Neither McKinley High School head coach Kim Heaton nor Perry head coach Joe Altimore III had a good feeling about their respective teams’ chances during Friday’s annual New Year’s Eve Tournament at Park Centre Lanes.
But it was for entirely different reasons.
Heaton had two boys players out due to disciplinary reasons and had to fill her lineup with a pair of freshmen. Altimore didn’t feel his team matched up due to the lane conditions.
But both the McKinley boys and Perry girls overcame their issues to claim titles in the event.
The Bulldogs stopped Hoover, winners of the conference Kickoff Classic at Park Centre, 3-1 in the best-of-five Baker System finals. The Panthers stopped Triway, which suffered its first tournament loss in three events, also 3-1.
PERRY GETS ANOTHER TITLE
Altimore had his Panthers, who also topped the field during Monday’s Holiday Tournament at Stonehedge Family Fun Center, looking for how to play the lanes for later rounds early.
“I told them in the second game that we were going to make the cut and that I didn’t care what our scores or Bakers were,” said Altimore, whose team finished as the No. 3 seed behind Triway with 3,017 total pinfall. The Titans finished with 3,218.
“We had to find out where we could play and what balls we could use to win this thing. They were a little apprehensive because they wanted to score, but at least they could give me a look at how the balls were reacting. We finally got into an area where they started building confidence.”
Alexis Carper led the Panthers with a 449 series, but it was the play of leadoff Riley Morrison that impressed Altimore.
“The lanes were hooking a lot, and when they hook like that, she is usually in trouble,” Altimore said. “That’s normally not her sweet spot. But she made it easier for me. I just told her to stand 35 (board) and fire it at the 10-pin. She made all her spares except one. That was exciting.”
The Panthers opened with a 3-1 win over GlenOak before sweeping Green 3-0 in the semifinals. Green also had won the SCHSBC Kickoff at Park Centre, stopping the Panthers in the semifinals.
“Green is that good and this shot plays well for them. I lost my temper one game when we missed a spare and apologized to them later,” Altimore said. “I thought we lost because I was watching us and not them. But it turned around and we won that game. You just can’t miss spares.”
Triway has bowled just three tournaments so far and had won its previous two.
After being down 2-0, the Titans won Game 3 233-142, but then lost Game 4 193-167.
Triway swept past Lake (3-0) and Carrollton (3-0) to reach the finals.
Sophomore Emma Yoder led the Titans with a 478 series, including a 289 game, and Danielle Densmore added 407. But it was in Baker games where Triway excelled, with a 1,420 total in six games.
“We’re young, and the girls got tired and a little mentally drained, but we’ve grown as a team since the beginning of the season,” Triway coach Corby Anderson said. “But these are all steps toward building for the postseason.”
Triway also captured the OHSB Division II Kickoff Classic in Columbus.
“This is the first time we’ve lost, and I’m sure the girls aren’t happy. But sometimes, that’s a good thing. We threw the ball well during qualifying and really went crazy during the Bakers. Our girls are competitive, but they also know enough to look over and realize what we still need to do.”
DEPLETED BULLDOGS WIN
Two freshmen — Jimmy Tucker and Jon Waggoner — stepped up for McKinley’s boys, who entered the championship round tied at the No. 1 seed position with Lake with 3,275 total pinfall.
The Pups were without two players, but they still had junior Zach McCutcheon, who rolled a tourney-high 545 series.
“If you asked me at the beginning if we could win this, I would have told you maybe we could get to the top eight,” Heaton said. “But the freshmen came in and played solid roles through Bakers.
“I just wanted them to stay in the game and maintain spare shooting. I wanted clean games, staying up and remaining positive.”
McCutchan stopped Lake’s Zac Abbott 50-49 in a two-frame rolloff to give the Bulldogs the No. 1 seed. McKinley then swept Carrollton (3-0) and Perry (3-0) to reach the finals.
“Zack was a true leader, but they all were with two players out,” Heaton said. “We just kind of fed off each other and did our thing.”
Dylan Shankle also added 459 and Brandon Leggett had 415 for the Bulldogs.
Hoover, the No. 6 seed, had a tougher road to the finals, stopping No. 3 Triway 3-1 in its opening match before going five games to top No. 2-seeded Lake 3-1, with Game 5 being a 166-163 win.
“We put ourselves in position to do it again and we can’t ask for more than that,” Hoover head coach Jeff Sabella said. “We have some work to do obviously, but I couldn’t ask for anything more from these guys.”
Hoover also was without starter Jack Wells due to illness. Chase Wentzel led the Vikings with a 482 series and Nate DeSantis added 468.
“I had three solid slots and two that still need some work on basics,” Sabella said. “I still think we’re good enough to get to state, but we have to pick up spares. That’s the key.”
Perry’s Altimore said he still is looking to complete his lineup for the late run.
“We’re close right now, but we still have some cogs we are working on,” Altimore added.
And the second half of the Stark County High School Bowling Conference season awaits before postseason play opens in February.
NOTEBOOK The tournament drew 16 boys and girls teams, with both varsity teams bowling on the same pairs through qualifying, including Baker games. Sandy Valley was a no-show the day of the event, and Akron Hoban pulled out due to COVID concerns. … In the girls division, Green’s Marissa Perrine (493) and Veda Hughes (475) joined Yoder on the all-tourney team along with Carrollton’s Tara Oberlin (459) and GlenOak’s Rachel Young (449). Hughes shot a 290 in Game 1. … Joining McCutcheon, Wentzel and DeSantis on the boys team were United Local’s Patrick Bryan (524) and GlenOak’s Dylan Petrick (482). DeSantis had the high boys game of 279. … Fans were permitted for the event. … Perry had the lone junior varsity teams in the event, with the girls making the cut and losing in the first round to Green and the boys finishing 14th. … The oil pattern was a modified house shot.
BOYS
Final qualifying: 1, McKinley and Lake 3,275 (McKinley wins two-frame rolloff); 3, Triway 3,274; 4, Perry 3,243; 5, GlenOak 3,165; 6, Hoover 3,091; 7, Canton South 3,074; 8, Carrollton 3,060; 9, Louisville 2,946; 10, Green 2,891; 11, Central Catholic 2,800; 12, United Local 2,796; 13, Jackson 2,764; 14, Perry JV 2,668; 15, Marlington 2,639; 16, Alliance 2,590.
Quarterfinals
(Best-of-five Baker System)
McKinley d. Carrollton 3-0; Perry d. GlenOak 3-1; Hoover d. Triway 3-1; Lake d. Canton South 3-2.
Semifinals
McKinley (254-197-243) d. Perry (192-183-157) 3-0; Hoover (195-176-161-178-166) d. Lake (174-189-189-170-164) 3-2.
Championship
McKinley (198-181-237-226) d. Hoover (158-203-169-167) 3-1.
GIRLS
Final qualifying: 1, Triway 3,218; 2, Green 3,127; 3, Perry 3,017; 4, Carrollton 2,958; 5, Central Catholic 2,656; 6, GlenOak 2,504; 7, Perry JV 2,412; 8, Lake 2,379; 9, United Local 2,339; 10, McKinley 2,293; 11, Hoover 2,339; 12, Canton South 2,174; 13, Jackson 2,087; 14, Louisville 1,919; 15, Alliance 1,819; 16, Marlington 1,778.
Quarterfinals
(Best-of-five Baker System)
Triway d. Lake 3-0; Carrollton d. Central Catholic 3-0; Perry d. GlenOak 3-1; Green d. Perry JV 3-0.
Semifinals
Triway (219-181-216) d. Carrollton (202-160-167) 3-0; Perry (177-202-176) d. Green (175-168-172) 3-0.
Championship
Perry (180-202-142-193) d. Triway (161-199-233-167) 3-1.