Lady Gladiators experience the playoffs

Barry Byers Posted February 19, 2009 2:15pm Lady Gladiator Basketball

Image: The Italy student body gives the Lady Gladiators a Pep-Rally — The Lady Gladiators were given love and support by the Italy High School student body before their big game against the Valley Mills Lady Eagles to decide who would be the Bi-District Champions. — The Italy student body gives the Lady Gladiators a Pep-Rally — The Lady Gladiators were given love and support by the Italy High School student body before their big game against the Valley Mills Lady Eagles to decide who would be the Bi-District Champions. (Kelly Lewis)

Bi-District Championship Game in West, Texas – After a Tuesday afternoon Pep-Rally wishing the Italy Lady Gladiators luck, students and fans traveled to West, Texas to support the team as they competed for a Bi-District Championship against the Valley Mills Lady Eagles.

The moment marks the first appearance in the post season for the Lady Gladiators since 2006. There were plenty of Italy fans to cheer for the Varsity Girls as they jogged onto the floor to begin warming up.

Head Coach Stacy McDonald and Assistant Coach Tina Richards held Italy’s #5 Becca DeMoss from the starting lineup to help keep her a secret from the Valley Mills squad. After Vally Mills opened with a 3-pointer and Italy struggled to dribble through the halfcourt press of the Lady Eagles, DeMoss was no longer a secret.

Inserted into the game, DeMoss introduced herself to Valley Mills fans at the 6:46 mark of the 1st period when she drove the ball all the way down on a 1-against-2 fast break to make the score 3-2. Now, it was a matter of which side could finish at the top first.

After Italy’s Megan Richards #22 and Jimesha Reed #40 both dropped in shots, Valley Mills only led 9-6 at the 5:20 mark of the 1st. However, as the game proceeded, only one side of the scoreboard was still adding up. Valley Mills had deciphered the Lady Gladiators half court defense and systematically increased their lead building a 19-6 cushion between them and Italy.

Italy Senior Blanca Figueroa #21 and Freshman Kaitlyn Rossa #3 had a tough assignment, under the boards, covering all the open shooters from Valley Mills.

Richards finally gave Italy fans hope when she fed the ball inside to Reed who banked it in making the score 19-8 with :40 left in the 1st. Valley Mills added a free throw and the score heading into the 2nd period showed Valley Mills up 20-8.

In the 2nd period, Valley Mills was ahead 24-8 when Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong showed range to make the game 24-10 and keeping Lady Gladiator fans believing. A few trips later, Junior Shay Fleming #32 was fouled on the shot and made both free shots to make the game 26-12.

At the 2:00 mark, Italy’s #4 Marisela Perez sparked a fast break and passed to Reed stomping down the middle of the lane for another Italy basket to make the contest 29-14. After that point in the 2nd period…it was all Valley Mills. The Lady Eagles ran off the next 8-points and carried a mountainous lead into the halftime break 37-14.

Halftime

In the 3rd period, Reed scored inside to make the score 39-16. Disappointingly, by the 5:43 mark, Valley Mills was nearing the top of the Championship hill leading 44-16.

With 4:37 showing on the clock, Perez once again forced a turnover and shoved the ball ahead to DeMoss who swished the 3-pointer, making the score 44-19. With 2:11 remaining in the 3rd, thanks to a pair of Reed free throws, Italy outscored Valley Mills 7-5 making the score 53-26 going into the 4th period.

The final period would be the last 8 minutes of Seniors Becca DeMoss and Blanca Figueroa’s high school basketball careers. Figueroa finished off her career with a couple of aggressive screens wiping out two Lady Eagles. And DeMoss’s final points would be by virtue of the 3-point line as she delivered one final bomb as a player for the Italy Lady Gladiators.

Reed put in one last score for the Lady Gladiators but Valley Mills won the Bi-District Playoff game 63-32, making it to the top first, and bringing an end to an exciting, fun-filled season of Lady Gladiators Basketball.

Head Coach Stacy McDonald had this to say after the game, “I just wanted this win so much for my two Seniors…I wanted it for them.”

Brycelin Richards, a future Lady Gladiator said, “I’m proud of my sister (Megan Richards #22) for playing so hard and I’m looking forward to getting my chance.”

Ashlyn Rossa stated, “I’m very proud of Kaitlyn, she played her heart out.” When I asked Ashlyn, " Who’s better, big sis or little sis?" Ashlyn, with a big smile, went on to say, “No comment.”

Thank you ladies for allowing me to be a small part of your season and giving me something to write about. It was your efforts that made the articles.

Italy vs Valley Mills — Are you ready for some Playoffs! Both squads lineup for the National Anthem. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss is fouled — Italy’s Becca DeMoss gets fouled as she drives to the basket against Valley Mills. (Anne Sutherland)

Megan to pass — Italy’s #22 Megan Richards tries to find somebody…anybody…to pass the ball to. (Anne Sutherland)

Fans were on hand — Italy fans were fired up for this one as the Lady Gladiators enjoyed rousing cheers from their side of the gymnasium during the game. (Anne Sutherland)

Perez pushes — Marisela Perez pushes the ball up the floor for the Lady Gladiators. (Anne Sutherland)

Megan has options — Megan has a couple of options to pass the ball to early in the contest. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss drops the bomb — Italy Senior Captain Becca DeMoss drops the three ball against Valley Mills. (Anne Sutherland)

Cheerleaders clap hands — Italy Cheerleaders get the Italy fans going creating a little Gladiator spirit. (Anne Sutherland)

Fan power — Italy fans try to keep the players motivated during the Lady Gladiators Playoff game against Valley Mills. (Anne Sutherland)

Reed explodes — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed explodes up to the hoop against Valley Mills. (Anne Sutherland)

Blanca reacts — Italy Senior Blanca Figueroa races over to stop a Valley Mills player from scoring another bucket. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa rejects — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa #3 tries to reject a shot from a Valley Mills player. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa rebounds — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa #3 skies for the ball against the Lady Eagles. (Anne Sutherland)

DeMoss hassled — Italy’s fearless leader seemed as though she was starring in the Alfred Hitchcock production of The Birds as she was stalked and henpecked by the Lady Eagles all night. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa looks good — Kaitlyn Rossa gets a rare good look at the basket as she tries to score two points for her Lady Gladiators. (Anne Sutherland)

Reed from the line — It was all on the line for the Lady Gladiators as they needed to a win to keep their season rolling and their dreams for a state title alive. (Anne Sutherland)

Rossa blocks out — Italy’s #3 Kaitlyn Rossa tries to get into position to claim a rebound for the Lady Gladiators as #22 Megan Richards shoots over the top. (Anne Sutherland)

Megan launches — Italy’s #22 Megan Richards let’s it fly higher than an eagle in an attempt to score against Valley Mills. (Anne Sutherland)

Shay can play — Junior Shay Fleming #32 will bring this playoff experience to the squad next season. (Anne Sutherland)

Megan inbounds — Italy’s Megan Richards had a Valley Mills defender in her face all night. (Anne Sutherland)

Birdsong wings it — Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong let’s a shot fly against the Valley Mills Lady Eagles. (Anne Sutherland)

Reed inside — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed puts up a shot for the Lady Gladiator cause. (Anne Sutherland)

The final walk — Senior Becca DeMoss gets a hug from her sister Grace while Sa’Kendra Norwood tries to console Marisela Perez as the players exit the West High School Gym knowing that the 2009 season, as well as the quest for a State title, has ended. (Anne Sutherland)