Davis delivers game winner! Italy upsets Dallas Gateway 66-65 to own district

Image: Kevin Johnson(5) led Italy with a 20-point night to help the Gladiators overtake district rival Dallas Gateway, 66-65. Italy is now the front runner of the district.

Kevin Johnson(5) led Italy with a 20-point night to help the Gladiators overtake district rival Dallas Gateway, 66-65. Italy is now the front runner of the district. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator center David De La Hoya(21) makes an aggressive move to the bucket to tie the game early at 2-2.

Italy Gladiator center David De La Hoya(21) makes an aggressive move to the bucket to tie the game early at 2-2. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Kenneth Norwood(13) grabs a rebound and then falls back to bank in a tough shot early.

Italy Gladiator Kenneth Norwood(13) grabs a rebound and then falls back to bank in a tough shot early. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Jeremiah Thompson(14) tries his hand at a three-ball over a Dallas Gateway defender.

Italy Gladiator Jeremiah Thompson(14) tries his hand at a three-ball over a Dallas Gateway defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Ryan Connor(2) finishes the fast break with a layup to beat the Gators down the floor.

Italy Gladiator Ryan Connor(2) finishes the fast break with a layup to beat the Gators down the floor. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Keith Davis, Jr. (11) blocks a layup attempt by the Gators.

Italy Gladiator Keith Davis, Jr. (11) blocks a layup attempt by the Gators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s David De La Hoya(21) drives the baseline and pulls up for a shot over a Gateway defender.

Italy’s David De La Hoya(21) drives the baseline and pulls up for a shot over a Gateway defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: A hustling Kendrick Norwood(10) comes up with the loose ball for Italy and leaves a fallen Gator in his dust.

A hustling Kendrick Norwood(10) comes up with the loose ball for Italy and leaves a fallen Gator in his dust. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Ryan Connor(21) scans the Gator defense for an open teammate.

Gladiator Ryan Connor(21) scans the Gator defense for an open teammate. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Johnson(5) goes into attack mode while executing Italy’s half court offense.

Kevin Johnson(5) goes into attack mode while executing Italy’s half court offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Levi McBride(1) launches a half court shot to end the third. The shot banked off the board and the game remained tied 48-48 heading into the fourth-period.

Italy Gladiator Levi McBride(1) launches a half court shot to end the third. The shot banked off the board and the game remained tied 48-48 heading into the fourth-period. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Kenneth Norwood(13) spots up on the baseline and swishes the bucket.

Gladiator Kenneth Norwood(13) spots up on the baseline and swishes the bucket. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Keith Davis, Jr. (11) attacks the basket with Gator defenders trying to chomp down on him.

Italy’s Keith Davis, Jr. (11) attacks the basket with Gator defenders trying to chomp down on him.

Image: Italy’s Ryan Connor(2) splits a pair of Gator defenders on his way to the hoop. Connor was aggressive all game and finished with 12-points.

Italy’s Ryan Connor(2) splits a pair of Gator defenders on his way to the hoop. Connor was aggressive all game and finished with 12-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kenneth Norwood(13) was huge for Italy in this one by coming off the bench to put in 14-points for the Gladiator cause.

Kenneth Norwood(13) was huge for Italy in this one by coming off the bench to put in 14-points for the Gladiator cause. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Christian Lightfoot(15) records a key block late in the fourth-period to deny Gateway an easy score.

Italy’s Christian Lightfoot(15) records a key block late in the fourth-period to deny Gateway an easy score. (Barry Byers)

Image: Down goes Gateway!!! Italy’s Kendrick Norwood(10) with his energy and persistence helped deliver the K.O. blow to the Gators.

Down goes Gateway!!! Italy’s Kendrick Norwood(10) with his energy and persistence helped deliver the K.O. blow to the Gators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Christian Lightfoot(15) puts up a shot from the middle of the lane. The play was waved off with Gateway drawing a charge.

Italy Gladiator Christian Lightfoot(15) puts up a shot from the middle of the lane. The play was waved off with Gateway drawing a charge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator guard Kevin Johnson(5) shreds the Gator defense to put up a shot in the fourth.

Gladiator guard Kevin Johnson(5) shreds the Gator defense to put up a shot in the fourth. (Barry Byers)

Image: High-flying Ryan Connor(2) gets to the basket against Gateway.

High-flying Ryan Connor(2) gets to the basket against Gateway. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Kendrick Norwood(10) draws a foul from Gateway while pushing the ball down the court on a fast break opportunity. Norwood hit 7-out-of-8 free-throws and finished the game with 13-points.

Italy’s Kendrick Norwood(10) draws a foul from Gateway while pushing the ball down the court on a fast break opportunity. Norwood hit 7-out-of-8 free-throws and finished the game with 13-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fumble!!! Jeremiah Thompson(14) creates a turnover and the dives on the ensuing fumble to give Italy possession of the ball.

Fumble!!! Jeremiah Thompson(14) creates a turnover and the dives on the ensuing fumble to give Italy possession of the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trailing 65-64 and with 8 seconds on the clock and ticking, Keith Davis Jr. (11) rebounds his own miss, then quick-spins to the front of the lane to deliver the game winner. Dallas gateway was unable to get a shot up before the buzzer allowing Italy to celebrate their 66-65 victory!

Trailing 65-64 and with 8 seconds on the clock and ticking, Keith Davis Jr. (11) rebounds his own miss, then quick-spins to the front of the lane to deliver the game winner. Dallas gateway was unable to get a shot up before the buzzer allowing Italy to celebrate their 66-65 victory! (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s fans stormed the court to enjoy the dramatic moment with the Gladiators. Italy stands alone at the top of the district with one game left against Itasca.

Italy’s fans stormed the court to enjoy the dramatic moment with the Gladiators. Italy stands alone at the top of the district with one game left against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Return to story