Gladiators take care of district rival Itasca behind Sheppard’s 23-points

Image: Ding! Senior Gladiator TaMarcus Sheppard(10) answered the bell during the district dogfight against his old school, the Itasca Wampus Cats, to lead Italy with 23-points in their 68-59 victory.

Ding! Senior Gladiator TaMarcus Sheppard(10) answered the bell during the district dogfight against his old school, the Itasca Wampus Cats, to lead Italy with 23-points in their 68-59 victory. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ty Windham displays his hops during the pre-game warmups.

Ty Windham displays his hops during the pre-game warmups. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Ryan Connor(1) is ready for the Wampus Cats.

Gladiator Ryan Connor(1) is ready for the Wampus Cats. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(22) attacks the basket with Gladiator gusto.

Trevon Robertson(22) attacks the basket with Gladiator gusto. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Tyler Anderson(11) strips the ball away from Itasca’s point guard.

Italy’s Tyler Anderson(11) strips the ball away from Itasca’s point guard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Center Zain Byers(21) goes a perfect 3-of-3 from the stripe against the Cats.

Center Zain Byers(21) goes a perfect 3-of-3 from the stripe against the Cats. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) attempts a reverse layup.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) attempts a reverse layup. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cody Boyd(15) scores down low for the Gladiators.

Cody Boyd(15) scores down low for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(21) begins accumulating rebounds in the first-half.

Zain Byers(21) begins accumulating rebounds in the first-half. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Johnson(5) scores 2 of his season-high 12-points for the Gladiators.

Kevin Johnson(5) scores 2 of his season-high 12-points for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Josh Droll (in blue) can hardly bear to watch as Zain Byers(21) launches a shot to beat buzzer to end the first period. The shot just misses after hitting the top of the square at the other end.

Josh Droll (in blue) can hardly bear to watch as Zain Byers(21) launches a shot to beat buzzer to end the first period. The shot just misses after hitting the top of the square at the other end. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tyler Anderson(11) sets up Italy’s half-court offense.

Tyler Anderson(11) sets up Italy’s half-court offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan Connor(1) closes out on an Itasca shooter.

Ryan Connor(1) closes out on an Itasca shooter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan(33) was perfect from the line hitting both of his free-throw attempts and finished the game with 4-points.

Kevin Roldan(33) was perfect from the line hitting both of his free-throw attempts and finished the game with 4-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy High School principal Lee Joffre joins fans in preparation for the tortilla toss at halftime which raised money for the Lady Gladiator Softball team.

Italy High School principal Lee Joffre joins fans in preparation for the tortilla toss at halftime which raised money for the Lady Gladiator Softball team. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megann Lewis Harlow wins the Tortilla Toss fundraiser at halftime benefitting the Lady Gladiator Softball team. A former pitcher for the squad, Harlow poses with current players, Hannah Washington, Lillie Perry and her lucky tortilla worth $20.00.

Megann Lewis Harlow wins the Tortilla Toss fundraiser at halftime benefitting the Lady Gladiator Softball team. A former pitcher for the squad, Harlow poses with current players, Hannah Washington, Lillie Perry and her lucky tortilla worth $20.00. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tortilla Toss winner and Lady Gladiator alumni Megann Lewis Harlow (behind the tortilla) poses with current members of the Lady Gladiator Softball team, including (L-R): Taleyia Wilson, Paige Westbrook, Hannah Washington, #53, Lillie Perry, April Lusk, Brooke DeBorde, Amber Hooker, Ashlyn Jacinto, Janae Robertson, Cassidy Childers, Tara Wallis, Bailey Eubank and little sister, Jaclynn Lewis.

Tortilla Toss winner and Lady Gladiator alumni Megann Lewis Harlow (behind the tortilla) poses with current members of the Lady Gladiator Softball team, including (L-R): Taleyia Wilson, Paige Westbrook, Hannah Washington, #53, Lillie Perry, April Lusk, Brooke DeBorde, Amber Hooker, Ashlyn Jacinto, Janae Robertson, Cassidy Childers, Tara Wallis, Bailey Eubank and little sister, Jaclynn Lewis. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(22) flies down the lane to on his way to a 9-point night against Itasca.

Trevon Robertson(22) flies down the lane to on his way to a 9-point night against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) banks an open look at the basket.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) banks an open look at the basket. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(22) beats Itasca to the punch and capitalizes on the break.

Trevon Robertson(22) beats Itasca to the punch and capitalizes on the break. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) endures a flagrant foul late in the contest with Itasca desperate to keep Italy from scoring.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) endures a flagrant foul late in the contest with Itasca desperate to keep Italy from scoring. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(21) gets the jump on the Cats for 1 of his 25-rebounds. Byers also had 10 steals and 13-points for a triple-double!

Zain Byers(21) gets the jump on the Cats for 1 of his 25-rebounds. Byers also had 10 steals and 13-points for a triple-double! (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey Walton(14) puts in 3-of-7 free shots late in the fourth period which proved to be enough to help Italy seal their district win over Itasca.

Bailey Walton(14) puts in 3-of-7 free shots late in the fourth period which proved to be enough to help Italy seal their district win over Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Thumbs up! Capping off an exciting night of Italy Basketball was the Lady Gladiator Softball team presenting Cristie and Eric Enriquez (far right) with their new grill they won with their raffle ticket purchases. The Brinkman ProSeries Grill was donated by the Brinkman Corporation.

Thumbs up! Capping off an exciting night of Italy Basketball was the Lady Gladiator Softball team presenting Cristie and Eric Enriquez (far right) with their new grill they won with their raffle ticket purchases.
The Brinkman ProSeries Grill was donated by the Brinkman Corporation. (Barry Byers)

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