Gladiators are bi-district basketball champs! G-Men win 54-47 over Valley View

Image: Freshman guard Kevin Johnson(5) was the man of the hour for the Gladiators Tuesday night in Saginaw. Johnson scored 17-points, thirteen in the fourth alone, to propel Italy past Valley View for the Class A bi-district championship.

Freshman guard Kevin Johnson(5) was the man of the hour for the Gladiators Tuesday night in Saginaw. Johnson scored 17-points, thirteen in the fourth alone, to propel Italy past Valley View for the Class A bi-district championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(21) wraps around an Eagle defender to underhand a shot up and in which gave Italy their first lead of the game, 6-4.

Zain Byers(21) wraps around an Eagle defender to underhand a shot up and in which gave Italy their first lead of the game, 6-4. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(22) lays in 2-points for the Gladiator cause.

Trevon Robertson(22) lays in 2-points for the Gladiator cause. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Bailey Walton(4) shoots one over an Eagle claw.

Gladiator Bailey Walton(4) shoots one over an Eagle claw. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Darol Mayberry(13) grabs a rebound and then double clutches to score the put back and-1.

Gladiator Darol Mayberry(13) grabs a rebound and then double clutches to score the put back and-1. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator TaMarcus Sheppard(10) gets up in the air in an attempt to challenge an Eagle shooter.

Gladiator TaMarcus Sheppard(10) gets up in the air in an attempt to challenge an Eagle shooter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Zain Byers(21) steals a pass and then drives the length of the court to put up a shot.

Gladiator Zain Byers(21) steals a pass and then drives the length of the court to put up a shot. (Barry Byers)

Image: Head coach Brandon Gansky (blue shirt…on the right) and the Italy bench endured the wrath of Valley View’s student body to get the win.

Head coach Brandon Gansky (blue shirt…on the right) and the Italy bench endured the wrath of Valley View’s student body to get the win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tyler Anderson(11) drives the baseline to earn a trip to the foul line.

Tyler Anderson(11) drives the baseline to earn a trip to the foul line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Zain Byers(21) secures one of his 10 rebounds against the Eagles.

Gladiator Zain Byers(21) secures one of his 10 rebounds against the Eagles. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Ty Windham(12) is shoved hard from behind while shooting.

Gladiator Ty Windham(12) is shoved hard from behind while shooting. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ty Windham(12) relied on his perfect form to swish in 2 free-throws for Italy despite Valley View’s efforts to rattle him.

Ty Windham(12) relied on his perfect form to swish in 2 free-throws for Italy despite Valley View’s efforts to rattle him. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Cody Boyd(15) scores a basket in the third period.

Gladiator Cody Boyd(15) scores a basket in the third period. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) regains the lead for Italy, 37-36, after making the most of a fast break opportunity in the fourth.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) regains the lead for Italy, 37-36, after making the most of a fast break opportunity in the fourth. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Johnson(5) drives to the hoop with little concern for the Eagle defense.

Kevin Johnson(5) drives to the hoop with little concern for the Eagle defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(22) tries to draw a shooting foul for Italy late in the game.

Trevon Robertson(22) tries to draw a shooting foul for Italy late in the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) swishes a big time shot from the corner to give Italy a 44-39 advantage with only a few minutes left to play. Take that, Eagles!

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) swishes a big time shot from the corner to give Italy a 44-39 advantage with only a few minutes left to play. Take that, Eagles! (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Johnson(5) reached another level on Tuesday against Valley View to help Italy reach the area round of the playoffs!

Kevin Johnson(5) reached another level on Tuesday against Valley View to help Italy reach the area round of the playoffs! (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiators Darol Mayberry(13) and Mason Womack(1) smother an Eagle ball handler.

Gladiators Darol Mayberry(13) and Mason Womack(1) smother an Eagle ball handler. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(21) attacks the basket, draws a shooting foul and then splashes in two free-throws.
Zain Byers(21) attacks the basket, draws a shooting foul and then splashes in two free-throws. (Barry Byers)
Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) flies higher than an a Eagle to score a basket for Italy.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) flies higher than an a Eagle to score a basket for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ty Windham(12) and Mason Womack(1) feel pretty good about Italy’s chances of winning as head coach Brandon Ganske gets serious during a timeout late in the game.

Ty Windham(12) and Mason Womack(1) feel pretty good about Italy’s chances of winning as head coach Brandon Ganske gets serious during a timeout late in the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Johnson(5) was stellar from the line in the fourth-period by making 7-out of-9 free-throws to hold off a late rally by the Eagles.

Kevin Johnson(5) was stellar from the line in the fourth-period by making 7-out of-9 free-throws to hold off a late rally by the Eagles. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mission accomplished! The G-Men take care of business against Valley View 54-47 to win the 2014 1A-D1 Region II Class A Bi-District Championship!! Back row (L-R): Manager John Escamilla, Cody Boyd(15), Davis De La Hoya(20), Kevin Johnson(5), Zain Byers(21), Manager Joshua Cryer, Kevin Roldan(33), Manager Jorge Galvan, Mason Womack(1), TaMarcus Sheppard(10), Darol Mayberry(13) and Trevon Robertson(22). Front row (L-R): Ty Windham(12), Tyler Anderson(11) and Bailey Walton(4).

Mission accomplished! The G-Men take care of business against Valley View 54-47 to win the 2014 1A-D1 Region II Class A Bi-District Championship!! Back row (L-R): Manager John Escamilla, Cody Boyd(15), Davis De La Hoya(20), Kevin Johnson(5), Zain Byers(21), Manager Joshua Cryer, Kevin Roldan(33), Manager Jorge Galvan, Mason Womack(1), TaMarcus Sheppard(10), Darol Mayberry(13) and Trevon Robertson(22). Front row (L-R): Ty Windham(12), Tyler Anderson(11) and Bailey Walton(4). (Barry Byers)

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