Varsity Girls look for answers against Gateway

Barry Byers Posted January 20, 2009 10:30pm Lady Gladiator Basketball

Image: Styling And Profiling — The Italy Lady Gladiators seemed to have a certain glow about them before the game against Dallas Gateway. — Styling And Profiling — The Italy Lady Gladiators seemed to have a certain glow about them before the game against Dallas Gateway. (Anne Sutherland)

The Lady Gladiators got off to a good start against the Dallas Gateway Gators Friday. Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa got things rolling by making 1-of-2 free throws at the 7:06 mark. The Gateway Lady Gators fired back and the score is 2-1. Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed blocked a Gateway shot, gathered the rebound which led to an Italy basket when #32 Shay Fleming finished the fast break. Italy is leading 3-2 when Reed finds Fleming inside for a lay-in increasing the Lady Gladiator lead 5-2.

A force In the middle, Reed rebounds and outlets to Fleming who passes ahead to Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss. DeMoss gets fouled on the drive but hits both free throws to make the score 7-2. The Gators make it 7-4 with time running out in the 1st.

Then DeMoss controls the ball, gives it to Rossa who passes to Reed for a quick score making it 9-4. Gateway isn’t flustered as they put in the next 4-points to make the score at the end of the 1st period 9-8, with Italy leading by 1-point.

Gateway finally retakes the lead at the 7:21 mark. Italy’s #4 Marisela Perez answers on the fast break. Perez gets fouled shooting but connects on both free throws and the score is 11-10 with Italy leading, 6:20 mark in 2nd period.

After that, the Gateway Lady Gators scored 13-straight unanswered points and took a 23-11 lead into the halftime break.

Halftime

At the 7:25 mark of the 3rd period, DeMoss delivers a pass into Shay Fleming to pull Italy closer 23-13. The Lady Gators score again but so does Rossa after DeMoss gets her the ball to beat the press. The score is 25-15 but Gateway puts up the next 3-points to make the game 28-15. Italy puts in the next 4-points just to spite the Lady Gators. The score becomes 28-19 when Gateway’s #2 hits a 3-pointer to increase their lead 32-19.

Italy’s Perez responds by dishing to DeMoss on the Fast Break to make the score 32-21. Italy keeps plugging away but can’t quite the Gateway lead back under 10-points. The score at the end of the 3rd shows Gateway well in front 39-26.

Gateway expands the lead 50-28 by the 3:31 mark of the 4th period. Italy played zone defense the rest of the way and just traded buckets with Gateway. The final score was 60-40 in favor of the Dallas Gateway Gators.

Now 1-2 in district play, the Lady Gladiators will try to reach the 500 mark against Grand Praire Tuesday inside the Italy Coliseum. Game starts at 6:00 p.m. and the Varsity Boys will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Reed Tips-Off — Italy’s Jimesha Reed tries to control the tip for the Lady Gladiators. (Anne Sutherland)

Richards Looks For Reed — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed tries to post up against Gateway. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa From the Line — Italy’s #32 Shay Fleming and #40 Jimesha Reed go for the rebound as #3 Kaitlyn Rossa releases the shot. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss Pushes — Italy’s #5 pushes the ball toward the basket. (Anne Sutherland)

Reed Shoots — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed puts up a shot as #3 Kaitlyn Rossa positions herself for a rebound. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss Jump Stops — DeMoss Jump Stops and pops against Dallas Gateway. (Anne Sutherland)

Shay Scores — Italy’s #32 Shay Fleming scores a layup for the Lady Gladiators. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa Inbounds — DeMoss and Fleming trie to get free for Rossa who is inbounding the ball. (Anne Sutherland)

Shay Keeps Away — Italy’s #32 Shay Fleming protects the ball while trying to pass. (Anne Sutherland)

Becca Blocks Out — She shoots, she rebounds, she steals, she dribbles and she blocks out. Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss is the total package. (Anne Sutherland)

Reed Traps A Gatorette — Reed puts this helpless Gateway Gator in her death roll. (Anne Sutherland)

Megan Defends — Italy’s Megan Richards attempts to slow down a runaway Gator. (Anne Sutherland)

Italy Rebounds — The Gateway Gators try to beat the Gladiator zone defense. (Anne Sutherland)

Blocking Out — Richards and Perez try for the rebound. (Anne Sutherland)

Becca’s In The Zone — Italy plays keep away with Gateway. (Anne Sutherland)

Richards Rares Back — Italy’s #22 Megan Richards is about to launch a missile. (Anne Sutherland)

Becca And Rossa — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa and #5 Becca DeMoss get in position to rebound the miss. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss Distracts — Italy tries to distract a Gateway shooter flying in for a layup. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss Gets Entangled — DeMoss tries to rip the ball from the clutches of two Gators. (Anne Sutherland)

Megan Tips A Pass — Italy’s #22 Megan Richards tries to make a play for the Lady Gladiator defense. (Anne Sutherland)

Forcing A shot — The Gladiators zone forces a bad shot by the Gators. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss Steals — Up, up and away is Italy’s Becca DeMoss as she goes for a steal. Is that a “5” or an “S” I wonder? (Anne Sutherland)

Not A Pleasant Trip — The Lady Gladiators are on the verge of a fall against Gateway but hopefully they can rebound Tuesday against Grand Prarie at home. (Anne Sutherland)