IHS Varsity girls scared the Lady Cats of Itasca

Barry Byers Posted February 2, 2009 3:30pm Lady Gladiator Basketball

Image: The Lady Gladiators rematch Itasca — The Lady Gladiators worked very hard to survive against the Lady Cats. However, in the end Italy went home without a win 45-35. — The Lady Gladiators rematch Itasca — The Lady Gladiators worked very hard to survive against the Lady Cats. However, in the end Italy went home without a win 45-35. (Anne Sutherland)

Itasca – The fur was flying as the Italy Lady Gladiators had a rematch against the Itasca Lady Wampus Cats Thursday night. After struggling for most of the game, Italy went on a scoring frenzy in the 4th scaring the kitty litter out of Itasca.

The ferocious felines from Itasca relied on their defensive prowess to hold Italy down for most of the game. Italy’s “Beauties of Braun” were unable to match their raw power against the reflexes and speed of the Lady Cats.

Itasca kept a sharp eye on Lady Gladiator and Senior point guard #5 Becca DeMoss forcing Italy Head Coach Stacy McDonald to sit DeMoss for two periods.
Italy Junior #32 Shay Fleming had to shoulder the Lady Gladiator effort at that point along with Freshman #3 Kaitlyn Rossa and Freshman #40 Jimesha Reed.

Italy’s defense didn’t exactly take a cat knap either with #22 Megan Richards and #10 Kyonne Birdsong applying the pressure. Itasca only managed to build a small lead by the end of the 3rd period, 25-13.

In the 4th, Coach McDonald decided Italy’s only chance would be to insert DeMoss back into the lineup. The gamble paid off and the fresh legs of DeMoss had the Lady Cats chasing their tails. The relentless DeMoss dropped in three 3-pointers helping her squad outscore Itasca 22-10 in the final period.

DeMoss’s last 3-pointer swished in time to beat the final buzzer but Italy was unable to beat the Lady cats as Itasca held on to win the rematch 45-35.

Lady Cat — Italy’s Big Dawg #40 Jimesha Reed scares the “you know what” out of a Lady Cat as she tries to save the ball from going out of bounds. (Anne Sutherland)

Shay Fleming — Fleming comes down the court to score two more points for the Lady Gladiators. (Anne Sutherland)

Kaitlyn goes up — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa challenges for the rebound against Itasca. (Anne Sutherland)

Reed scores another — Jimesha Reed was fouled but managed to put another point on the board. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa in to Reed — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa tries to feed Reed in the low post. The Lady Gladiators got scratched up in this one as Itasca won 45-35. (Anne Sutherland)

Richards works the ball — Megan tries to pass between the ears of a Lady Wampus Cat. (Anne Sutherland)

Going for it — Italy’s defense goes for a much needed rebound against Itasca. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss Unleashed — Sidelined early by Itasca’s defense, Italy Head Coach Stacy McDonald unleashed #5 Becca DeMoss in the 4th quarter. DeMoss responded by making three 3-pointers in the period and helped the Lady Gladiators score 22-points in the 4th. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa can jump — Rossa releases a jumper over the outstretched paw of a Lady Wampus Cat as Italy’s #22 Megan Richards and #5 Becca DeMoss get in rebounding position. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa Reacts — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa tries to make a play on the ball. (Anne Sutherland)