Lady Gladiators pull together to win the bi-district championship

Image: Italy Lady Gladiators – 1A bi-district champions — The Italy Lady Gladiators celebrate their Bi-District Championship win over Bosqueville. Back row: Alyssa Richards and Jimesha Reed. Middle row: Jameka Copeland, Kyonne Birdsong, Jaleecia Fleming, Chante Birdsong and Megan Richards. Front row: Brycelen Richards, Brianna Burkhalter and Kaitlyn Rossa. Not pictured: Khadijah Davis.

Italy Lady Gladiators – 1A bi-district champions — The Italy Lady Gladiators celebrate their Bi-District Championship win over Bosqueville. Back row: Alyssa Richards and Jimesha Reed. Middle row: Jameka Copeland, Kyonne Birdsong, Jaleecia Fleming, Chante Birdsong and Megan Richards. Front row: Brycelen Richards, Brianna Burkhalter and Kaitlyn Rossa. Not pictured: Khadijah Davis. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady G’s get ready — Kyonne Birdsong, Khadijah Davis and their Lady Gladiator teammates get warmed up before the bi-district championship game against Bosqueville.

Lady G’s get ready — Kyonne Birdsong, Khadijah Davis and their Lady Gladiator teammates get warmed up before the bi-district championship game against Bosqueville. (Barry Byers)

Image: Clover’s Italian Angels — The IHS cheerleaders were sporting mustaches they picked up at a pizza restaurant on the way to the game. West was wild!

Clover’s Italian Angels — The IHS cheerleaders were sporting mustaches they picked up at a pizza restaurant on the way to the game. West was wild! (Barry Byers)

Image: Kaitlyn shoots — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) rises over two Lady Bulldog defenders as Brianna Burkhalter slides in for the rebound.

Kaitlyn shoots — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) rises over two Lady Bulldog defenders as Brianna Burkhalter slides in for the rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: The upper deck — Katie Byers, Morgan Cockerham, Anna Viers, Taylor Turner and Paige Westbrook were cheering loud and proud from the upper deck of the West High School gym.

The upper deck — Katie Byers, Morgan Cockerham, Anna Viers, Taylor Turner and Paige Westbrook were cheering loud and proud from the upper deck of the West High School gym. (Barry Byers)

Image: Two in a row — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) knocks down two free throws.

Two in a row — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) knocks down two free throws. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reed rises — Jimesha Reed(40) rises above the outstretched hands of a Lady Bulldog for 2-points.

Reed rises — Jimesha Reed(40) rises above the outstretched hands of a Lady Bulldog for 2-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rossa swishes the shot — With two Lady Bulldogs surrounding her, Kaitlyn Rossa(3) comes up big on the baseline for 2-points.

Rossa swishes the shot — With two Lady Bulldogs surrounding her, Kaitlyn Rossa(3) comes up big on the baseline for 2-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: 3-point play — Kaitlyn Rossa gets fouled as she scores the layup and then puts in the and-1 for a 3-point play during the bi-district game against Bosqueville.

3-point play — Kaitlyn Rossa gets fouled as she scores the layup and then puts in the and-1 for a 3-point play during the bi-district game against Bosqueville. (Barry Byers)

Image: Loud crowd — Lady Gladiator fans were behind the girls 110%.

Loud crowd — Lady Gladiator fans were behind the girls 110%. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach encourages — Coach Tina Richards keeps her Lady Gladiators relaxed on the bench.

Coach encourages — Coach Tina Richards keeps her Lady Gladiators relaxed on the bench. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reed hits inside — Italy’s Jimesha Reed(40) was just too strong for Bosqueville big girls.

Reed hits inside — Italy’s Jimesha Reed(40) was just too strong for Bosqueville big girls. (Barry Byers)

Image: Getting into it — Lady Gladiator head coach Stacy McDonald emphasises the keys to success during a timeout.

Getting into it — Lady Gladiator head coach Stacy McDonald emphasises the keys to success during a timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pulling together — With the bi-district championship hanging in the balance, the Lady Gladiators hang on to one another for strength.

Pulling together — With the bi-district championship hanging in the balance, the Lady Gladiators hang on to one another for strength. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tears of joy! — They did it! The Lady Gladiators force Bosqueville to air ball from the 3-point line in the final seconds to preserve a 3-point win for Italy in the bi-district championship game. Italy held on for a 47-44 victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

Tears of joy! — They did it! The Lady Gladiators force Bosqueville to air ball from the 3-point line in the final seconds to preserve a 3-point win for Italy in the bi-district championship game. Italy held on for a 47-44 victory over the Lady Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: What a feeling — Senior forward Jaleecia Fleming hugs freshman point guard Jameka Copeland while sophomore Kaitlyn Rossa tries to dry her tears after the Lady Gladiators won the 1A bi-district championship.

What a feeling — Senior forward Jaleecia Fleming hugs freshman point guard Jameka Copeland while sophomore Kaitlyn Rossa tries to dry her tears after the Lady Gladiators won the 1A bi-district championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hugs all round — The Lady Gladiators receive well deserved hugs and praises after their win over Bosqueville.

Hugs all round — The Lady Gladiators receive well deserved hugs and praises after their win over Bosqueville. (Barry Byers)

Image: Embracing the moment — Lady Gladiators Kyonne Birdsong and Jaleecia Fleming embrace after their team’s incredible performance to claim the bi-district championship.

Embracing the moment — Lady Gladiators Kyonne Birdsong and Jaleecia Fleming embrace after their team’s incredible performance to claim the bi-district championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Just let it out — Italy Lady Gladiator head coach Stacy McDonald can’t hold in her emotions after her team held on to win the bi-district championship over Bosqueville. Rita Garza and Karen Mathiowetz comfort coach McDonald while she takes a moment to let it out.

Just let it out — Italy Lady Gladiator head coach Stacy McDonald can’t hold in her emotions after her team held on to win the bi-district championship over Bosqueville. Rita Garza and Karen Mathiowetz comfort coach McDonald while she takes a moment to let it out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Proud Dad — Allen Richards has alot to be proud of. His daughters Megan (above) and Alyssa are both players on the Lady Gladiators Basketball team. His wife, Tina Richards, helps coach the team. His daughter, Brycelen Richards (above), helped with the water. And his Mother-in-law, Rita Garza, kept the score book for Italy.

Proud Dad — Allen Richards has alot to be proud of. His daughters Megan (above) and Alyssa are both players on the Lady Gladiators Basketball team. His wife, Tina Richards, helps coach the team. His daughter, Brycelen Richards (above), helped with the water. And his Mother-in-law, Rita Garza, kept the score book for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Eat Greedy — The lady Gladiators devoured Bosqueville for the bi-district championship and then showed their meals who was boss at the Black-eyed Pea in Hillsboro after the game.

Eat Greedy — The lady Gladiators devoured Bosqueville for the bi-district championship and then showed their meals who was boss at the Black-eyed Pea in Hillsboro after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Food of Champions — The Lady Gladiators all hold up the #1 sign while Jimesha Reed asks for seconds.

Food of Champions — The Lady Gladiators all hold up the #1 sign while Jimesha Reed asks for seconds. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kaitlyn Rossa — The Bosqueville Lady Bulldogs just didn’t have an answer for Kaitlyn Rossa(3) and the Lady Gladiators on Monday at West High School.

Kaitlyn Rossa — The Bosqueville Lady Bulldogs just didn’t have an answer for Kaitlyn Rossa(3) and the Lady Gladiators on Monday at West High School. (Barry Byers)

Image: Copeland in the clutch — Freshman Jameka Copeland(5) stepped to the line and hit both free shots to secure the bi-district championship for the Lady Gladiators, 47-44 over Bosqueville.

Copeland in the clutch — Freshman Jameka Copeland(5) stepped to the line and hit both free shots to secure the bi-district championship for the Lady Gladiators, 47-44 over Bosqueville. (Barry Byers)

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