The Coliseum, 2nd Round – The Italy Varsity girls took on the Mildred Lady Eagles in the 2nd round of Tournament play. Becca MeMoss was fouled early in the 1st period, and responded by making both free throws to give Italy an early lead. Their tough defense held Mildred in check but DeMoss and Jimesha Reed had to sit on the bench in the first quarter due to foul trouble. Mildred was fouled shooting and hit 1 out of 2 free throws to make the score 2-1 at the 5:10 mark of the first period. With Mildred now in the bonus, the eagles were fouled shooting and hit both free throws and took the lead 3-2 with 2:10 left. Megan Richards would drive the base line and get fouled, but makes 1 out of 2 free throws before the end of the period. The score is tied 3-3 going into the second.

At the 6:27 mark of the 2nd period, Rossa blocks a Mildred shot attempt but Rossa picked up a foul going for the loose ball. Mildred hits 1 out of 2 free throws to take the lead 4-3. Mildred scores the next 4-points to make it 8-3. At the 4:35 mark, DeMoss penetrates the lane and gives an assist to Italy’s Shay Fleming to make the score 8-5. Mildred scores the last 4 points of the 2nd period and the half time score is 12-5 with Italy trailing.

Early in the 3rd period, Italy’s Reed rebounds a miss and put it back in making the score 12-7. Mildred gets fouled while shooting and hits both fee throws and stays in front 14-7. Fleming gets a defensive rebound, and DeMoss hits a 3 pointer off of a Richards pass to make the score 14-10. Mildred scores the next 6 points to take a 20-10 lead with 3:37 left. DeMoss responds by grabbing a rebound and gets fouled on the put back. She hits the free throw, and the score is now 20-13. Richards adds another bucket to make the score 22-15. However, Mildred would hit another basket before the end of the 3rd period to make the score 24-17.

Mildred scored the first 3 points of the 4th period. At the 5:30 mark, Kyonne Birdsong was fouled on the drive to the basket but hit 1 out of 2 free throws making the score 27-18. Then Fleming feeds Reed who scores 2-points from the right block. DeMoss then passes to Fleming for a jumper from the right wing, and the score is now 27-22.

Mildred manages to break the Italy press and score, but DeMoss would feed Reed for an Italy basket, making the score 29-24 with 3:31 left in the game. Trying to hold Italy off, Mildred hit a jumper from the baseline making the score 31-26 with 2:35 left. Italy’s Reed scores down low and draws a foul but misses the free throw attempt. The score is now 31-28 Mildred’s advantage with 2:12 left.

Italy’s defense turns up the pressure and DeMoss comes up with a loose ball but is fouled on her missing her layup attempt. DeMoss hits 1 out of 2 free throws to make the score 31-29. The Italy fans were ‘rocking the dome’ as DeMoss steals again and scores to tie the game with 18 seconds left. Once again, the Italy defense forced a Mildred turnover and Richards eventually gets her hands on the ball. Richards then hits a medium-range jumper from the left wing with 3-seconds left. The pressure-filled shot gives Italy a 33-31 advantage as Richards’s smile lights up the dome. Richards then pressured the inbound pass and the ball sailed out of bounds. Italy took control of the ball and Fleming inbounds to DeMoss, who scores at the buzzer to complete italy’s exciting comeback win 35-31.

The 2nd round victory set up the Lady Gladiators to challenge the Waxahachie JV Lady Indians in the Tournament Championship game.

When asked how she felt hitting the game winner for Italy, Freshman Megan Richards said, “It felt great to come through for my team. I have really been struggling with my shot and I’m glad I hit one when it mattered the most. I am proud of my teammates for coming together in the 2nd half and getting the job done!”

Italy scoring:
5-Becca Demoss, 15-points
40-Jimesha Reed, 8-points
22-Megan Richards, 5-points (including game winner)
32-Shay Fleming, 4-points
10-Kyonne Birdsong, 3-points

Mildred high scorer:
Player #12, 14-points