Top-ranked Melissa proves why; Italy falls 74-42 in Regional Final

Image: Italy’s offense grounded by the high-flying Melissa Cardinals — Jasenio Anderson(11), and the Gladiators’ offense as a whole, was held in check by the top-ranked Melissa Cardinals during Regional Final action in Stephenville. Melissa won the game, 74-42, bringing an end to Italy’s season.

Italy’s offense grounded by the high-flying Melissa Cardinals — Jasenio Anderson(11), and the Gladiators’ offense as a whole, was held in check by the top-ranked Melissa Cardinals during Regional Final action in Stephenville. Melissa won the game, 74-42, bringing an end to Italy’s season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Time to shine — Italy Gladiator assistant coach Larry Mayberry tries to fire up the troops just before tip-off.

Time to shine — Italy Gladiator assistant coach Larry Mayberry tries to fire up the troops just before tip-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan gets ready — Senior Ryan Ashcraft warms-up before Italy’s regional final game against Melissa.

Ryan gets ready — Senior Ryan Ashcraft warms-up before Italy’s regional final game against Melissa. (Barry Byers)

Image: Young gun — Sophomore Cole Hopkins practices a free-throw while team captain Jasenio Anderson meets with the Cardinal captains.

Young gun — Sophomore Cole Hopkins practices a free-throw while team captain Jasenio Anderson meets with the Cardinal captains. (Barry Byers)

Image: Heath prepares — Senior Heath Clemons(2) practices from behind the arc on the Wisdom Gymnasium floor at Tarleton State University.

Heath prepares — Senior Heath Clemons(2) practices from behind the arc on the Wisdom Gymnasium floor at Tarleton State University. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase at the line — Jase Holden(3) puts in a free-throw while teammate Devonta Simmons(10) looks on.

Jase at the line — Jase Holden(3) puts in a free-throw while teammate Devonta Simmons(10) looks on. (Barry Byers)

Image: Colton pulls the trigger — Gladiator Colton Campbell(5) shoots a one-handed jumper from inside the lane.

Colton pulls the trigger — Gladiator Colton Campbell(5) shoots a one-handed jumper from inside the lane. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hopkins shoots — Cole Hopkins(21) tries to shake off a Cardinal defender.

Hopkins shoots — Cole Hopkins(21) tries to shake off a Cardinal defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fast-break chance — Jase Holden(3) takes advantage of a rare fast-break opportunity for the Gladiators.

Fast-break chance — Jase Holden(3) takes advantage of a rare fast-break opportunity for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jasenio takes jumper — Jasenio Anderson(11) goes up for a guick shot with teammate Cole Hopkins(21) on the block.

Jasenio takes jumper — Jasenio Anderson(11) goes up for a guick shot with teammate Cole Hopkins(21) on the block. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mayberry underneath — Larry Mayberry (13) draws a shooting foul from Melissa Cardinal Zach Helmberger(14).

Mayberry underneath — Larry Mayberry (13) draws a shooting foul from Melissa Cardinal Zach Helmberger(14). (Barry Byers)

Image: Attacking the Cardinals — Gladiator Jase Holden(3) uses teammate Larry Mayberry(13) as a shield and leans in for a score.

Attacking the Cardinals — Gladiator Jase Holden(3) uses teammate Larry Mayberry(13) as a shield and leans in for a score. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleaders working hard — Italy’s cheerleaders keep the spirit up in Stephenville.

Cheerleaders working hard — Italy’s cheerleaders keep the spirit up in Stephenville. (Barry Byers)

Image: Crowd support — Jasenio Anderson(11) looks on as teammate Jase Holden(3) shoots a free-throw.

Crowd support — Jasenio Anderson(11) looks on as teammate Jase Holden(3) shoots a free-throw. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan’s on the ball — Ryan Ashcraft(4) defends the inbound pass from Melissa’s Blake Billings(4).

Ryan’s on the ball — Ryan Ashcraft(4) defends the inbound pass from Melissa’s Blake Billings(4). (Barry Byers)

Image: The three-ball — Jase Holden(3) tries a three-pointer from the Gladiator sideline.

The three-ball — Jase Holden(3) tries a three-pointer from the Gladiator sideline. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anderson at the line — Ryan Ashcraft looks on as fellow senior Jasenio Anderson(11) concentrates at the line.

Anderson at the line — Ryan Ashcraft looks on as fellow senior Jasenio Anderson(11) concentrates at the line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Needing points — Devonta Simmons(10) and Cole Hopkins(21) prepare to rebound as Jase Holding(3) pulls up in the lane.

Needing points — Devonta Simmons(10) and Cole Hopkins(21) prepare to rebound as Jase Holding(3) pulls up in the lane. (Barry Byers)

Image: Clemons takes a shot — Senior Heath Clemons(2) rises for a jumper while Larry Mayberry(13) battles on the block with Melissa’s Hondo Webb(23).

Clemons takes a shot — Senior Heath Clemons(2) rises for a jumper while Larry Mayberry(13) battles on the block with Melissa’s Hondo Webb(23). (Barry Byers)

Image: Face! — Ryan Ashcraft(4) knocks down a three-pointer early in the third-quarter with Melissa’s Hondo Webb(23) defending.

Face! — Ryan Ashcraft(4) knocks down a three-pointer early in the third-quarter with Melissa’s Hondo Webb(23) defending. (Barry Byers)

Image: Snoop to the hoop — Heath Clemons(2) tries to make something happen and takes a shot at the basket.

Snoop to the hoop — Heath Clemons(2) tries to make something happen and takes a shot at the basket. (Barry Byers)

Image: Finish strong! — The Gladiators huddle away from the Cardinal’s crowd late in the fourth with the season slipping away.

Finish strong! — The Gladiators huddle away from the Cardinal’s crowd late in the fourth with the season slipping away. (Barry Byers)

Image: Full of memories — Italy’s Brandon Souder(15) concludes the Gladiators 2010-2011 season with one final basket to beat the buzzer. Italy finishes as the Region II-AA Regional Final Runner-Ups after loosing to the Melissa Cardinals 74-42.

Full of memories — Italy’s Brandon Souder(15) concludes the Gladiators 2010-2011 season with one final basket to beat the buzzer. Italy finishes as the Region II-AA Regional Final Runner-Ups after loosing to the Melissa Cardinals 74-42. (Barry Byers)

Image: Leaving as a legend — Senior Heath Clemons(2) receives hugs form fans as he exits the basketball court in a Gladiator uniform for the last time.

Leaving as a legend — Senior Heath Clemons(2) receives hugs form fans as he exits the basketball court in a Gladiator uniform for the last time. (Barry Byers)

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