7th Grade Boys – Round 1:
Italy — Italy’s 7th grade boys team jumped out to a 24-17 halftime lead against Blooming Grove during Round 1 of a basketball tournament hosted inside Italy coliseum. Italy picked up where they left off to start the second half when guard Tylan Wallace dropped in a 3-pointer to make the score 27-17 at the 5:30 mark of the third-quarter. Wallace split a pair of free-throws to make the score 28-17. Teammate Anthony Lusk, with a nice move inside, gives Italy a 30-19 advantage.

Wallace then steals the ball and goes to the rack for another basket to increase Italy’s lead, 32-19, with 2:33 to play in the third. Blooming Grove uses their height advantage to score inside, 32-21. The quarter ends in a flurry but Italy holds their 32-21 lead.

Wallace starts the fourth-quarter off with a bang as well dropping in another 3-point dagger. Italy leads 35-21 with 4:27 remaining. Wallace then drives the baseline to score again, making the game count 37-21 with 3:20 left. Wallace makes both free shots this time to give Italy a 39-21 cushion. Italy’s inbound passer Gary Escamilla fouls out, but showing sportsmanship, shakes the hand of Blooming Grove’s head coach before exiting the contest.

Wallace scores again and Italy leads 41-24. On the offensive end, Ty Hamilton, Garrett Janek and Lusk scrum for a loose ball with Italy tying up the ball to preserve the possession. With the score 42-24, Wallace drives into the lane to score one last time as Italy’s 7th grade boys get the Round 1 victory over Blooming Grove, 44-24.

Italy 7th Grade Roster and Scoring:

8th Grade Boys – Round 1:
James Walton, David De La Hoya, Jarvis Harris and Devonteh Williams and Joe Celis start the game for Italy’s 8th grade boys team. After both sides jab at each other a bit, Williams steals the ball for Italy and drives to the goal. Celis follows the miss to get Italy on the board first, 2-0, at the 5:39 mark of the first-quarter.

Joshua Cryer with a nifty left-handed mini hook shot along the left baseline builds Italy’s advantage to 4-0. BG hits to cut the deficit in half, 4-2. A Williams shot rims in-and-out but De La Hoya banks in a shot from the right baseline to give Italy a 6-2 edge, 4:10 to play in the first-quarter.

BG pulls within 1-point, trailing Italy just 6-5. Harris ends BG’s 3-0 run by knocking down two free-throws with 1:15 to go. BG scores again off of an offensive rebound but Italy maintains an 8-7 lead after the first buzzer.

In the second-quarter, Celis gets the scoring started by splitting a pair of free-throws. Italy leads 9-7. The rest of the quarter was dominated by Italy as well with Williams scoring 3-points, De La Hoya putting in 4-points and with Celis adding a field goal to give Italy’s 8th grade boys an 18-11 halftime advantage.

Italy outscores BG 9-7 in the third-quarter. Williams scores 5-ponts more, James Walton hits a jumper from the left wing and De La Hoya scores inside the lane to give Italy a commanding 27-18 lead heading into the fourth.

Celis dominates the final quarter on the offensive end accounting for 6 of Italy 10-points in the frame. Harris and De La Hoya both added baskets as well to help Italy’s 8th grade boys win Round 1 against Blooming Grove 37-25.

7th Grade Boys – Round 2:
Italy’s 7th grade boys experienced some difficulty in Round 2 of the tournament with the Mildred Eagles asserting their will. Italy manages to keep the score close, however, and only trailed 17-10 at halftime thanks to 4-points from Kendrick Norwood, 4-points from Tylan Wallace and a basket from Garrett Janek.

Mildred was able to extend their lead after halftime to go up 22-14 by the end of the third-quarter.

In the fourth-quarter, Italy threatened to make a run when Kendrick Norwood steals the ball and then pump fakes to score at the other end to make the game count 22-16 with 5:16 remaining. Mildred makes a basket and then Garrett Janek hits the front end of a 1-and-1 to make the score 24-17. Escamilla drives the baseline drawing a 2-shot foul but the freebies will not fall with 2:48 to go. The Eagles soar in the final minutes to win Round 2 of the tournament 34-21 over Italy’s 7th grade boys. Mildred’s 7th graders win both of their tournament games while Italy’s 7th graders go 1-and-1 in tournament play.

8th Grade Boys – Round 2:
Jarvis Harris puts in two free-throws to give Italy a 2-0 lead over Mildred. Devonteh Williams finds Harris open on the baseline and Harris puts in the shot 4-0 Italy with 3:57 to play in the first.

In the lane, David De La Hoya puts up a shot that refuses to drop but De La Hoya secures the rebound then scores the follow to propel Italy to a 6-0 lead. De La Hoya scores again from the right block and Italy goes up 8-0. Williams grabs an offensive rebound and score the put back, Italy leads 10-0. Mildred hits a 3-pointer but Italy leads 12-3 after one.

Midred closes the gap in the second-quarter and pulls within 3-points of Italy, 14-11. Michael Moore keeps the ball alive for Italy resulting in three free-throw tries for Williams who is fouled on a 3-point attempt. Unfortunately, the basket seems stubborn and all three free shots miss. Italy does hang on to lead 14-11 at halftime.

Picking up the action in the third-quarter, Italy leads 18-16 when a hustle play results in Joshua Cryer dishing to De La Hoya racing down the edge of the lane. De La Hoya makes the catch and leaps for the score all in one motion, 20-16 Italy leads. Mildred manages a free-throw, 20-17. De La Hoya records a block but Italy is unable to generate any points on the offensive end. Williams launches a half court shot to beat the buzzer but it clips off the front of the rim. The score remains 20-17 as the game moves into the final quarter.

An Aaron Pittman screen sets up a pass from Devonteh to James Walton sneaking down the left baseline but the shot will not fall. Pittmon crashes the boards drawing a shooting foul. Pittmon drops in 1-of-2 to give Italy breathing room, 21-17. Williams then executes an aerial inbound to De La Hoya who scores at the front of the rim, 23-17 Italy leads. Williams scores after creating a steal to put Italy up 25-17 with 3:51 remaining. Mildred closes the gap, 25-20, but Joe Celis rises in traffic to keep Italy well in front, 27-20.

A successful pair of free shots by Williams makes the score 29-20. Celis adds 1-of-2 free ones as Italy goes on to win 30-20 over Mildred in Round 2 of tournament play. Italy’s 8th grade boys win both of their games during the tournament.

Italy 8th Grade Roster and Scoring vs. Mildred:

Go Italy Junior High!