Italy Junior High Girls get tested by Dallas Life Lions

Image: 7th grader Jaclynn Lewis keeps her team close against Dallas Life — Despite valliant efforts by both Italy Junior High Girls squads, the Dallas Life Junior High Lady Lions won both games with the 8th grade game being decided in the final seconds.

7th grader Jaclynn Lewis keeps her team close against Dallas Life — Despite valliant efforts by both Italy Junior High Girls squads, the Dallas Life Junior High Lady Lions won both games with the 8th grade game being decided in the final seconds. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jaclynn and Madison — Italy’s Madison Washington(32) and Jaclynn Lewis(41) get ready for the tip-off.

Jaclynn and Madison — Italy’s Madison Washington(32) and Jaclynn Lewis(41) get ready for the tip-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: Everybody lean in — Coach Matt Coker and the 7th grade girls fall in for a break before their game against Dallas Life.

Everybody lean in — Coach Matt Coker and the 7th grade girls fall in for a break before their game against Dallas Life. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here we go Italy! — Madison Washington(32) and Tara Wallis(2) advance the ball past midcourt.

Here we go Italy! — Madison Washington(32) and Tara Wallis(2) advance the ball past midcourt. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jaclynn inbounds — Jaclynn tries to inbound the ball.

Jaclynn inbounds — Jaclynn tries to inbound the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kelsey’s covered — Italy’s Kelsey Nelson tries to pass the ball to point guard Tara Wallis.

Kelsey’s covered — Italy’s Kelsey Nelson tries to pass the ball to point guard Tara Wallis. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lewis goes for it — Jaclynn Lewis(41) works the low block against the Lady Lions.

Lewis goes for it — Jaclynn Lewis(41) works the low block against the Lady Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tara wills it in — Tara Wallis(2) tries to will the ball into the hoop.

Tara wills it in — Tara Wallis(2) tries to will the ball into the hoop. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lewis again — Jaclynn Lewis led her team in scoring with 12-points.

Lewis again — Jaclynn Lewis led her team in scoring with 12-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Minton from outside — Alex Minton tries a long shot against the Lady Lions defense.

Minton from outside — Alex Minton tries a long shot against the Lady Lions defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tara scores — Tara Wallis(2) finishes off the fastbreak.

Tara scores — Tara Wallis(2) finishes off the fastbreak. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kortnei’s athletic — Kortnei Johnson shows her potential but, unfortunately, had to exit the game early due to an injury.

Kortnei’s athletic — Kortnei Johnson shows her potential but, unfortunately, had to exit the game early due to an injury. (Barry Byers)

Image: Johnson jumps — Kortnei Johnson jumps over a Lady Lion.

Johnson jumps — Kortnei Johnson jumps over a Lady Lion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tara drives baseline — Tara Wallis(2) is a terror to opposing defenses as she drives the baseline against Dallas Life.

Tara drives baseline — Tara Wallis(2) is a terror to opposing defenses as she drives the baseline against Dallas Life. (Barry Byers)

Image: Down and out — Italy’s Kortnei Johnson falls hard and had to leave the game early as concerned Coach, Stacy McDonald, and Italy ISD Nurse, Rita Garza, check on her.

Down and out — Italy’s Kortnei Johnson falls hard and had to leave the game early as concerned Coach, Stacy McDonald, and Italy ISD Nurse, Rita Garza, check on her. (Barry Byers)

Image: Defense! — 8th graders Taylor Turner(31) and Ryisha Copeland(14) try to slow down a fast charging Lady Lion.

Defense! — 8th graders Taylor Turner(31) and Ryisha Copeland(14) try to slow down a fast charging Lady Lion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kendra covers — Kendra Copeland(13) tries to convince a Dallas Life player to pass the ball.

Kendra covers — Kendra Copeland(13) tries to convince a Dallas Life player to pass the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Copeland shoots — Kendra Copeland(13) shoots over the head of a Lady Lion.

Copeland shoots — Kendra Copeland(13) shoots over the head of a Lady Lion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rebound! — Monserrat Figueroa(40) and teammate Kendra Copeland(13) try to grab the rebound as Taylor Turner(31), Ashley Harper(15) and Ryisha Copeland(14) move in.

Rebound! — Monserrat Figueroa(40) and teammate Kendra Copeland(13) try to grab the rebound as Taylor Turner(31), Ashley Harper(15) and Ryisha Copeland(14) move in. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryisha tries to rebound — Ryisha Copeland and her 8th grade girls lost 12-11 as the Dallas Life Lady Lions scored the go ahead points with 0:15 left in game.

Ryisha tries to rebound — Ryisha Copeland and her 8th grade girls lost 12-11 as the Dallas Life Lady Lions scored the go ahead points with 0:15 left in game. (Barry Byers)

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