Lady Gladiators experience the playoffs

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)

Image: Italy vs Valley Mills — Are you ready for some Playoffs! Both squads lineup for the National Anthem.

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

Image: DeMoss is fouled — Italy’s Becca DeMoss gets fouled as she drives to the basket against Valley Mills.

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

Image: Megan to pass — Italy’s #22 Megan Richards tries to find somebody…anybody…to pass the ball to.

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

Image: 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.

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)

Image: Perez pushes — Marisela Perez pushes the ball up the floor for the Lady Gladiators.

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

Image: Megan has options — Megan has a couple of options to pass the ball to early in the contest.

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

Image: DeMoss drops the bomb — Italy Senior Captain Becca DeMoss drops the three ball against Valley Mills.

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

Image: Cheerleaders clap hands — Italy Cheerleaders get the Italy fans going creating a little Gladiator spirit.

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

Image: Fan power — Italy fans try to keep the players motivated during the Lady Gladiators Playoff game against Valley Mills.

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

Image: Reed explodes — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed explodes up to the hoop against Valley Mills.

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

Image: Blanca reacts — Italy Senior Blanca Figueroa races over to stop a Valley Mills player from scoring another bucket.

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

Image: Rossa rejects — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa #3 tries to reject a shot from a Valley Mills player.

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

Image: Rossa rebounds — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa #3 skies for the ball against the Lady Eagles.

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

Image: 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.

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)

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

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)

Image: 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.

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)

Image: 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.

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)

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

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)

Image: Shay can play — Junior Shay Fleming #32 will bring this playoff experience to the squad next season.

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

Image: Megan inbounds — Italy’s Megan Richards had a Valley Mills defender in her face all night.

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

Image: Birdsong wings it — Italy’s #10 Kyonne Birdsong let’s a shot fly against the Valley Mills Lady Eagles.

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

Image: Reed inside — Italy’s #40 Jimesha Reed puts up a shot for the Lady Gladiator cause.

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

Image: 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.

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)

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