CANTON — The top two teams during Sunday’s Stark Division I girls sectional high school bowling tournament were determined following the opening three regular games at Eastbury Bowling Center.
But the battle for the third district qualifying spot — between GlenOak and Cloverleaf — was far from over. The Colts held a 123-pin lead heading into the six-game Baker System round.
“Of course we knew what they were doing,” Cloverleaf head coach Dennis Huffman said. “We could tell our girls were getting tense so we were working really hard to keep them smooth and keep their timing.”
Although the Golden Eagles got to within 62 pins at one point, the Colts were able to follow up their first Metro Athletic Conference title with a first district appearance in school history, gaining the third qualifying spot by 95 pins over GlenOak and 97 over Wooster.
Perry topped the field, earning its 11th straight district appearance, with 3,931 total pinfall — which would have put then in the final qualifying spot during Saturday’s Stark boys sectional. Green finished 231 pins behind the Panthers at 3,700, followed by Cloverleaf at 3,455. GlenOak had 3,360; Wooster 3,358.
The top three teams and top three individuals who were not on advancing teams move on to the district tournament, set for 10 a.m. March 1 at Roseland Lanes in Oakwood.
McKinley senior Brooke Tucker topped the individuals with a 722 series.
“Our girls have been working a lot … each had something she was working on to keep their games together,” said Huffman, owner-operator of Strike and Spare Lanes in Lodi and head coach for four of the program’s six seasons. “This is really exciting.”
Baker games were not too kind to the Colts, who mixed in a 132 and 122 early to give GlenOak a chance. But the Eagles had a 110 in Game 4 and 134 in Game 5 that hurt their chances to rally.
“We had some really tough leaves during the Bakers. We shot a number of spares that the ball hooked hard on the back ends and chopped,” Huffman said. “Your heart just stopped because you knew every pin was important. But they came back.”
Junior Delayna Huffman, who won the individual title during the MAC tournament, led the Colts with a 532 series and senior Natasha Messmore added 531.
PANTHERS STRUGGLE EARLY AGAIN
For Perry head coach Joe Altimore III, it was the same old story from the past several tournaments and matches.
“We just dug that hole again (in Game 1) and that’s really the only thing. I just don’t know how to get around it,” said Altimore, after his team opened with an 839 and sat third. “I still think it’s nerves.
“They know what to do and how to do it, but it’s getting them to 100 percent buy in. Once they calmed down, we were good.”
The Panthers followed with 952 and 1,015, the day’s only 1,000 game, to take a 138-pin lead after the opening three games. They then turned in the high Baker System block of 1,125.
“We changed our lineup in Bakers,” said Altimore, who followed a Baker tourneys-high of 255 with 187. “It’s just about carry in the big game. When you spare, you shoot 180s, 190s. We just try to control the pocket. As long as we do that, we’re fine.
“We had a fair amount of pocket 7-10s (splits). But we also had a couple of breaks so it all evens out.”
Senior Alexis Carper led the Panthers with a 620 series as four Panthers finished in the top 10 individually (sophomore And King 586, freshman Kiele Poling 550 and senior Jordan Schumacher 535).
Senior Veda Hughes led the Federal League champion Bulldogs with 616, Junior Marissa Perrine added 530, sophomore Elena Hughes 527 and freshman Madison Perrine 513 also for Green.
TUCKER ROLLS
But the featured individual was Tucker, who had games of 248, 217 and 257, topping Saturday’s high boys series by 11 pins.
“I’m so proud of myself. I don’t think I’ve ever met a girl who has done that (beat all the guys),” said Tucker, who will be making her fourth straight district appearance. It was the Bulldogs’ Alex Coffelt who shot the top boys high series of 711 end route to lead McKinley to the sectional title.
“I let him know about it,” Tucker said, smiling.
It all came down to making the right ball choice for Tucker, who chose to go with a Storm Phaze 4 that she had drilled Saturday.
“I talked to mom (JP Family Pro Shop owner Jossett Tucker) about the shot and she wanted me to try more than one ball,” said Tucker, who started with the Phaze 4, but switched to her Storm Physix early.
“The Physix just didn’t seem to pick up the roll soon enough so I went back to the Phaze 4. And just like that the ball picked up the lane immediately and carried right to the pocket. I stayed with it the rest of the day.”
The top three individual finishers advanced. Joining Tucker are Wooster sophomore Abbie Leiendecker with a 663 following a 186 opening game and GlenOak senior Rachel Young with 652 after a 172 during her final game. Missing out was GlenOak senior Jessica Ball, who finished with 620, but finished in a tie for fourth.
This is just the first step.
“Getting to states .. that’s the goal,” Tucker said.
“This is an accomplishment to be sure,” Altimore said. “But we still have to work. Nothing is going to be given to us.”
And the preparations begin this week.
STARK DIVISION I GIRLS SECTIONAL
(At Eastbury Bowing Center)
Final team standings (top three advance to district): 1, Perry 3,931; 2, Green 3,700; 3, Cloverleaf 3,455; 4, GlenOak 3,360; 5, Wooster 3,358; 6, McKinley 3,269; 7, Lake 2,961; 8, Jackson 2,800; 9, Hoover 2,692; 10, Louisville 2,689; 11, Wadsworth 2,627; 12, Alliance 2,305; 13, Massillon 2,264.
Qualifying individuals: Brooke Tucker (McKinley) 722; Abbie Leiendecker (Wooster) 663; Rachel Young (GlenOak) 652.