AKRON — A week ago when the Green and Perry high school girls bowling teams met at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Bulldogs head coach Dustin Hughes purposely downplayed the victory to his team.
“It was nothing different. We didn’t change anything … it was just another match,” Hughes said following the win. “I just told them to bowl their game and have fun. I really didn’t want to put anything in their heads.”
The rematch came Thursday at Stonehedge Family Fun Centre and, this time, Hughes admitted Green was “feeling it.”
The Bulldogs extended their consecutive win streak to 31 matches with a 2,499-2,420 victory over the Panthers to all but wrap up their second straight Federal League title on “Senior Night” with two matches remaining home and away against Jackson.
“We came in with a positive mentality after celebrating our seniors and we just started strong,” Hughes said. “We didn’t do anything different. That’s what we’ve done here since Day 1.”
During the senior celebration, Hughes’ daughter, senior Vada Hughes, officially signed her national letter of intent to attend Spring Arbor (Mich.) University. Hughes, the Bulldogs’ lone senior starter, shot 372 in the win.
“I think I was more concerned about what to say then than anything else all night,” Dustin Hughes said.
Junior Marissa Perrine led the Bulldogs with a 458 series and freshman Madison Perrine added 379.
The Bulldogs’ success has come as part of Hughes’ plan to build the program after taking over as junior varsity coach four years ago with the varsity coming off of a two-win season.
“We have drills we do … standard practice drills that we do every practice with repetitions,” Hughes said. “I run a bowling club all year and we work on things during the off-season.
“That’s when we do our work. During the regular season, we have a game plan that we stick to. It’s made a huge difference from Day 1 and the girls buy into it. As long as they are doing that, we’re good.”
Perry trailed 954-848 after the first regular game and never recovered despite cutting its deficit to 62 pins with a 981 in Game 2.
Senior Hannah Miller led the Panthers with a 431 series, including a match-high 244 in Game 1, and sophomore Ami King added 407.
“Of course, we want to win, but they are a good team and they don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Perry head coach Joe Altimore III said. “They have the advantage of being able to play up the boards off the corner. I don’t have that.
“Let’s face it, my girls are 4-foot nothing and their girls are 6-footers that have a physical advantage. We have to play the lanes a different way, covering a lot of boards with our slower ball speed.”
But, Altimore said, spare shooting has become a problem for his team.
“No matter what, it comes down to making spares. We do this every year when we go down to state,” Altimore said. “We dig ourselves a hole in Game 1 and then try to come out of it, and that’s not easy to do. I think part of it is nerves.”
The Panthers are battling some late-season health problems, with Kiele Poling suffering an ankle injury (it was wrapped for the match) and Miller having a finger injury.
“We didn’t have a friendly schedule,” Altimore said. “I still want to practice, but I also don’t want to hurt them anymore. I think rest is of more value than practice at this point.”
The two teams will see each other again Sunday during the Stark Division I sectional at Eastbury Bowling Center.
“We had some minor injuries at midseason, but everyone is at their peak right now,” Dustin Hughes said. “We had about an hour of practice on the tournament shot. We had the girls take some notes, throw every one of their balls using different lines and make adjustments off of that.
“I like them to make their own adjustments. I’ll make suggestions, but they’re smart and it builds their confidence when they are involved.”
Altimore says gaining confidence from his players in making the proper moves also will be key during tournament time.
“A lot of them stand up there when I say do this or look there. They don’t have the confidence to actually do that,” Altimore said. “I think they can do it, and I have to get them to buy in on that.”
But it’s Green at the top of the hill at this point with two matches remaining and tournaments to come.
“We just have to bowl our game again,” Hughes said. “Just keep our spirits up and our heads right and we will be fine.”
PERRY BOYS RALLY
The Perry boys maintained a one-match lead in the Federal League race with a 2,617-2,558 win over Green. The Panthers rallied after trailing 1,894-1,855 following the regular two games.
The Panthers 782-644 during the four Baker games to take the victory.
Richard Close led the Panthers with a 405 series and Nick Harmon added 367. Seniors Devin Kohut and Taylor Barton led the Bulldogs with 407 and 389, respectively, and freshman Anthony Bordonaro added 383.
GIRLS
GREEN 2,499, PERRY 2,420
(At Stonehedge)
Two-game series: Green 1,891 (Mad. Perrine 212-167, Mar. Perrine 222-236, Holt 168-180, E. Hughes 152-182, V. Hughes 200-172); Perry 1,829 (Bling 159-143, Morrison 159, Carper 160-173, Miller 187-244, King 153-224, Schumacher 197). Baker System: Green 203-`82-111; Perry 191-207-193.
BOYS
PERRY 2,617, GREEN 2,558
Two-game series: Perry 1,855 (Gardner 180-179, Corrin 176, Little 176, Nave 199, Close 211-194, Harmon 184-183, composite 173); Green 1,894 (Barton 206-182, Kohut 195-212, Pallotta ;191-0171, Kozlowski 136, Bordinaro 212-171, Miller 187). Baker System: Green 163-178-149-174; Perry 216-204-168-194.
OTHER MATCHES
BOYS
CANTON SOUTH 2,707, MINERVA 2,552
(at AMF Hall of Fame)
Two-game series: Canton South 1,899 (Knop 178-228, Doebereineer 191-178, Gore 162-181, Montgomery 243-23, Fyffe 169-156); Minerva 1,874 (Lautzenheiser 229-279, Mayle 202-133, Wilenbarger 145, Grafe 172-177, Frazier 177-189). Baker System: Canton South 206-244-201-157; Minerva 148-173-201-156.
UNITED LOCAL 2,548, ALLIANCE 2,233
(at Forest Lanes)
Two-game series: United 1,892 (Bryan 208-186, Rawson 168-152, Furlong 175-177, Hoffee 173-191, Hively 204-258); Alliance 1,615 (G. Bing 136-130, Blake 146-174, D. Bing 177-191, McGrath 123-145, Galeano 221-172). Baker System: United 157-165-183-151; Alliance 137-194-133-154.
GIRLS
MINERVA 2,131, CANTON SOUTH 1,982
(at AMF Hall of Fame)
Two-game series: Canton South 1,398 (Minor 147-159, Telaroli 150-185, DeVore 117-122, Slagle 94-104, Murphy 146-174); Minerva 1,492 (Leach 128, Thompson 161-174, Sanor 163-156, Cress 144-129, Worrell 115-180, Lucowski 142). Baker System: Canton South 155-140-148-141; Minerva 186-142-181-130.
TUSCARAWAS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 2,126, GARAWAY 1,751
(at Wabash Lanes)
Two-game series: Tusky Central 1,628 (Garbrandt 170-182, Gonzalez 169-181, Slates 165-225, Sica 170-145, Fox 117, Sitjar 104); Garaway 1,309 (Deam 135, Lea 120, Millet 108, Miller 122, Sparling 163-172, Miller 134, Starmer 109, Soltzman 138, Raber 108). Baker System: 154-191-153; Garaway 178-152-112.
UNITED LOCAL 2,112, ALLIANCE 1,676
(at Forest Lanes)
Two-game series: United 1,544 (Syppko 188-193, Coleman 130-144, Gamble 164-149, Swogger 15, Frederick 179-136, Meeks 108). Alliance 1,185 (Dosa 93, Gordon 136-132, Kisner 111-116, Jackson 163-15, Thomas 96-96, Composite 87). Baker System: United 159-129-127-153; Alliance 135-114-135-107.