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 7th & 8th grade, Junior High Lady Gladiators, showed grit and determination but just couldn’t overcome two hustling Dallas Life squads.
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.
Italy’s JV and Varsity Gladiators vs Dallas Life tonight at the dome!
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.
The 1A Italy Lady Gladiators had a tough matchup against the 2A Malakoff Lady Tigers, but if there was ever a loss to learn from, this one was it. Blown out by Malakoff last season, the new improved Lady Gladiators gave the Lady Tigers all they wanted on Monday.
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.
Italy’s 2009 Lady Gladiator “Bionic” Basketball Team tested out their improved skills in Mildred Tuesday. With a year under their jump shots and fundamentally and mechanically rebuilt by Head Coach Stacy McDonald, these female cyborgs from Italy are aggressive, energetic and determined.
Italy’s Junior High Girls basketball teams hosted Irving North Hills inside the dome for two games on Monday. The ladies in gold were not very gracious hosts as Italy’s 7th grade girls flattened North Hills 31-5 while Italy’s 8th grade girls held on for a 21-15 victory.
Coach Stacy McDonald has her team ready for competition. With all the training under their belt, the season has begun. Get ready for the Lady Gladiators! Here they come.
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 IJH girls basketball teams traveled to Palmer Monday night to play their first basketball game of the season. The 7th graders, defeated by a mere 1 point, gave a valiant battle and proved their moxie to everyone in the gym. The 8th grade team had smooth sailing against the bulldogs with an impressive 30-13 win.
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.
Four days of basketball camp to make an impression. Four days for an opportunity to be a new player. Just four days. Four chances for glory.
Waxahachie Lady Indians, Head Basketball Coach Leslie Priebe, was invited by Lady Gladiators Head Coach, Stacy McDonald, to work with the team on running offensive sets during a one-day camp on Thursday.
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.
Lady Gladiator Head Coach Stacy McDonald is the architect of a championship game plan for the girls basketball program. And included in her blue prints for success is the Lady Gladiators Basketball Camp this week.
The Lady Gladiators take advantage of summer league basketball to stay sharp for another playoff run in 2010. And who better to compete against than Italy’s old rival, the 2A Maypearl Lady Panthers. Warning: The following pictures are not for the faint of heart…
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.
Italy Lady Gladiator Head Basketball Coach Stacy McDonald will be coordinating a girl’s basketball camp at the Italy High School Domenasium. The camp will be Monday thru Thursday, June 15-18, between 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
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.
The Ellis County Commissioners Court will recognize the Italy Gladiators Boy’s Basketball team at its meeting on Monday, April 27, at 6 p.m.
CiCi’s pizza boxes lined the front foyer of Italy’s old gym Saturday afternoon. Italy Youth Athletic Association hosted the end-of-the-year basketball bash for all the participants in this year’s season. With pizza, drinks, cookies and, of course, basketball time, the season just wouldn’t be over without the announcements, trophies and honors.
The IYAA is having its end of the year “Basketball Bash” March 28th at 4:00 p.m. at the “Old Italy Gym.” And just like shooting a free throw, we hope you can make it!
The IYAA finished it’s 2009 basketball season Tuesday night at the Old Italy Gym. 6th and 5th grade girls and boys competed one last time before the 6th graders move on to Junior High. We wish them all the best of luck next year and trust they’ll carry fond memories of their careers in the IYAA.
Five Italy Gladiator basketball players were selected to the 2009 15A All-District Team. Congratulations to these Gladiatiors for their efforts this season.
The IYAA begins wrapping up another successful season and is proud of all our student athletes, their parents and grandparents for helping to make this year one of the best!
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:
You never know when that one pass, that one drive to the basket or that one shot will make that one special memory for a child. The kind of memory they’ll remember for a lifetime. The IYAA provides local youths the opportunity to create those special moments and make friends they’ll never forget.
“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.
IYAA – It’s that time of the season when all the hard work and practice starts falling into place. Week 7 was about making that first layup in your whole life, finally getting the ball over the front of the rim to make your first free throw ever and that moment you realize you could be pretty good at this game.
Finishing in 3rd place within District 15A, the Lady Gladiators appeared in the playoffs for the 1st time since 2006 becoming Bi-District Finalist for 2009. Although young, the Lady Gladiators basketball team was loaded with talent. Enough talent in fact, that each player was selected to the All-District list. Congratulations to these “Beauties of Brawn” for their accomplishments this season.
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.
