Alvarado — The Italy Gladiators, in a bit of a must win, were already headed to the playoffs but needed to get a win over Itasca to claim the district runner-up spot and to enter the next round as a 2 seed.

There was no pre-game introductions, no singing of the National Anthem and neither side was giving a chance to warmup at halftime. There were no cheerleaders or decorated, face painted fans and the overall crowd was fairly moderate in size. Despite the no-frills embellishments surrounding the event, Alvarado’s gymnasium was still electrified with a playoff intensity that would determine the path thru the playoffs for both teams.

Itasca controlled the tip-off but Italy controlled the pace. An aggressive offensive attack and disrupting defensive pressure allowed the Gladiators to build an 11-4 advantage. Italy was aided by a 3-point banker from Trevon Robertson another 3-pointer from Darol Mayerry with a Cat defender right in his grill. TaMarcus Sheppard added a basket and freshman point guard Kevin Johnson put in 5-points including swishing in an and-1 free-throw after being fouled driving to the hoop.

Itasca made the most of their trips to the line to close out the opening period but the Gladiators were feeling pretty good about things and led 18-13 after one. Robertson totaled 8-points during the opening frame after going 3-out of-4 from the stripe.

In the second, Robertson put to use his muscle in the middle by passing into center Zain Byers often. Byers would eventually get into the zone and craftily powered up 6-points and earned 2 more points from the free-throw line. Robertson continued his onslaught against the Cats, as well, and glided his way toward the basket for another 8-points. As he did in the first-period, Robertson also put in 3-out of-4 from the foul line.

After a turnover, Johnson chimed in with a basket but it was Robertson’s 12-points and Byers with 8-points who combined for 20 of Italy’s 22-points in the second, “cat”-apulting the Gladiators to a 40-26 halftime advantage.

The wheels on their Gladiator war chariots seemed slightly flat to start the third and Itasca was able to generate consecutive buckets to pull within six, 40-34. A timely timeout by Gladiator head coach Brandon Gansky gave Italy a chance to get some air, and with that, their wheels began turning again.

Byers was still working things out in the paint and accumulated 5-points more, Johnson added another hoop off a defensive steal and Robertson willed in 10-points including his second 3-pointer of the game. Italy was now in command of the game with a 59-41 lead to end the third.

Robertson put in 4-points more in the fourth before fouling out in the fourth with a total of 36-points on his game resume. Mayberry scored a basket but also fouled out as did Sheppard moments later, opening the door for Itasca to attempt a comeback. The Cats intensified their full court pressure but Bailey Walton was accurate inbounding the ball and Johnson out-quicked the Cats up and down the court, displaying his prowess as a ball handler.

Walton also added a basket after securing an offensive rebound, Sheppard added another bucket and the relentless Tyler Anderson, who was active in this one, scored late as did Johnson who sliced thru the lane and delivered a finger roll over the front of the rim.

Byers totaled 13-points and was in double figures on rebounds and Johnson put in 11-points to help Italy get the job done, 73-54. Robertson’s 36-points was 1-point shy of Jasenio Anderson’s 37-point night during a playoff win against the Hearne Eagles back in 2011.

With the win, Italy becomes the 2013-2014 1A-1 Region II District 14 district runner-up and enters their bi-district game as a 2-seed. The Gladiators will challenge Valley View, a 3 seed, in the first-round of the playoffs starting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday at "Saginaw, Boswell High School.

[[ Click for google map directions to Boswell HS in Saginaw ]]

Gladiator Game Roster/Scoring vs. Itasca:

(^) = Game High
(!) = Career High

Box Score

Go Gladiators! Beat Valley View!!

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