom row: Heath Clemons. (Barry Byers)

Image: Team Pride — Enjoying the moment are, Back row: Lady Gladiators Softball players Anna Viers, Katie Byers, Alyssa Richards and Morgan Cockerham. Middle row: Colton Campbell, Sierra Harris, Heath Clemons, Kaitlyn Rossa, Jase Holden and Ryan Ashcraft. Front row: Gladiator mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood.

Team Pride — Enjoying the moment are, Back row: Lady Gladiators Softball players Anna Viers, Katie Byers, Alyssa Richards and Morgan Cockerham. Middle row: Colton Campbell, Sierra Harris, Heath Clemons, Kaitlyn Rossa, Jase Holden and Ryan Ashcraft. Front row: Gladiator mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood. (Barry Byers)

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