The Italy Lady Gladiators JV and Varsity squads tipped-off their 2008-2009 basketball seasons Thursday night at the Italy Gladiators Coliseum. The Varsity girls were outfitted in brand new uniforms as they competed against the Dawson Lady Bulldogs in a very physical ball game. The JV girls found themselves in a physical contest as well but both teams proudly defended the dome.

Melissa Smithy went 1 of 2 from the charity stripe. Shelbi Gilley scored a bucket along with Kaytlyn Bales to give the Italy JV Lady Gladiators a 5 to 2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Bates scored Dawson’s only basket in the first. In the second quarter the JV Lady Gladiators began to out dribble, out pass and out shoot the Lady Bulldogs as Alma Suaste hit a 2-pointer. Sa’Kendra Norwood added 2-points also. And Kaytlyn Bales shot for a total of 4-points in the second period to give the JV Lady Gladiators a 13 to 2 lead at the break.

In the third period, the intensity was high but the Lady Bulldogs went scoreless in the third while the JV Lady Gladiators went on a roll. Danyelle Baugher led the scoring effort with 4-points, Alma Suaste had another 2-point bucket and Khadijah Davis hit 1 of 2 from the charity stripe to give the Italy JV Lady Gladiators a 20 to 2 lead going into the fourth period.

Hodges would add 2-points for Dawson in the final period, but Melissa Smithey scored 2 points and Alma Suaste went 1 of 2 from the charity stripe as the Italy JV Lady Gladiators win their season opener against the Dawson Lady Bulldogs 23-4.

Highlights:
During the contest, Shelby Gilley was taking to the hospital for a collar bone injury. Coach Richards hopes Shelby can return to the lineup soon.

Scoring – Italy:
Kaytlyn Bales – 6
Alma Suaste – 5
Danyelle Baugher – 4
Melissa Smithey – 3
Shelbi Gilley – 2
Sa’Kendra Norwood – 2
Khadijah Davis – 1

Scoring – Dawson:
Bates – 2
Hodges – 2

Let’s get ready to rumble! The Coliseum was rocking as Coach Sollars introduced the 2008 Italy Lady Gladiators. Jimesha Reed controlled the tip but the Lady Bulldogs controlled the first period 8-3 as Megan Richards scored Italy’s only first period points.

The Lady Gladiators managed to stay close to the Lady Bulldogs with Shay Fleming scoring 6 points during the second period. Italy’s Kyonne Birdsong scored 4-points, Captain Becca DeMoss scored 2-points, and Kaitlyn Rossa went 1 of 1 from the charity stripe in the second as well. Unfortunately, the aggressive Lady Bulldogs dropped in 14-points during the same time span and led at the break 22-14.

In the third quarter, Becca DeMoss hit her stride as she collected 12-points for the Lady Gladiators. Jimesha Reed scored 2-points, Shay Fleming scored 2 and Kaitlyn Rossa made a 2-pointer and a free throw to help pull the Lady Gladiators closer to Dawson whose lead was now 39-35 heading into the fourth.

Kaitlyn Rossa would add another 2-points in the fourth as the Lady Bulldogs started to pull away. Shay Fleming had 4-points and Becca DeMoss added 4 more but it was not enough to overcome Dawson’s advantage as they win by ten 54-44.

Head Coach Stacy McDonald stated after the game, “I’m extremely pleased with the effort I got from the girls. In fact, the team really got after it. As long as we play like this we’ll pull it together. As the girls get more comfortable in my system and a bit more team chemistry develops our hopes will really be up.”

Highlights:
Marisela Perez would exit the contest with an eye injury.

Scoring – Italy:
Kaitlyn Rossa – 6
Becca DeMoss – 18
Kyonne Birdsong – 3
Megan Richards – 3
Shay Fleming – 12
Jimesha Reed – 2

Scoring – Dawson:
Carr – 10
Reeder – 2
Hill – 4
Ivie – 11
Waudell – 14
Simmons – 12

The Lady Gladiators JV will travel to Venus Nov 13 (Thurs) & 15 (Sat) for a tournament. On Friday, Nov. 14 the Lady Gladiator JV & Varsity will host Rice beginning at 5:00 pm.