Lady Gladiators give Era a scare but Lady Hornets get the bi-district win

Image: Lady Gladiator senior captains Bernice Hailey, Kendra Copeland and Ryisha Copeland get ready to lead their teammates against the Era Lady Hornets in a bi-district matchup in Saginaw on Wednesday.

Lady Gladiator senior captains Bernice Hailey, Kendra Copeland and Ryisha Copeland get ready to lead their teammates against the Era Lady Hornets in a bi-district matchup in Saginaw on Wednesday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator K’Breona Davis(12) tries a jump shot during the pre-game warmups.

Lady Gladiator K’Breona Davis(12) tries a jump shot during the pre-game warmups. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Halee Turner(5) displays her skills during the pre-game warmups.

Lady Gladiator Halee Turner(5) displays her skills during the pre-game warmups. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy fan Billy Ray Turner made the trip to Saginaw to cheer on the Lady Gladiators and gets zoned in before the tip-off.

Italy fan Billy Ray Turner made the trip to Saginaw to cheer on the Lady Gladiators and gets zoned in before the tip-off. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Copeland sisters, Kendra Copeland(10) and Ryisha Copeland(11), trot out along with their teammates during the pre-game introductions.

The Copeland sisters, Kendra Copeland(10) and Ryisha Copeland(11), trot out along with their teammates during the pre-game introductions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) rises up and knocks down a jumper over an Era defender.

Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) rises up and knocks down a jumper over an Era defender. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Jaclynn Lewis(13) tries for an offensive rebound early in the contest.

Lady Gladiator Jaclynn Lewis(13) tries for an offensive rebound early in the contest. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Vanessa Cantu(24) ties up the wall.

Lady Gladiator Vanessa Cantu(24) ties up the wall. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Taleyia Wilson(22) goes 2-out of-4 from the line against Era.

Lady Gladiator Taleyia Wilson(22) goes 2-out of-4 from the line against Era. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior point guard Kendra Copeland(10) tries to jump start Italy’s half-court offense.

Senior point guard Kendra Copeland(10) tries to jump start Italy’s half-court offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Tara Wallis(4) works off a solid screen set by teammate Taleyia Wilson(22).

Lady Gladiator Tara Wallis(4) works off a solid screen set by teammate Taleyia Wilson(22). (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator defenders Kendra Copeland(10), Jaclynn Lewis(13) and Tara Wallis(4) pressure an Era shooter as teammates Cory Chance(40) and K’Breona Davis(12) position for the rebound.

Lady Gladiator defenders Kendra Copeland(10), Jaclynn Lewis(13) and Tara Wallis(4) pressure an Era shooter as teammates Cory Chance(40) and K’Breona Davis(12) position for the rebound. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jaclynn Lewis(13) handles the ball for Italy during an offensive set.

Jaclynn Lewis(13) handles the ball for Italy during an offensive set.

Image: Lay Gladiator senior forward Bernice Hailey(2) stretches for a rebound with teammate Cory Chance(40).

Lay Gladiator senior forward Bernice Hailey(2) stretches for a rebound with teammate Cory Chance(40). (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator guard Tara Wallis(4) draws the attention of a couple of Lady Hornets.

Lady Gladiator guard Tara Wallis(4) draws the attention of a couple of Lady Hornets. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(40) swishes her first 3-pointer of the season to give Italy a 34-33 lead late in the third.

Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(40) swishes her first 3-pointer of the season to give Italy a 34-33 lead late in the third. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator coaches Melissa Fullmer and Tina Richards talk strategy with their team during a timeout.

Lady Gladiator coaches Melissa Fullmer and Tina Richards talk strategy with their team during a timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) is fouled going up for the shot against Era.

Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) is fouled going up for the shot against Era. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Taleyia WIlson(22) makes a move to get good rebounding position.

Lady Gladiator Taleyia WIlson(22) makes a move to get good rebounding position. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Jaclynn Lewis(13) makes an aggressive move toward the goal and draws a shooting foul.

Lady Gladiator Jaclynn Lewis(13) makes an aggressive move toward the goal and draws a shooting foul. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jaclynn Lewis(13) makes both free-throws and puts in 3-out of-4 from the charity stripe for the game.

Jaclynn Lewis(13) makes both free-throws and puts in 3-out of-4 from the charity stripe for the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kornei Johnson(3) tries to help her Lady Gladiators pull off a comeback in the final minutes.

Kornei Johnson(3) tries to help her Lady Gladiators pull off a comeback in the final minutes. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(40) grabs an offensive rebound and scores the put back.

Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(40) grabs an offensive rebound and scores the put back. (Barry Byers)

Image: Defensively, Kortnei Johnson(3), Tara Wallis(4) and their Lady Gladiator teammates tried to put the clamps on the Lady Hornets in the second-half but Era held on for the bi-district win, 50-42.

Defensively, Kortnei Johnson(3), Tara Wallis(4) and their Lady Gladiator teammates tried to put the clamps on the Lady Hornets in the second-half but Era held on for the bi-district win, 50-42. (Barry Byers)

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