West High School — The Italy Lady Gladiators (18-11) coached by Stacy McDonald and Tina Richards competed for the second year in a row for a 1A bi-district championship. And, for the second year in a row, Italy entered the game with a relatively young roster.

However, Italy’s lone Senior, Jaleecia Fleming, and her Lady Gladiator teammates seemed to be on a mission as they hit the floor running against the Bosqueville (10-17) Lady Bulldogs on Monday.

Italy’s Jimesha Reed introduced herself to the Bosqueville defense immediately by scoring inside at the 7:32 mark. Fleming scored on Italy’s next trip down the floor by connecting on a 3-pointer to put the Lady Gladiators up 5-0.

Megan Richards matched Fleming’s effort with a 3-pointer of her own to give Italy an 8-0 advantage. Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa gave the Lady Gladiators a 10-0 lead before Bosqueville finally got on the board to make the game 10-2.

Italy Point Guard Jameka Copeland pushed the Lady Gladiator lead back to 10-points after finishing with a layup on the fast break setup by a long pass from Reed. After missing several 3-point attempts to start the game and trailing Italy 12-2, Bosqueville opted for a more direct approach and took the ball to the rack to close the gap 12-4.

Soon after, Bosqueville tried yet another 3-pointer but the shot was off the mark once again. Fortunately for the Lady Bulldogs, the shooter was fouled by Italy’s Rossa and Bosqueville made the last of three free throw attempts to make the score 12-5.

On Bosqueville’s next offensive possession, Copeland almost forced a turnover at the top of the key but the Lady Bulldogs regained control of the ball and passed ahead for an easy basket, 12-7 Italy still leads.

The Lady Bulldogs forced a turnover by Italy and hurried down the floor to put up another 3-point shot as the 1st quarter wound down. Fleming blocked the attempt, however, and Rossa scored with 0:13 left to give the Lady Gladiators a 14-7 lead going into the 2nd quarter.

Bosqueville earned two straight trips to the free throw line to start the 2nd and made 2 of the 4 attempts. Then a Lady Bulldog steal and a layup pulled Bosqueville even closer, 14-11 with 5:00 minutes left in the 1st half.

Lady Gladiator Alyssa Richards hit a bank shot to preserve Italy’s momentum. Then an inbound pass from Reed to M. Richards, who quickly passed back inside to Reed, put Italy up 18-11, 3:30 left before halftime.

Then it was Bosqueville’s turn as the Lady Bulldogs earned consecutive trips to the free throw and again made 2 of the 4 charity shots. With the score 18-13, a Lady Bulldog steal lead to fast break points to make the score 18-15. Again, Bosqueville made it to the foul line and hit the front end of a 1-and-1 to make the score 18-16 putting pressure on the Lady Gladiators, 1:19 to go in the half.

Desperate for a big play, Italy’s Rossa was fouled shooting and stepped up to the line with 1:00 left before intermission. Rossa swished the first to bring Gladiator Nation to their feet. Rossa then swished the second free shot to give the Lady Gladiators a 20-16 lead. Bosqueville couldn’t answer and the score remained 20-16 in favor of Italy at the break.

Baskets by Fleming and Copeland in the opening minute of the 3rd quarter gave Italy a 24-18 edge. Suddenly, Italy’s shooters went cold from the floor and Bosqueville capitalized off Italy’s misses and miscues.

With 5:00 left in the 3rd, Bosqueville pulled within 1-point, 24-23. Then a Lady Bulldog 3-pointer finally swished thru to give Bosqueville their 1st lead of the game, 26-24.

Italy’s Reed responded to to the contest 26-26 but Bosqueville scored 4 straight to go up 30-26, 3:26 left in the 3rd. Needing a spark, Rossa passed inside to the senior and Fleming turned into the lane to hit the jump shot, 30-28 Bosqueville.

Bosqueville went up 32-28 prompting Rossa to knock down a baseline jumper to make the score 32-30, 1:25 to go in the 3rd. On Italy’s next trip down, Rossa was left wide open on the left baseline and popped the shot to tie the game 32-32.

Rossa’s back-to-back baskets pulled Lady Gladiator fans back into the match. Just when it seemed the decimal level inside West High School’s gym couldn’t possibly get any louder, Rossa charged down the floor and was fouled on a layup attempt. The shot banked in and Rossa hit the free throw to complete the 3-point play. Back in front 35-32, Italy’s fans were deafening as the 3rd quarter came to a close.

Reed put Italy up 37-32 followed by another Rossa baseline jumper, over two Lady Bulldog defenders, to give Italy a 39-32 cushion. Copeland, who had patiently waited all game for the right moment to strike, put in 2 straight fast break layups to push Italy’s lead to 43-32.

Bosqueville began to rally, however, and closed the deficit to 43-39. Another fast break layup by Copeland gave Italy a 45-39 lead but Bosqueville wouldn’t go away and made the score 45-42. Italy missed 2 free throws and the Lady Bulldogs pulled within 1-point, 45-44 with 0:55 remaining in the game.

A steal by Bosqueville resulted in a missed layup that would have captured the lead for the Lady Bulldogs. In a battle for the loose ball, Italy was called for traveling giving Bosqueville a second chance to take the lead. Bosqueville’s next shot attempt was blocked by Italy’s Reed forcing the Lady Bulldogs to foul Copeland and send her to the line with 0:11 left.

Just a freshman, Copeland dropped in both pressure packed free throws to give Italy a 47-44 lead. Copeland would later state, “Honestly, I was scared in the huddle before going back on the floor. Then, when I was at the line, I was scared to let Coach McDonald down. Then my fear turned to excitement after I made those shots.”

Bosqueville advanced the ball to half court and called timeout. Out of the timeout, a Lady Bulldog 3-point attempt missed but the ball was last touched by Italy before going out of bounds.

With 0:02 left on the clock, Bosqueville launched a 3-pointer to tie the game from the top of the key. The shot fell short and the cheers and the tears began to flow as the Lady Gladiators rushed to their bench to hug their coaches and one another.

Two years in the making and with so many ups and downs along the way, the Lady Gladiators are 1A bi-district champions. What a special moment for coach Stacy McDonald, coach Tina Richards and the Nasty Nine. BELIEVE!

The Lady Gladiators play the Mason Cowgirls this Friday in Hamilton at 7:00 p.m.

Lady Gladiator scoring by quarters:

2009-2010 Lady Gladiators:

Thank you Rita Garza and Karen Mathiowetz for all your hard work!