Italy’s Lady Gladiators triumph in final seconds of 2nd round action

Barry Byers Posted December 31, 2008 1:55pm Lady Gladiator Basketball

Image: Becca “The Difference” DeMoss — With 5 seconds left in regulation, Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss puts in 2 free throws to secure a victory for the Lady Gladiators during 2nd round action. Italy defeated the Mildred Lady Eagles 45-43 in the 2008 Kiwanis Classic at Navarro College. — Becca “The Difference” DeMoss — With 5 seconds left in regulation, Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss puts in 2 free throws to secure a victory for the Lady Gladiators during 2nd round action. Italy defeated the Mildred Lady Eagles 45-43 in the 2008 Kiwanis Classic at Navarro College. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiators, 2nd Round – After losing in the 1st round of the 2008 Kiwanis Classic, the Italy Lady Gladiators are determined to win in the 2nd round against the Mildred Lady Eagles. However, Mildred controls the opening tip eventually drawing a shooting foul. Mildred’s #00 makes 1-of-2 free throws to give Mildred a quick 1-0 lead. At the 5:44 mark, Italy matches Mildred as #3 Kaitlyn Rossa is fouled shooting and hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the score 1-1. With 4:43 showing, Italy’s #22 Megan Richards bounce passes to #32 Shay Fleming underneath for the lead 3-1.

Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss is fouled on a drive as 3:24 remains in the 1st period. The bucket doesn’t fall but both free throws by DeMoss do giving Italy a 5-1 advantage. DeMoss finds Fleming down low for another bucket and the score is 7-1, Italy leading at the 2:55 point. DeMoss drives again drawing another shooting foul and makes 1-of-2 free throws for an 8-1 advantage with 1:36 left in the 1st period.

Mildred’s #10 gets fouled shooting and makes both free shots. The score is now 8-3 with 1:00 left. Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong is able to score 2 more points for the Lady Gladiators before the buzzer sounds and a pumped Italy squad leads after the 1st period 10-3.

At the 7:15 mark of the 2nd period, Mildred’s #25 gets the scoring started and pulls the Lady Eagles closer 10-5. Italy’s powerhouse #40 Jimesha Reed hits in the lane and the score 12-5, 7:00 left. Mildred’s #25 scores again to make it 12-7, with 6:30 left.
Later at the 3:34 point of the period, Mildred’s #24 hits 1-of-2 free throws to keep the Lady Eagles floating around 12-10. After Italy adds a free throw by Birdsong, Mildred nails a jumper making the score 13-10. Italy’s DeMoss gets aggressive attacking the rim and draws a shooting foul. DeMoss goes 1-of-2 and Italy leads 14-0.

At the 1:30 mark, Mildred nails another jump shot tightening the score 14-12. DeMoss responds and drives ferociously into the lane and gets fouled once again. DeMoss confidently sinks both free throws, Italy leads 16-12. With under a minute left before the break, Italy’s #23 puts in a jumper to give the Lady Gladiators some breathing room.

With 22.8 left, Italy’s Head Coach Stacy McDonald gets charged with a technical. Mildred makes 1-of-2 technical shots and the final seconds of the half tick-off.
The Lady Gladiators take an 18-13 lead into the locker room.

HALFTIME

To begin the 3rd period, Italy’s Richards hits a jumper to make the score 20-13 at the 7:40 mark. Mildred’s #25 answers with her own jumper to make it 20-15. Reed scores under the hoop for Italy and the score is 22-15, 7:02 still to go. Mildred’s #4 swishes a 3-pointer keeping the Lady Eagles close 22-18. Mildred’s #25 then makes back-to-back buckets to tie the game 22-22 at the 5:05 mark. Then Mildred’s #25 steals and hits again giving Mildred the lead back 24-22 with 4:54 left in the 3rd period.

DeMoss would answer with a bucket to tie the score again 24-24, 4:30 left. DeMoss then steals the ball and gets fouled trying to shoot. DeMoss hits 1-of-2 free shots and Italy retakes the lead 25-24, 4:12 left. Mildred’s #25 gets control of a loose ball and lays it in regaining the lead for theLady Eagles 26-25, 3:30 left. Mildred would outscore Italy 4-points to 2 to end the 3rd period with a 30-27 advantage.

Only 8 seconds pass by in the 4th period when DeMoss steals and draws a foul while making the layup. The free shot doesn’t drop in and Mildred still leads 30-29. At the 7:15 mark, DeMoss finds herself in a jam under the basket. Surrounded, DeMoss flips a no look shot over her head that banks in giving Italy the 31-30 lead.

DeMoss follows that play by receiving the inbound pass laying it in to give Italy a 33-30 lead, 6:54 left in the game. Italy and Mildred trade buckets and the score is 35-32 when DeMoss drives and scores another layup increasing Italy’s lead 37-32 at the 5:30 mark. Becoming unstoppable, DeMoss drills a 3-pointer at the 5:00 mark and gives Italy a solid lead 40-32. The Gladiators’ fans cheer as Mildred is forced to take a timeout.

With 4:34 remaining in the contest Mildred hits inside, the score is 40-34. DeMoss gets fouled on a jump shot and hits 1-of-2 from the line to make the score 41-34, 3:37 shows on the clock. Mildred’s #12 hits a much needed 3-pointer for the Lady Eagles, pulling them within 4-points, to make the score 41-37, 3:00 left. Mildred’s #25 hits with 2:15 left and the score is 41-39. Getting fouled during a drive to the hoop, DeMoss hits 2 free shots to build the Lady Gladiator lead 43-39, 2:06 remains. With 1:14 left in regulation, Mildred’s #25 scores again keeping the Lady Eagles close 43-41.

Only :30 remain on the clock when Mildred’s #15 swishes a jump shot from the left elbow to tie the score 43-43. Italy squanders it’s first chance to retake the lead after an Italy shot rims out on the fast break. Mildred calls another timeout with :20 left in the final period. Mildred turns the ball over after the timeout and DeMoss gets fouled with 5 seconds left.

DeMoss goes to the line and confidently sinks both free throws to give Italy a 45-43 lead. Mildred takes another timeout but the ensuing inbound pass travels out-of-bounds. The miscue allows the Lady Gladiators, led by Senior point guard #5 Becca DeMoss, to advance into the Consolation Championship game.

The Lady Gladiators play Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. for the prize.

Italy Star Performers:
Player of the Game: #5 Becca DeMoss
Impact Player: #40 Jimesha Reed
Most Hustle: #3 Kaitlyn Rossa

DeMoss Goes Airborne — On a fast break, Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss has the ball slapped away at the last moment by a Mildred defender. (Barry Byers)

Birdsong To Rossa — Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong passes across the lane to #3 Kaitlyn Rossa as the Lady Gladiators execute the fast break. (Barry Byers)

DeMoss Penetrates — Senior point guard #5 Becca DeMoss puts it on the floor trying to get to the rim. (Barry Byers)

DeMoss Defends — Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss transitions to defense after Mildred forces a turnover. (Barry Byers)

DeMoss Shoots — Daredevil and a coach’s dream, #5 Becca DeMoss shoots a runner from the baseline. (Barry Byers)

Free Throws — Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss prepares to release a free throw. (Barry Byers)

In Flight — Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong finishes the fast break. (Barry Byers)

Reed Towers — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed puts up a shot in the 2nd round against the Mildred Lady Eagles. (Barry Byers)

Reed Makes A Move — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed is determined to score 2-points for her squad. (Barry Byers)

Birdsong Attacks — Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong is fouled driving to the hoop. (Barry Byers)

Breaking Out — A Mildred Lady Eagle comes out with a rebound against the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Here Come The Lady Gladiators — DeMoss pushes the ball up the court and into the Consolation Championship game. (Barry Byers)

Coach McDonald Instructs — Italy Head Coach Stacy McDonald instructs her front liners. (Barry Byers)

Technical Shot — Coach McDonald was charged with a technical foul before the break. However, it proved to be a small technicality as the Lady Gladiators won by 2-points, 45-43 over Mildred. (Barry Byers)

Superstar — Is it a bird? Is It a plane? It’s Superstar Becca DeMoss shooting practice shots during halftime. DeMoss would prove to be the hero in this one by making 2 winning free throws at the end of regulation. (Barry Byers)

So Innocent — Don’t let that baby face fool you, Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed is an immovable object in the paint and feared by the competition. (Barry Byers)

Power Dribble — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed takes a power dribble toward the basket while being henpecked by a Lady Eagle. (Barry Byers)

DeMoss Pressures — Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss tries to slow down the Mildred fast break. (Barry Byers)

Oh, The Hummanity! — Reed carves out a name for herself in the paint. (Barry Byers)

Denying The Ball — Italy tries to deny Mildred on the inbound pass in an effort to make the Lady Eagles crack under the pressure. (Barry Byers)

Rossa Goes For The Rebound — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa battled on the boards all game. (Barry Byers)

In Over Her Head — Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss shoots a, no look, backward shot that goes in for a critical 2-points that gave Italy a 31-30 lead midway through the 4th period. (Barry Byers)

Fight To The Finish — Becca DeMoss scrambles after the loose ball hitting the deck hard but manages to stay in the game. DeMoss would later nail 2 winning free throws in the final seconds. (Barry Byers)