Kortnei Johnson lifts the Lady Gladiators to a dramatic 64-62 win over Frost

Image: Senior Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) drives the length of the court in four seconds flat to put in the game-winning shot over the Frost Lady Polar Bears at home in Italy Coliseum. The ball circled the rim dramatically before falling thru to secure a 64-62 district win for the Lady Gladiators who need one more win over Dallas Gateway this coming Tuesday to become undefeated district champions. Johnson finished with 19-points.

Senior Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) drives the length of the court in four seconds flat to put in the game-winning shot over the Frost Lady Polar Bears at home in Italy Coliseum. The ball circled the rim dramatically before falling thru to secure a 64-62 district win for the Lady Gladiators who need one more win over Dallas Gateway this coming Tuesday to become undefeated district champions. Johnson finished with 19-points. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy freshman Emmy Cunningham(2) goes up strong for 2-points in the first period.

Italy freshman Emmy Cunningham(2) goes up strong for 2-points in the first period. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy sophomore Janae Robertson(5) puts up a shot early in the first half against Frost.

Italy sophomore Janae Robertson(5) puts up a shot early in the first half against Frost. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Emmy Cunningham(2) attacks Frost off the dribble.

Lady Gladiator Emmy Cunningham(2) attacks Frost off the dribble. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kortnei Johnson(3) gives Italy an early lead.

Kortnei Johnson(3) gives Italy an early lead. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) tries a baseline shot.

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) tries a baseline shot. (Barry Byers)

Image: Getting into the zone from the foul line is Cory Chance(33) who dropped in 6-of-9 freebies. Chance made 3-of-3 in the third and 3-out-of-4 clutch ones in the fourth.

Getting into the zone from the foul line is Cory Chance(33) who dropped in 6-of-9 freebies. Chance made 3-of-3 in the third and 3-out-of-4 clutch ones in the fourth. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) keeps pressure on the Frost defense.

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) keeps pressure on the Frost defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kortnei Johnson(3) pulls up from the outside with Frost packed in the lane to stop her.

Kortnei Johnson(3) pulls up from the outside with Frost packed in the lane to stop her. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s T’Keya Pace(1) guards Frost senior Jae Moore(24) on the wing. Moore is kin to former Gladiator head coach Kyle Holley who was in attendance for the high profile matchup.

Italy’s T’Keya Pace(1) guards Frost senior Jae Moore(24) on the wing. Moore is kin to former Gladiator head coach Kyle Holley who was in attendance for the high profile matchup. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy junior Taleyia Wilson(22) goes for the steal during the first-half action.

Italy junior Taleyia Wilson(22) goes for the steal during the first-half action. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(33) was unstoppable even on a bad wheel she had injured in warmups.

Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(33) was unstoppable even on a bad wheel she had injured in warmups. (Barry Byers)

Image: Freshman Brycelen Richards(13) goes up strong to draw a shooting foul charged to Frost. Brycelen went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Freshman Brycelen Richards(13) goes up strong to draw a shooting foul charged to Frost. Brycelen went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior K’Breona Davis(10) does a bit of everything for the Lady Gladiators and here she knocks down a much needed jumper against Frost.

Senior K’Breona Davis(10) does a bit of everything for the Lady Gladiators and here she knocks down a much needed jumper against Frost. (Barry Byers)

Image: Taleyia Wilson(22) turns a rebound into a war to let Frost know this is her lane and this is our dome.

Taleyia Wilson(22) turns a rebound into a war to let Frost know this is her lane and this is our dome. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) splits a wall set by two Lady Polar Bear defenders and then banks in the underhanded scoop shot.

Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) splits a wall set by two Lady Polar Bear defenders and then banks in the underhanded scoop shot. (Barry Byers)

Image: Brycelen Richards(13) attempts a three-pointer with Lady Gladiator head coach Melissa Fullmer giving her the green light. Brycelen’s mother, Tina Richards, is an assistant coach on the team and Brycelen is following in the path of her older sisters, Meagan Richards and Alyssa Richards.

Brycelen Richards(13) attempts a three-pointer with Lady Gladiator head coach Melissa Fullmer giving her the green light. Brycelen’s mother, Tina Richards, is an assistant coach on the team and Brycelen is following in the path of her older sisters, Meagan Richards and Alyssa Richards. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cory Chance(33) continues her domination in the paint over Frost.

Cory Chance(33) continues her domination in the paint over Frost. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Nation celebrates along with Kortnei Johnson(3) after Johnson is fouled during a made layup. Johnson converts the and-1 to tie the game 61-61.

Gladiator Nation celebrates along with Kortnei Johnson(3) after Johnson is fouled during a made layup. Johnson converts the and-1 to tie the game 61-61. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cory Chance(33 makes the front end of a 1-and-1 to give Italy their first lead of the second-half, 62-61, as her teammates and coaches celebrate.

Cory Chance(33 makes the front end of a 1-and-1 to give Italy their first lead of the second-half, 62-61, as her teammates and coaches celebrate. (Barry Byers)

Image: With the game now tied 62-62 with 0:05 on the clock, Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) clutches a missed free-throw by Frost and then races up the court in the final four seconds hoping to get off a potentially game-winning shot.

With the game now tied 62-62 with 0:05 on the clock, Lady Gladiator Kortnei Johnson(3) clutches a missed free-throw by Frost and then races up the court in the final four seconds hoping to get off a potentially game-winning shot. (Barry Byers)

Image: After releasing the shot to beat the buzzer, Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) also avoids being called for charging on the games final play. The ball circled the rim for ages before dropping in to seal the comeback win over Frost.

After releasing the shot to beat the buzzer, Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) also avoids being called for charging on the games final play. The ball circled the rim for ages before dropping in to seal the comeback win over Frost. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Coliseum erupts after Kortnei Johnson(3) floated in the game-winning shot to beat Frost in a last second thriller. Good thing the Coliseum is a dome made of fortified concrete ’cause the Lady Gladiators and their fans would have blew the roof off that thing! Making Some Noise in Italy!!

Italy Coliseum erupts after Kortnei Johnson(3) floated in the game-winning shot to beat Frost in a last second thriller. Good thing the Coliseum is a dome made of fortified concrete ’cause the Lady Gladiators and their fans would have blew the roof off that thing! Making Some Noise in Italy!! (Barry Byers)

Image: The Lady Gladiators join Kortnei Johnson(3) at the opposite end to celebrate some more as Johnson was able to share the moment with her father, James Johnson (In the red shirt).

The Lady Gladiators join Kortnei Johnson(3) at the opposite end to celebrate some more as Johnson was able to share the moment with her father, James Johnson (In the red shirt). (Barry Byers)

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