What a game! The Lady Gladiators JV went toe-to-toe, back-and-forth and tit-for-tat with the Lady Wampus Cats JV Friday night. Every trip down the floor was cause for applause as both squads kept exchanging shots. Neither Italy or Itasca could grab the momentum for long and the first half ended up tied 20-20.

To start the second half, Itasca scored down low first to take a 22-20 lead. Italy tied it again after Italy’s #21 Shelbi Gilley scored on the right block. However, the scoreboard showed three more lead changes and three more ties during the remainder of the 3rd, and the period ended in a 26-26 tie.

In the 4th, with 7:23 on the clock, Italy’s #23 Sa’Kendra Walker banks a shot in off the inbound pass to put the Lady Gladiators JV up 28-26. Itasca answered at the 6:56 mark when Itasca’s #12 hits a jumper from the top of the lane tieing the score 28-28. Then Itasca’s #12 scored once more to put the Wampus Cats up 30-28 at the 6:18 mark.

With 5:29 on the clock, Italy’s #22 Kaytlyn Bales hit’s 1-of-1 free shots making the score 30-29. Gilley scores 9-seconds later with a driving layup to give Italy the lead again 31-29. Itasca’s #24 receives a pass inside and gets fouled on the miss. #24 hits both free throws retaking the lead for Itasca 32-31, 4:50 remaining.

At the 4:15 mark, Italy’s #34 passes to Bales who scores in the paint and Italy takes back the advantage 33-32. Itasca’s #22 makes 1-of-1 free shots at the 3:20 mark to tie the contest 33-33. Itasca’s #24 worked hard crashing the boards fighting for her own rebounds eventually drawing a shooting foul and hits 1-of-1 free shots giving the Wampus Cats a 34-33 edge.

After a timeout at the 1:41 mark in the 4th, Italy fans bagan chanting “Italy! Italy! Italy!” in an effort to spark the Lady Gladiators’ defense. Italy’s Gilley answers the call and steals the ball. Unfortunately, Italy can’t convert the opportunity into points and the score remains 34-33 with :59 left. Itasca’s #11 gets fouled at the :30 mark but misses both free shots leaving a chance for Italy to win with a 2-point bucket.

And with 8-seconds left, Italy had their chance as Italy’s #34 passes across the court to Italy’s #10 Melissa Smithey who releases a jumper trying to beat the buzzer. The ball rattles in but the shot had been released a split-second after the buzzer sounded. Therefore, Itasca hangs on to win a thriller in the dome 34-33. What A Game!

Italy’s Top Performers:
Player of the Game – #21 Shelbi Gilley
Impact Player – #34
Big Shot – #10 Melissa Smithey
Chairperson of the Boards – #22 Kaytlyn Bales