PERRY TWP. — Despite taking a 75-pin lead after Game 1 of Thursday’s key Federal Division girls high school bowling match, Green head coach Dustin Hughes knew what was coming from his opponent.
“Joe (Altimore III) obviously coaches them up. They knew what to do and how to do it,” Hughes said of Perry’s head coach and the Panthers. “It wasn’t a surprise to me.”
Nor was it a surprise to Hughes that his Bulldogs added to their now 2 1/2 seasons without a loss by stopping Perry 2,623-2,613 at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes.
“They stayed with it and battled,” Hughes said of his Bulldogs, whose overall win streak reached 29 straight matches. “You have to have s short memory. Just stay with it. Every pin counts … it’s something I tell them all the time.”
That became a fact as the Stark County High School Bowling Conference powers both brought identical 9-0 records into the match. Green’s last loss was to Boardman during the 2018-19 season.
“It was nothing different. We didn’t change anything … it was just another match,” Hughes said of prematch preparations for Perry. “I just told them to bowl their game and have fun. I really didn’t want to put anything in their heads.
“They know what is at stake. I didn’t have to say anything more.”
Green took a 75-pin lead after Game 1, led by Marissa Perrine’s 246. The Panthers stayed in the battle thanks to a 268 from senior Hannah Miller.
“In Game 1, we had about six or seven open frames,” Altimore said. “We made some changes and Riley (Morrison) bowled fantastic after she really didn’t look that comfortable during practice balls.”
With Morrison shooting 225 in Game 2 to go along 244 from Alexis Carper and 217s from Aimee King and Kylie Poling, the Panthers cut the Bulldogs’ lead to eight pins heading into the Baker System games after an 1,102 game.
Elena and Veda Hughes shot 236 and 230, respectively, to lead Green in Game 2.
“We tell them not to scoreboard watch. Just focus on your game,” said Dustin Hughes, whose Bulldogs host Perry in a return match Feb. 17 at Stonehedge Family Fun Center. “When they start to lose it, we tell them to sing a song or think of something funny … we have some inside jokes we tell.
“Just some things to keep their minds off the lanes. These kids have done this enough years to know.”
Green took back the advantage following the first Baker game with a 185-163 win. The Panthers, after struggling to start the second Baker game, finished with six strikes in a row to fall 204-202 and trail by 32 heading into Game 3.
“A lot of teams being down 70 after one game to as good of a team as that might roll over. We didn’t roll over,” Altimore said. “We shot one our our best games that we have in a long time, and I knew it was going to take that.”
In Game 2, the Bulldogs didn’t have an open frame, including Veda Hughes converting a 2-10 split in the 10th while the Panthers had two splits early and four opens before their string of strikes.
Game 3 came down to the final few frames as both teams opened in the 10th. Perry shot 183 to Green’s 161 for the final margin of victory.
“We tell them to just roll their game,” Dustin Hughes said. “Don’t overthink it. We started the season with the same thoughts, same game plan. We stick with it and it works.”
Veda Hughes led the Bulldogs with a 439 series, followed by Elena Hughes (438) and Marissa Perrine (434). Miller led the Panthers with a 467 series, followed by Carper (426) and Poling (422).
“Nothing makes a coach prouder than knowing your team needs to do something and they step up and do it,” Altimore said. “Of course, we want to win. But taking that team to 10 pins, I’ll take it because they’re that good.
“If we pop a split, we have to get the two pins or whatever. We have to maximize every possible pin.”
Despite the loss, Perry still has the rematch, but also other battles with GlenOak, Jackson and Lake in the division.
“I’ve said for 11 years now that even though we want to win the Federal League, that is not our goal,” Altimore said. “We want to make state and win a championship. If we don’t make states, that’s not a good year.
“We only had a couple of errant shots here and there that hurt us. I’m so confident in our girls. They performed well under pressure, and that’s exciting.”
As for Green, Dustin Hughes said it will be just more of the same.
“Absolutely this helps prepare us for down the line,” Hughes added. “You don’t fix it if it’s not broken.”
Perry’s boys also topped Green 2,779-2,228 to remain on top in the Federal Division boys race. Brandon Ramsey led the Panthers with a 521 series, including a 279 game, and Kaleb Corrin added a 478. Devin Kohut was high for Green with 394.
GIRLS
GREEN 2,623, PERRY 2,613
(At AMF Hall of Fame)
Two-game series: Green 2,073 (Mel. Perrine 197-183, E. Hughes 202-236, Holt 184-198, Mar. Perrine 246-188, V. Hughes 209-230); Perry 2,065 (Morrison 225, King 160-217, Poling 205-217, Carper 182-244, Miller 208-199, Turner 148). Baker System: Green 185-204-161; Perry 163-202-187).
BOYS
PERRY 2,779, GREEN 2,228
(at AMF Hall of Fame)
Two-game series: Perry 2,144 (Corrin 244-234, Ramsey 279-242, Gardner 170, Nave 198, Close 245-167, Restorick 215, Harman 150); Green 1,645 (Barton 195156, Kohut 200-194, Pallotta 138-142, Bordonaro 172-157, Kozlowski 149, Miller 142). Baker System: Perry 209-258-168; Green 204-198-181.