IHS Senior Night this Friday, eager fans receive free shirts while supplies last
Freshman Trevon Robertson knocks down one of his five three-pointers against Axtell in a 72-37 win at home. Robertson finished with 19-points. (Barry Byers)
Celebrating Senior Night, the Italy Lady Gladiators and Gladiators JV and Varsity basketball squads will take on the Keene Chargers Friday inside Italy Gladiator Coliseum. The Lady Gladiator JV team will play their game against Keene in the George Scott Coliseum (old gym). Gladiator head coach, Aidan Callahan, would like everyone to know that free Gladiator Basketball shirts will be given away, while supplies last, to the fans that arrive the earliest (one per person). Coach Callahan approximated the quantity of available shirts to be between 50 and 75.
The Lady Gladiators, head coached by Randy Parks, will enter Friday’s contest against Keene coming off back-to-back wins over the Clifton Lady Cubs and the Rio Vista Lady Eagles. Led by a net-burning 28-point career night by senior forward Kaitlyn “Ro” Rossa, the Lady Gladiators singed the Cub’s fur at home in the dome and then grounded the Eagles back at their nest with junior point guard Jameka Copeland controlling the game’s flow for Coach Parks.
This past Friday, the Gladiators were aided by a 24-point scoring night from Caden Jacinto who put in 6 three-pointers total, four in the second quarter, to keep Italy in the playoff picture with an 83-59 win over the Clifton Cubs. Devonta Simmons added 19-points while Larry Mayberry, Jr. and Cole Hopkins each dropped in 10-points.
Tuesday, Mayberry won the opening tip-off resulting in an alley-oop slam dunk by Hopkins off a Jase Holden pass to spark a 70-42 victory over the Eagles. The Gladiators are beginning to spread their own wings, you might say, while enjoying a several-game win streak and a chance for redemption against Keene this Friday night.
With a game that could have a major impact on the final district standings, there will be plenty of electricity inside the dome during the rematch between the Gladiators and the Chargers.
The JV Lady Gladiators, head coached by Tina Richards, defeated Rio’s JV Lady Eagles Tuesday night, as well, and will take on Keene starting at 5:00 p.m. inside George E. Scott Coliseum (Old Italy gym) during Senior Night. The JV Gladiators, head coached by Josh Ward and assisted by Larry Mayberry, Sr., continued their district dominance with a 50-22 win over Rio Vista and will take on Keene starting at 5:00 p.m. inside Italy Gladiator Coliseum, followed by the Lady Gladiators and then the Gladiators.
Against the Eagles, Darol Mayberry’s ability to generate three-point plays the old fashion way and from beyond the arc, including a twine-popping three to beat the buzzer ending the first half, helped Italy’s JV boys team keep Rio flying uphill the whole game. Marvin Cox handled the point guard duties while Bailey Walton, John Escamilla and Tyler Anderson found ways to score. Chace McGinnis, Zain Byers, Cody Boyd and Kevin Roldan handled the dirty work in the lane including a monster block by Roldan and timely rebounds by McGinnis and Byers.
We’ll see you at the gym’s Friday night to support our senior’s, their teammates and both JV squads during Senior Night. Remember, home side is now behind the player benches and score table.