BOWERSTON — Bowlers — on the high school, college or adult levels — will tell you that scoring always is based on what the lanes will give you.
But for Thursday’s Stark County High School Bowling Conference match between Conotton Valley and Lake, it was ALL about the lanes in a different sense.
It marked the first official event held inside the new 10-lane bowling center that is part of Conotton Valley/Union Local Schools’ new $2.1 million Rocket Center, which just recently has been open to students as some cosmetic construction continues.
For more on the new center, go to: https://snieronbowling.com/2022/12/02/h-s-bowling-conotton-valley-coaches-take-pride-in-new-rocket-center-lanes/
It also marked Year 4 of the “civil” war between the Kings — Lake longtime head coach Pat King and his daughter, former Blue Streaks standout bowler and SCHSBC Hall of Famer Robyn King, who serves as the Rockets’ girls coach.
“We knew that Lake had to be that first match,” Robyn King said prior to the match. “I remember going home and telling dad two years ago we’re going to have a bowling alley.
“It’s just fantastic for me, especially that dad gets to bring his team down here.”
Pat King admitted when his daughter told him of the school district’s plans, it took awhile for “it to sink in.”
“I had never heard of a bowling alley on a high school campus. Wow, what an opportunity,” Pat King said. “But it makes sense in a rural community like this. It’s just fantastic, and it’s going to make a strong program even stronger over time.”
THE BOYS MATCH
In the boys match, the Blue Streaks were able to cut a 63-pin deficit after Game 1 of the regular games to just 13 pins heading into the four Baker System games.
But the Rockets started their first Baker game with five straight strikes while Lake struggled en route to a 208-114 win. The Blue Streaks were never able to recover as the Rockets earned a 2,626-2,523 win.
“We struggled a little bit there. Our big guy (Bobby Brennan) was down and has had some stomach problems and been sick. But others stepped up and they did what they needed to do,” Rockets boys coach Dennis Gordon said.
Nate Downing led Conotton Valley with a 424 series, including 226 in Game 2, and Nolan Caldwell added 410. Brennan struggled to 329 and did not bowl in the Baker games.
“We’ve been up and down so far, even though we’re 3-0 and beat a good Minerva team,” Gordon said. “We have four seniors who had never bowled before and now they’re in their fourth year. We got out butts kicked a lot when we first started.
“But they’ve been really working hard. This was a pretty good team to have our first match here against. We like to bowl the better teams. I guarantee the nerves were there at the start. They’ve been talking about this first match for a long, long time.”
Brody Templeton led the Blue Streaks with a 414 series, but sophomore two-hander Zac Abbott struggled with a 370.
“We made it close after two, but the lane changes got to a couple of our guys,” Pat King said. “It was a fun match and a good place to come to. But I’m starting to see where there will be a home-field advantage.”
After being qualifying leaders during the SCHSBC Early Bird Kickoff at Park Centre, Lake’s home house, Pat King said his team has been “up and down.”
“We just haven’t been able to put the five guys together like we did that first day,” Pat King said. “We’ve had some good scores, and then we’ve had some other scores. But the guys are working hard and their attitudes are positive. They come ready every day.”
GIRLS MATCH
Unlike the boys, the Rockets girls were never in trouble during their match with Lake, rolling to a 2,667-2,073 win.
Daphne Stuber lead Conotton Valley with a 425 series — high for the day in both divisions — and Katie Schaar added 410. McKenzie Willoughby and freshman Delilah Williams added 394 and 384, respectively.
Ashlee Cunningham topped Lake with as 376 series and recorded the team’s lone 200 game.
“They showed up today. There may have been a few nerves, but being able to have some time on their own here and messing around with different oil patterns and different shots has helped,” Robyn King said of the Rockets. “Probably the difference was there’s a crowd behind them now, but we’ve had two away matches so it’s nothing new.”
Robyn King admitted there are expectations for this group with all varsity starters returning and the addition of Williams, Gordon’s granddaughter, who has Junior Gold and tournament experience. The Rockets are 2-1, dropping a road match at Minerva.
“You want to create situations to put them in the mindset of what the postseason can be,” Robyn King said.”We have the ability to create similar situations with the new center, like when we run into oil breakdowns and not being able to finish it in the long run.
“We can recreate situations so we don’t run into the same problems.”
And Robyn also is 3-1 against her father, losing only in her opening season as coach. So where is the celebratory dinner — on dad of course — this year?
“She’ll let me know,” Pat King said.
BOYS
CONOTTON VALLEY 2,626, LAKE 2,523
(At Rocket Center)
Two-game series: Conotton Valley 1,857 (Brennan 188-141, Caldwell 207-203, Bernhardt 185-185, Mayer 157, Rolli 167, Downing 198-226); Lake 1,865 (Trent 176-159, Tompot 200-214, Templeton 151-208, Abbott 179-195, Ault 166-217).
Baker System: Conotton Valley 208-181-226-154; Lake 114-173-183-188.
GIRLS
CONOTTON VALLEY 2,667, LAKE 2,073
(At Rocket Center)
Two-game series: Conotton Valley 1,913( Stuber 189-236, Schaar 220-190, Blick 155, Willoughby 187-207, Williams 208-176, Galigher 145); Lake 1,498 (Kuruc 122-161, Templeton 136-148, Cunningham 163-213, Freshley 136-145, Meffert 142-132)
Baker System: Conotton Valley 200-184-192-178; Lake 178-177-120-100.