Santo Lady Cats remove the Italy Lady Gladiators from playoffs, 57-52 at Area

Barry Byers Posted February 23, 2015 1:00pm Additional Images

Image: Lady Gladiator Emmy Cunningham(2) sinks one of her three first-half 3-pointers over a Lady Cat defender. Cunningham finished with a game-high 18-points in Italy’s 57-52 playoff loss to Santo. — Lady Gladiator Emmy Cunningham(2) sinks one of her three first-half 3-pointers over a Lady Cat defender. Cunningham finished with a game-high 18-points in Italy’s 57-52 playoff loss to Santo. (Barry Byers)

Ft. Worth — Included are additional action photos from the 2014-2015 2A Area Championship matchup between the Italy Lady Gladiators and the Santo Lady Cats.

The Lady Gladiators led after each of the first three quarters of play but the Lady Cats led after the quarter that counted. When the final buzzer sounded, Santo had pulled off the upset, 57-52.

For Italy seniors Kortnei Johnson, K’Breona Davis, Tara Wallis, Alex Minton-Felder, this one stung a bit. Still, expect the Lady Gladiators to return to the playoffs next season for they will still have plenty of fire power from long-range plus height and muscle inside.

Go Lady Gladiators!

Senior Lady Gladiator Alex Minton-Felder(12) warms up before the start of Italy’s area playoff matchup against the Santo Lady Cats. (Barry Byers)

K’Breona Davis(10) is on the move for the Lady Gladiators against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) out leaps Santo for an offensive rebound. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator head coach Melissa Fullmer was active throughout the game. (Barry Byers)

Freshman guard Brycelen Richards(13) brings the ball across mid court for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) tries to finish the first-half with a layup to beat the buzzer. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator senior Kortnei Johnson(3) keeps attacking the basket against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator Emmy Cunningham(2) hit 5-of-8 from the stripe against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Kortnei Johnson(3) tries to create a steal and break away against Santo. (Barry Byers)

The relentless Kortnei Johnson(3) penetrates the lane against the Santo defense. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator Brycelen Richards(13) lets a 3-point attempt fly from well beyond the arc. (Barry Byers)

Taleyia Wilson(22) passes to Lady Gladiator teammate Janae Robertson(5) who was open in the lane and scored with this shot at the front of the rim. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator Lillie Perry(24) flashes to the basket, receives a backdoor pass and puts up a shot against Santo. (Barry Byers)

With the season on the line, Cory Chance(33) asserts her will in the fourth-period against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Cory Chance(33) goes up strong against the Santo defense. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) tries to fit a pass inside to teammate Cory Chance(33). (Barry Byers)

Cory Chance(33) was on target from the foul line in the fourth putting in 3-out of-5 down the stretch. (Barry Byers)

Trying to cause a turnover, Italy’s K’Breona Davis(10) collides with a Santo ball handler. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(33) keeps Italy in the game late against Santo. Chance finished the game with 15-points. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Kortnei Johnson(3) curls around a Santo defender on her way to the bucket. Johnson finished her final game as a Lady Gladiator hoop star with 17-points. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Emmy Cunningham(2) slips thru two Lady Cats to get up a shot against Santo. (Barry Byers)

Lady Gladiator Cory Chance(33) forces a missed shot attempt from Santo. (Barry Byers)

Italy’s Lady Gladiators and the Santo Lady Cats gave it all they had, but in the end, it was Santo who emerged from the area playoff pileup victorious, 57-52. (Barry Byers)