Friday night, Italy Basketball celebrated Throwback Night honoring the 1955 girls State Semi-finalists and the 1974 boys Regional Finalists Basketball teams. Honorees enjoyed watching the current JV Boys, Varsity girls and Varsity boys basketball teams as they defeated the Waxahachie Advantage Eagles in all 3 games.

In what was an exciting night of basketball on Tuesday, Italy’s JV girls, JV Boys, Varsity girls and Varsity boys clashed with Itasca during Italy’s Pack The Dome Night inside Italy Coliseum. “Gladiator Nation” was well represented as both schools put on quite a performance.

PACK THE DOME NIGHT! The Lady Gladiators and Gladiators are now focused on the Itasca Wampus Cats who will be coming to town Tuesday, January 26. It’s always an exciting matchup when these two rivals collide so we hope to see everyone inside the Coliseum. Make those signs, paint your faces and get ready to make some noise!

Italy Basketball Head Coach Kyle Holley invites Gladiator fans to several upcoming events scheduled at the Italy Coliseum including Pack The Dome Night, Throwback Night and Parent Night.

Italy’s JV Boys, varsity girls and varsity boys raised their level of play Friday night when hosting the Dallas Gateway Gators. With the Gateway program demoralized from a recent U.I.L. ruling of ineligibility declared with the two of it’s varsity boys players, “Gladiator Nation” seized the moment and went hunting for Gators.

The Italy 7th and 8th grade boys basketball teams thrilled fans inside the Italy Coliseum on Thursday. The 7th Grade team picked up their second win this season, both wins coming against Irving North Hills, while the 8th grade team lead for three quarters before losing by 2-points in their rematch with Irving North Hills.
^{Scores and stats from the Italy Jr High Girls’ games against Irving North Hills are also included at the end of this article.}

The Italy JV Gladiators win by a whisker over the Whitney JV Wildcats while the Varsity Gladiators handle the Wildcats easily as they near District competition.

The Italy Lady Gladiators competed for the Kiwanis Classic Consolation Championship against the Mildred Lady Eagles while the Gladiators competed for the Men’s Tournament Championship against the Kerens Bobcats this past Wednesday at the Navarro College campus. There was a blackout, rallies, comebacks and experienced gained as Italy strengthens their armor for District.

The Italy Lady Gladiators finished day 2 of the Kiwanis Classic Basketball Tournament with a 1-1 record, earning a spot in the Consolation Championship game against Mildred on Wednesday. The Gladiators defeated Frost on day 2 to post a 2-0 record in the tournament setting up a Kiwanis Tournament Championship rematch with Kerens.

Christmas did not come early for Italy’s 7th & 8th Grade boys basketball teams after experiencing tough sledding against the Hampton Prep Phoenix on Monday. Hampton Prep won both games but not without a fight from Italy’s scrappy Junior High Gladiators.
^{Scores and stats from the Italy Jr High Girls’ games against Hampton Prep are also included at the end of this article.}

Italy’s JV and Varsity teams win all four games against Rice on Tuesday. In fact, Italy dominated the visiting Bulldogs cruising to big wins in each game. The Gladiators and Lady Gladiators were all smiles as they geared up for the Venus Tournament.

The Italy Invitational Tournament wrapped up on Saturday, December 5 but not before Italy’s Varsity teams and the JV Gladiators put on a show for the home town fans. Combined, Italy won 5-out of-9 games and appeared in one Consolation Championship game and two Tournament Championship games.

The Lady Gladiators (Varsity), the JV Gladiators and the Italy Gladiators (Varsity), all won on Day 2 of the Italy Invitational Tournament. The Lady Gladiators won by a landslide over Milford, the JV Gladiators won by a nose against Mildred, and the Italy Gladiators brought a confident Venus team back to Earth.

Several teams from around the area participated in the Italy Invitational Tournament, held December 3-5, inside the Italy Coliseum. Italy had 3 teams participate including the Lady Gladiators (Varsity), the JV Gladiators and the Italy Gladiators (Varsity). This article summarizes Italy’s overall performance on day 1 of the tournament.

Italy’s Junior High basketball teams welcomed the Red Oak Life Eagles to Italy Coliseum this past Monday. Unfortunately, the ROL teams were not gracious guests as they won 3-out of-4 against our young Lady Gladiators and Gladiators.

To those interested in the Varsity Basketball tournament that is being held at Italy High School we will post updated brackets when information becomes available to us.

The Italy JV Gladiators proved they are the kings of the court by blowing out the Dallas Life Lions JV squad in the first game. The Italy Gladiators struck the final blow when Ryan Ashcraft made two clutch free throws, with 0:02 remaining, to slay the Dallas Life Lions in dramatic fashion.

The 2009 Italy Invitational Basketball Tournament begins Thursday, December 3 and wraps up on Saturday, December 5. Italy’s Varsity Lady Gladiators, along with the JV and Varsity Gladiators, will all three be competing in the tournament.

The Lady Gladiators defended the dome against the Milford Lady Bulldogs while the Italy JV and Varsity squads punished the Palmer Bulldogs ensuring Italy’s undefeated day.

Both the Italy JV and Varsity squads opened their seasons against the Southwest Christian Eagles at home in the Gladiator dome. The Italy JV played excellent while maintaining a huge lead over the Eagles throughout. The Gladiators Varsity had their hands full as Southwest Christian tried to claw their way to a victory.

The Italy Junior High Boys began their basketball practices this week in preparation for the upcoming 2009-2010 basketball season. Junior High Coaches Kyle Holley, Larry Mayberry and Josh Ward have already started transforming their young grid-iron warriors into graceful hard wood hoopsters.

The 9th annual Above The Rim Invitational Basketball Tournament was held Friday and Saturday night at the Old Gym in Italy. Italy Basketball Coach Larry Mayberry and Milford’s Basketball Coach Otis Carter organized this year’s event.

The IHS Boys basketball teams finish summer league play strong and hope to leave a mark in the tournament that starts Monday, June 29 and ends Tuesday June 30.

Italy’s JV and Varsity Boys basketball teams competed in their 2nd round of summer league games on Monday.

Italy Basketball Coaches Kyle Holley and Larry Mayberry along with Milford’s Head Basketball Coach Otis Carter, wrapped up a 4-day basketball camp held at the Italy Gladiator Coliseum.

GLADIATOR BASKETBALL CAMP
The camp will be for Boys currently in grades 3 through 8 inside the Gladiator Coliseum dome. Camp dates are June 8 thru June 11. Late registration will be accepted through the second day of camp!

Italy’s Varsity Boys competed in their first game of summer league play against the Ferris Yellowjackets on Monday at the Dallas Life campus. The contest was a good challenge for the Italy squad since Ferris is a larger 3A school.

Head Basketball Coach Kyle Holley and his Italy Gladiators Basketball Team were graciously honored by the Ellis County Commissioners Court on Monday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m., in recognition of their tremendous accomplishments during their 2009 Playoff run.

Five Italy Gladiator basketball players were selected to the 2009 15A All-District Team. Congratulations to these Gladiatiors for their efforts this season.

Abilene – The Roscoe Plowboys busted out of the chute and shot their way past our Italy Gladiators to earn a spot in the “Final Four” at Austin. It seemed Italy managed to hang on for about 7.9 seconds into the 1st quarter before getting bucked out of the Regional Championship game 68-34.

The Italy Gladiators dent the armor of the Knights and conquer Lindsay 74-64. The win makes Italy, Regional Semifinal Champions, and catapults them into the Championship game against the rock-solid, Roscoe Plowboys, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Abilene on the ACU campus.

Italy now advances to the Regional Championship game at 2:30 pm Saturday, March 7 in the Moody Coliseum of Abilene Christian University!

Italy beat Lindsay 74-64. Our Gladiators will now take on the Roscoe Plowboys in the Regional Championship game.

Coaches Kyle Holley, Larry Mayberry and Josh Ward helped the IHS Varsity squad load the bus on Friday afternoon as fellow classmates lined the parking lot for a victorious send off. The boys were excited as they set out on the road for Abilene.

We won! We Won! Third time is a charm as our Italy Gladiators deliver a mighty blow to the Itasca Wampus Cats and claim the Regional Quartefinal Championship. Italy’s next game will be in Abilene against Lindsay at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6 for the the Regional Semi-Final Championship.

Important information for Italy fans regarding event changes and Regional games:

“The Italy Gladiators Varsity team are Area Champions,” says Coach Kyle Holley. The next time to see our boys play will be Wednesday night at 7:00 pm at West High School. Italy will take on the Itasca Wampus Cats.

The Italy Gladiators buzzed past the 20-10 Menard Yellow Jackets (13A District Champs) by a score of 65-56 to claim the Area Championship making Italy’s record 22-10. Italy rematches arch nemesis, Itasca, for the Regional Quarterfinal crown on Wednesday, March 4th at 7:00 p.m. in West.

Italy plays the Menard Yellow Jackets on Friday, February 27th in Dublin, Texas at 7:30 p.m. – This article contains instructions to assist Gladiator Fans as everyone travels to Dublin, Texas for the Area Championship game. Also, there will be a send-off for the players at 3:00 p.m. in the High School parking lot.

West, Texas – The Italy Gladiators conquered Chilton and claimed the Bi-District Championship. Captain Kyle Holley and 1st Mate Larry Mayberry led their crew of Gladiators over a wave of fan support as Italy sunk the Pirates 87-73.

The Italy Gladiators had a warm-up game with Crossroads Friday night in preparation for their playoff game to be held on Monday night in West, Texas at 7:00 p.m. against Chilton.

Seniors Dontavius Clemons, Darrin Moore and Diamond Rodgers helped close the books on another successfull regular season of Italy Gladiators’ basketball. Head Coach Kyle Holley has his squad primed for the playoffs as they play Monday, February 23, for the Bi-District Chamionship in West, Texas.

The “Italian Globetrotters,” the Italy Gladiators JV boys squad, dazzled fans with a talented display of their basketball skills as they passed over top of Waxahachie Advantage 77-32 and ended the season with an exclamation point!

The Italy Coliseum – The Italy 7th and 8th grade boys’ basketball squads ended their 2009 seasons with big shots, two well earned wins and a lifetime of hoop memories.

The rematch of all rematches, unfortunately, didn’t live up to the hype…at least not for the Gladiators. Itasca, on the other hand, seemed to be having a blast singeing the nets against Italy, winning easily, 68- 51.

The Italy Gladiators JV put the finishing touches on an incredible basketball season. A two-for-one deal, the win over Itasca Friday allowed Italy’s JV to wrap up the 15-A Junior Varsity Championship with a 15-1 record. And secondly, Head Coach Larry Mayberry finally got to smile.

Head Boys Basketball Coach Kyle Holley would like to inform Italy fans of the upcoming basketball schedules for all the games this coming Monday and Tuesday.

Once again, Italy’s #2 Heath Clemons shouldered the load for the Gladiators, at point guard, against Dallas Faith Family. Jasenio Anderson rested his sprained ankle for another game. The rematch against Itasca is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night at the Italy Coliseum. Let’s “Pack The Dome” Gladiator fans!