Italy — The Lady Gladiators receive high marks in this one after giving the visiting Lady Tigers from 2A Malakoff absolute fits. Malakoff separated from Italy in the third-quarter but a determined Italy squad made sure this game was never over until the final buzzer sounded.

Malakoff led just 12-11 after the 1st quarter thanks to 8-points from Italy’s Kortnei Johnson and then a pair of Monserrat Figueroa free-throws gave Italy a lead in the second-quarter, 14-12. Figueroa put in 5-points during the second frame while teammates Jaclynn Lewis and Taleyia Wilson each scored a basket. Malakoff owned the remainder of the first-half to lead 25-20 by halftime.

Johnson put in eight more points in the third-quarter with Lewis adding a basket and splitting a pair of free-throws. However, Malakoff totaled 19-points in the third to open the game up a bit, 44-31.

Instead of throwing in the towel, although Halee Turner needed one to stop the bleeding after taking a shot to the face, the Lady Gladiators crept back into the contest to pull within six, 49-43, late in the fourth. Tara Wallis scored her second bucket and Kendra Copeland scored 2-points with the game growing in excitement. Figueroa hooped again to finish with 7-points and Lewis scored around the basket three times for 6-points but Malakoff remained accurate on their end as well to escape Italy Coliseum with a 55-47 win.

Lady Gladiator Roster/Scoring:

The Lady Gladiators will play next on Thursday, November 21 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. as part of the Italy hosted girls’ basketball tournament.

Go Lady Gladiators!