Varsity Girls take momentum into Playoffs

Image: Congrats from Coach — Coach Sollers congratulates the Seniors and wishes them the best of luck as they move forward. Becca DeMoss, Shanta Thomas and Blanca Figueroa represent Italy High School with class.

Congrats from Coach — Coach Sollers congratulates the Seniors and wishes them the best of luck as they move forward. Becca DeMoss, Shanta Thomas and Blanca Figueroa represent Italy High School with class. (Barry Byers)

Image: Blanca and Blanca — Senior Blanca Figueroa is joined by her mom, Mrs. Blanca Figueroa.

Blanca and Blanca — Senior Blanca Figueroa is joined by her mom, Mrs. Blanca Figueroa. (Barry Byers)

Image: Blanca’s parents — Senior Blanca Figueroa is escorted by her parents on Senior Night making Blanca’s final home game a memorable one.

Blanca’s parents — Senior Blanca Figueroa is escorted by her parents on Senior Night making Blanca’s final home game a memorable one. (Barry Byers)

Image: What a pair — Shy Senior, Becca DeMoss, is escorted by her unshy mom, Anne Sutherland, on Senior Night. It was all fun and games until the tears started flowing.

What a pair — Shy Senior, Becca DeMoss, is escorted by her unshy mom, Anne Sutherland, on Senior Night. It was all fun and games until the tears started flowing. (Barry Byers)

Image: Blanca and Becca — Blanca and Becca get escorted by their parents before their last home game. These two will be greatly missed.

Blanca and Becca — Blanca and Becca get escorted by their parents before their last home game. These two will be greatly missed. (Barry Byers)

Image: Shay escorts Shanta — Shay Fleming escorts Senior and team statistician, Shanta Thomas, on Senior Night. Everyone was all smiles for about two more minutes, then came the waterworks.

Shay escorts Shanta — Shay Fleming escorts Senior and team statistician, Shanta Thomas, on Senior Night. Everyone was all smiles for about two more minutes, then came the waterworks. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anne and Becca — Italy Senior, Becca DeMoss, gets escorted by her mom, Anne Sutherland, during Senior Night.

Anne and Becca — Italy Senior, Becca DeMoss, gets escorted by her mom, Anne Sutherland, during Senior Night. (Barry Byers)

Image: Blanca in collage — For Senior Night, Blanca Figueroa receives a framed keepsake that will always remind her of the glory days.

Blanca in collage — For Senior Night, Blanca Figueroa receives a framed keepsake that will always remind her of the glory days. (Barry Byers)

Image: Told ya so — A tearful Becca DeMoss is hugged by teammates, Kyonne Birdsong and Jimesha Reed, as she heads for the locker room. The Lady Gladiators dried their tears and handed Dallas Faith Family a 45-43 loss.

Told ya so — A tearful Becca DeMoss is hugged by teammates, Kyonne Birdsong and Jimesha Reed, as she heads for the locker room. The Lady Gladiators dried their tears and handed Dallas Faith Family a 45-43 loss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Shay sings — Shay Fleming and her backup dancers, The Staffsations, perform the National Anthem on Senior Night.

Shay sings — Shay Fleming and her backup dancers, The Staffsations, perform the National Anthem on Senior Night. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Blanca’s introduced — Taking her final introduction at home in the dome is Senior Lady Gladiator, Blanca Figueroa.

Blanca’s introduced — Taking her final introduction at home in the dome is Senior Lady Gladiator, Blanca Figueroa. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Sizzling the strings — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa was on fire dropping in one of her 9-points on the night.

Sizzling the strings — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa was on fire dropping in one of her 9-points on the night. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Honeys of the Hardwood — The Undefeated 8th Grade Girls squad gets recognized for their accomplishments this season.

Honeys of the Hardwood — The Undefeated 8th Grade Girls squad gets recognized for their accomplishments this season. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Honorees embrace — Morgan Cockerham, Monserrat Figueroa, Katie Byers, Ryisha Copeland and Jessica Wilkins are savoring the moment as the 7th and 8th grade girls receive their personalized carnations.

Honorees embrace — Morgan Cockerham, Monserrat Figueroa, Katie Byers, Ryisha Copeland and Jessica Wilkins are savoring the moment as the 7th and 8th grade girls receive their personalized carnations. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: 7th Grade Girls — Italy’s 7th Grade Girls were also recognized at halftime for their efforts this season. Congratulations to the he “Ladies of Layup” for posting a winning record of 6-5.

7th Grade Girls — Italy’s 7th Grade Girls were also recognized at halftime for their efforts this season. Congratulations to the he “Ladies of Layup” for posting a winning record of 6-5. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Seniors get it done — Seniors Blanca and DeMoss lead the Lady Gladiators into the playoffs for the first time since 2006, laying the foundation for Head Coach Stacy McDonald.

Seniors get it done — Seniors Blanca and DeMoss lead the Lady Gladiators into the playoffs for the first time since 2006, laying the foundation for Head Coach Stacy McDonald. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Rossa — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa gives 110%, 100% of the time. Only a Freshman, Rossa has not only been a leading example for her teammates, but is setting the bar high for future Lady Gladiators.

Rossa — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa gives 110%, 100% of the time. Only a Freshman, Rossa has not only been a leading example for her teammates, but is setting the bar high for future Lady Gladiators. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Steamrolling — Megan Richards #22 gets the hot shooting hand just in time scoring 16-points in the last two games helping the Lady Gladiators steamroll into the playoffs.

Steamrolling — Megan Richards #22 gets the hot shooting hand just in time scoring 16-points in the last two games helping the Lady Gladiators steamroll into the playoffs. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Leaping into glory — Italy Senior Becca DeMoss #5 helps to catapult her Lady Gladiators squad into the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Leaping into glory — Italy Senior Becca DeMoss #5 helps to catapult her Lady Gladiators squad into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Close contact — DeMoss joins with a Dallas Faith player in a scrammble for the ball. The two teams were too close for comfort all night long, but Italy held on to win by 2-points, 45-43.

Close contact — DeMoss joins with a Dallas Faith player in a scrammble for the ball. The two teams were too close for comfort all night long, but Italy held on to win by 2-points, 45-43. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: DeMoss draws attention — Senior Becca DeMoss #5 draws a crowd wherever she goes on and off the court. DeMoss is a special young lady with a bright future.

DeMoss draws attention — Senior Becca DeMoss #5 draws a crowd wherever she goes on and off the court. DeMoss is a special young lady with a bright future. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Blanca has no fear — Coach McDonald gave Senior Blanca Figueroa #21 the green light to let it fly against Dallas Faith Family.

Blanca has no fear — Coach McDonald gave Senior Blanca Figueroa #21 the green light to let it fly against Dallas Faith Family. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Senior’s last huddle — Senior players #21 Blanca Figueroa and #5 Becca DeMoss remain alert in their final huddle inside the Italy Coliseum.

Senior’s last huddle — Senior players #21 Blanca Figueroa and #5 Becca DeMoss remain alert in their final huddle inside the Italy Coliseum. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Coaches and players — Head Coach Stacy McDonald and Assistant Coach Tina Richards shake hands with the opposing team…while barely being able to contain their excitement. Coach McDonald’s “Girls” played great gaining momentum for their playoff game Tuesday at 7:30 in West, Texas at the high school.

Coaches and players — Head Coach Stacy McDonald and Assistant Coach Tina Richards shake hands with the opposing team…while barely being able to contain their excitement. Coach McDonald’s “Girls” played great gaining momentum for their playoff game Tuesday at 7:30 in West, Texas at the high school. (Anne Sutherland)

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