Italy Boys Basketball program receive several 2016 District 12-2A accolades

Image: Italy Gladiator junior Keith Davis II was named the 2015-2016 Offensive Player of the Year in District 12-2A while leading Italy to a district and bi-district championship.

Italy Gladiator junior Keith Davis II was named the 2015-2016 Offensive Player of the Year in District 12-2A while leading Italy to a district and bi-district championship. (Barry Byers)

The Italy Gladiators made it happen in 2016 by earning the District 12-2A Basketball Championship. They followed that major accomplishment up with a Bi-District playoff win over Valley View and the finished the season as Area Finalists.

For their efforts, the Gladiators were well recognized during the All-District voting with Keith Davis II being named the Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore Kendrick Norwood was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year and junior Christian Lightfoot received Newcomer of the Year honors. Italy claimed 3-out of-4 available superlative awards.

Junior Kevin Johnson was named 1st Team All-District and senior Ryan Connor was named 2nd Team All-District. Italy also had 3 Honorable Mention players with senior Levi McBride, junior Kenneth Norwood and junior David De La Hoya making the list.

Academic All-District players were Connor, Micah Escamilla and De La Hoya.

Italy’s first-year head coach, David Ervin, was honored, as well, when he was named the district’s Coach of the Year along with his coaching staff which included Larry Mayberry, Bobby Campbell and Mitchell Blake.

Congratulations to the Gladiators and to Coach Ervin and his staff on a magical season with the expectations now set very high going into next season. Included in this article are pictures from Italy’s area-championship battle against Petrolia.

2015-2016 District 12-2A All-DistrictBasketball Awards

Superlatives — Italy:

Gladiator MVP Award Class
Keith Davis II Offensive POY Jr.
Kendrick Norwood Defensive POY Soph.
Christian Lightfoot Newcomer POY Jr.

Coach Of the Year:
David Ervin, Italy

All-District Awards — Italy:

Gladiator All-District Class
Kevin Johnson 1st Team Jr.
Ryan Connor 2nd Team Sr.
Levi McBride Honorable Mention Sr.
Kenneth Norwood Honorable mention Jr.
David De La Hoya Honorable Mention Jr.

Academic All-District Awards — Italy:

Gladiator Class
Ryan Connor Sr.
Micah Escamilla Sr.
Jorge Galvan Sr.
David De La Hoya Jr.

Go Gladiators!