JV Lady Gladiators vs. Aquilla JV Lady Cougars:
Coming off a 22-point performance in her last outing, Chante Birdsong put in 17-points against the Aquilla Lady Cougars to lead Italy’s JV Lady Gladiators.

Birdsong may have been the lead reindeer pulling Italy’s scoring sleigh but Italy’s entire 7-girl squad put points on the board against Aquilla.

Getting the golden sleigh off the ground was the extremely competitive as Mary Tate who sparked the Italy fast break by making steals while Brianna Burkhalter harassed Aquilla’s scoring machine, Lett(20). Lett still finished with 27-points but Santa didn’t give Lett her wish to defeat Italy.

As good as all that sounds, it took a layup by Birdsong, at the 3:15 mark of the 2nd quarter, to tie the game 12-12. Then back-to-back steals by Tate setup 2-points by Nikki Brashear giving Italy a 14-12 lead that Italy’s JV would hold the remainder of the game.

Birdsong rebounded her own miss and then banked it in putting Italy up 16-12. Another Tate steal and a snow ball fight type of pass to Burkhalter made the score 18-12. Aquilla answered with a 3-pointer before the bell began ringing to end the half 18-15, with Italy still in front.

In the 3rd, Brashear makes a steal and returns the gift to Tate who scored to keep Italy ahead 20-17. Aquilla scored, but Italy’s Khadija Davis swishes a jumper from the left corner to make the score 22-19.

Birdsong then scored a layup, a 3-pointer and then made 1-of-2 free throws to make the score 27-23 with 2:30 left in the 3rd.

A Burkhalter free throw made the score 28-23 but Aquilla asserted themselves and pulled within 1-point, 28-27.

Burkhalter, a warrior on the boards, put in another free throw to make the score 29-27. Like a snowflake floating down from the sky, Birdsong dropped in a soft jumper from the right baseline to make the game 31-27. A Davis steal setup free throws for Birdsong who again made 1-of-2 to distance Italy from Aquilla 32-27.

In the 4th, back-to-back buckets by Danyelle Baugher increased Italy’s lead 38-27. Brashear then grabbed an offensive rebound and whipped the ball over to Birdsong to make the score 40-29, 2:30 left.

In an effort by Italy’s JV girls to dribble out the clock, Aquilla began to rally and pulled closer 40-33. However, one last bucket by Italy’s Lacie Lopez secured the win for Italy’s JV Lady Gladiators 42-35, giving Coach Tina Richards an early Christmas present.

Lady Gladiators vs. Aquilla Lady Cougars:
After winning 2-out of-3 games in the Venus Basketball Tournament to claim the Consolation Championship, the Lady Gladiators and Head Coach Stacy McDonald were hoping to keep the momentum going as they hosted the Aquilla Lady Cougars.

Aquilla seemed caught under an avalanche as the the Lady Gladiators, wearing their white home uniforms, buried the Lady Cougars scoring 7-points in the first 0:55 seconds.

A bounce pass inside from Kaitlyn Rossa to Alyssa Richards made the score 9-0 followed by a Jaleecia Fleming swish shot from the left corner of the floor to make the game 11-0, 3:15 left in the 1st.

At the 2:21 mark, Aquilla finally scored to make the contest 11-2. In response, Italy’s Megan Richards pulled up for her second 3-pointer of the match to make the score 14-2.

Rossa swished 1-of-2 free throws followed by a hustle play by Jameka Copeland that setup a pass from Kyonne Birdsong to Fleming, down low, to make the score 17-2, 0:48 left in the 1st.

Rossa closed out the opening quarter with a point-blank put back in front of the rim as the Lady Gladiators lead 19-2 to start the 2nd quarter.

Copeland added 4 more points in the 2nd along with Rossa. Italy’s A. Richards and Jimesha Reed both made baskets as well before Reed left the game with a sore knee. A third 3-pointer by M. Richards highlighted the quarter as Italy pranced into intermission with a 34-11 lead.

M. Richards swished her 4th 3-pointer of the game to start the 3rd followed a comfortable looking jump shot from Fleming. The shot from the left elbow of the lane made the score 39-11. Rossa added 4-points to the cause helping Italy build a 45-13 lead.

Aquilla went on a mini run but a Copeland score, with 0:12 left, gave Italy a relaxing lead going into the final quarter 47-18.

Rossa put in 6 of her 19-points in the final 8 minutes while A. Richards scored 2 of her 6-points in the 4th. However, it was “birthday girl” Birdsong who blew the candles out on Aquilla by swishing a 3-pointer to end the game as Italy’s Lady Gladiators cruised to a 58-22 Holiday win.

The Varsity Lady Gladiators and Gladiators will see their next action on December 28-30, Monday thru Wednesday, during the Kiwanis Classic at the Navarro College campus in Corsicana. Game times are TBA.