The Lady Gladiators end their playoff run with a loss to Mason

Image: The Lady Gladiators gave it their best shot in area championship — Jameka Copeland(5) rises for 2-points against the Mason Cowgirls in the 2nd half but it was 2 little, too late as Mason went on to win the area championship 45-24 bringing an end to the Italy Lady Gladiators playoff run.

The Lady Gladiators gave it their best shot in area championship — Jameka Copeland(5) rises for 2-points against the Mason Cowgirls in the 2nd half but it was 2 little, too late as Mason went on to win the area championship 45-24 bringing an end to the Italy Lady Gladiators playoff run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Came out swinging — Both teams came out swinging but it was the Mason Cowgirls that delivered the final blow knocking Italy’s Lady Gladiators out of the playoffs.

Came out swinging — Both teams came out swinging but it was the Mason Cowgirls that delivered the final blow knocking Italy’s Lady Gladiators out of the playoffs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lexie’s into the game — Italy High School cheerleader Lexie Miller tries to urge the Lady Gladiators back into the game after Italy fell behind 10-2.

Lexie’s into the game — Italy High School cheerleader Lexie Miller tries to urge the Lady Gladiators back into the game after Italy fell behind 10-2. (Barry Byers)

Image: Defending the boards — Lady Gladiators Kaitlyn Rossa(3), Brianna Burkhalter(23) and Megan Richards(22) prepare to rebound a Mason free throw attempt.

Defending the boards — Lady Gladiators Kaitlyn Rossa(3), Brianna Burkhalter(23) and Megan Richards(22) prepare to rebound a Mason free throw attempt. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rossa puts up a shot — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa(3) tries to get Italy on the board in the 1st quarter as Jimesha Reed(40) gets in position to rebound.

Rossa puts up a shot — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa(3) tries to get Italy on the board in the 1st quarter as Jimesha Reed(40) gets in position to rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: Making it happen — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) drives to the bucket early in the 4th in an effort to generate offense for the Lady Gladiators.

Making it happen — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) drives to the bucket early in the 4th in an effort to generate offense for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan shoots — Megan Richards(22) shoots a 3-pointer over a Mason defender.

Megan shoots — Megan Richards(22) shoots a 3-pointer over a Mason defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: Celebrating a score — Italy’s cheerleaders celebrate a Lady Gladiator score.

Celebrating a score — Italy’s cheerleaders celebrate a Lady Gladiator score. (Barry Byers)

Image: Penned in — Penned in against the Cowgirls, Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa(3) tries to pass inside to Brianna Burkhalter(23).

Penned in — Penned in against the Cowgirls, Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa(3) tries to pass inside to Brianna Burkhalter(23). (Barry Byers)

Image: Jameka gets inside — Lady Gladiator Jameka Copeland(5)

Jameka gets inside — Lady Gladiator Jameka Copeland(5) (Barry Byers)

Image: Stick with the plan — Head coach Stacy McDonald tries to guide the Lady Gladiators through a tough 1st half of basketball in the area championship.

Stick with the plan — Head coach Stacy McDonald tries to guide the Lady Gladiators through a tough 1st half of basketball in the area championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Needing points — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) tries to score inside while Jaleecia Fleming(32) gets set to rebound.

Needing points — Kaitlyn Rossa(3) tries to score inside while Jaleecia Fleming(32) gets set to rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: Battle for the ball — Megan Richards(22), Alyssa Richards(24) and Kaitlyn Rossa(3) scramble for a lose ball.

Battle for the ball — Megan Richards(22), Alyssa Richards(24) and Kaitlyn Rossa(3) scramble for a lose ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jameka Copeland — Jameka Copeland(5) takes a free shot in the area championship against Mason as teammate Kaitlyn Rossa(3) watches it fall.

Jameka Copeland — Jameka Copeland(5) takes a free shot in the area championship against Mason as teammate Kaitlyn Rossa(3) watches it fall. (Barry Byers)

Image: Contesting the shot — Jaleecia Fleming(32) and Jameka Copeland(5) close out on a Mason shooter.

Contesting the shot — Jaleecia Fleming(32) and Jameka Copeland(5) close out on a Mason shooter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa rises — Lady Gladiator Alyssa Richards(24) shows her freshman form in the area championship game in Hamilton.

Alyssa rises — Lady Gladiator Alyssa Richards(24) shows her freshman form in the area championship game in Hamilton. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fleming for two — Lady Gladiator Jaleecia Fleming(32) rises to shoot the jumper with a Mason Cowgirl in her face.

Fleming for two — Lady Gladiator Jaleecia Fleming(32) rises to shoot the jumper with a Mason Cowgirl in her face. (Barry Byers)

Image: The green light — Megan Richards(22) releases a 3-point shot in hopes of pulling off a 4th quarter comeback.

The green light — Megan Richards(22) releases a 3-point shot in hopes of pulling off a 4th quarter comeback. (Barry Byers)

Image: Still battling — Lady Gladiator senior Jaleecia Fleming(32) ball fakes and then swishes the jumper against Mason.

Still battling — Lady Gladiator senior Jaleecia Fleming(32) ball fakes and then swishes the jumper against Mason. (Barry Byers)

Image: I love you! — Lady Gladiator assistant coach Tina Richards gets a hug from her husband Allen Richards after the loss to Mason.

I love you! — Lady Gladiator assistant coach Tina Richards gets a hug from her husband Allen Richards after the loss to Mason. (Barry Byers)

Image: We’ll be back — Jameka Copeland, Kyonne Birdsong and Chante Birdsong get comforted after the game.

We’ll be back — Jameka Copeland, Kyonne Birdsong and Chante Birdsong get comforted after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Get ’em next year — Allen Richards gives his daughter Megan Richards a comforting hug after the game.

Get ’em next year — Allen Richards gives his daughter Megan Richards a comforting hug after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: We are proud of you! — Penny Rossa gives Lady Gladiator Khadijah Davis(21) a hug after Italy’s tough loss in the area championship.

We are proud of you! — Penny Rossa gives Lady Gladiator Khadijah Davis(21) a hug after Italy’s tough loss in the area championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Follow me — As Senior Jaleecia Fleming(32) walked off the court in Hamilton carrying her bag, she also carried with her a lifetime of memories. Thank you, Jaleecia, for forging a championship path for future Lady Gladiators to follow.

Follow me — As Senior Jaleecia Fleming(32) walked off the court in Hamilton carrying her bag, she also carried with her a lifetime of memories. Thank you, Jaleecia, for forging a championship path for future Lady Gladiators to follow. (Barry Byers)

Return to story