NORTON — During the Stark County High School Bowling Conference Early Bird Kickoff, the Conotton Valley girls led the qualifying round by 230 pins only to suffer a quarterfinal Baker System match loss to eighth-seeded North Canton Hoover.
On Saturday at Charger Lanes during the ninth annual Panther Challenge, the Rockets found themselves in a similar position after the opening three regular games.
This time, they were able to hold on — but just barely.
Conotton Valley, which took a 93-pin lead after the opening round, shot a 173 during its final Baker System game to capture the girls division title.
“We absolutely tried to give it away. We got caught up in the transition again, which we struggled with during the second individual game,” Rockets head coach Brian Baxter said. “The lanes started breaking down, they started hooking, and we just didn’t move fast enough.
“We missed spares, made some miscalculations, you name it. But we pulled it out in the end. It was too close for comfort, but we know what we have to work on.”
The Rockets finished with 3,797 total pinfall after averaging just 168.7 during their six Baker System games.
Green was 101 pins behind the Rockets entering the Baker System portion of the event. But the Bulldogs averaged 179.2 over the last six games to jump into second place with 3,759, just 28 pins behind the Rockets.
Their final Baker game of 143 ended the Bulldogs’ hopes of bringing home a win for first-year coach Eydie Snowberger.
“I think they decided that they were going to do this together and they became a team. They cheered each other on and they had a lot of energy. We came real close to winning,” said Snowberger, Green Local School District’s treasurer who just took over the team a month ago.
Snowberger took the job when her son, Alex, a former bowler for Stow-Munroe Falls who bowls at Wright State University, and his friend and college teammate, Nick Ariequeeuw, expressed interest in helping with the team.
“I wanted to do something with Alex, and the girls have made it pretty easy,” Snowberger said. “I didn’t expect to be this sucked into it already, but I’m over there thinking I’m going to have a heart attack. They are so good, and it’s so much fun.”
Snowberger’s team also was coming off the disappointment of a seventh-place finish at the Early Bird Kickoff.
“We were disappointed by that finish obviously,” Snowberger said. “Our goal was to be in the top three today, so we’re pretty happy with second especially coming back from 100 pins down.”
PERRINE LEADS GREEN, TOURNEY
The Bulldogs were led by right-hander Marissa Perrine, who turned in the top series of the event with a 701, including a Game 1 high of 247. It comes just two weeks after she rolled her first career 300 in junior league play at Stonehedge Family Fun Center.
“The team and the coaches just kept me up and helped me feel more confident in myself,” Perrine said. “I was able to play the same mark that I usually do (13 board to eight). We have three new coaches and it’s been really good. The two guys have 100 percent been a positive influence.
“Our goal was to finish first, but it was also to finish strong.”
“She’s a superstar. She had that poker face all day. She was just amazing,” Snowberger said.
Madison Perrine also contributed a 578 series for the Bulldogs.
BAKER WOES FOR ROCKETS
Baxter admitted the lane transition hit the Rockets in Game 2, even though they were able to shoot 901 as a team and maintain their lead after 929 in Game 1. They also finished with 955.
“During the three individual games, we were very consistent and our spare shooting was there. Once we got lined back up in Game 3, everything was good,” Baxter said. “We had never shot 900 before and our low was 901 so you can’t ask for more.”
Left-hander Daphne Stuber led the Rockets with a 642 series, including a high of 246 in Game 2. She was followed by right-hander Delilah Williams with 590. Mackenzie Willoughby also contributed 561.
“I have to say that this was a group effort. All of them struggled in Bakers, but the cohesiveness of the individuals … they picked each other up and were there for each other.,” Baxter said. “At times, we have struggled with that in the past a little and it has affected team performance.
“But when one struggled today, another was there to pick her up. No drama. That’s all you can ask for from a team.”
Tallmadge, which had moved to second after two Baker games and came within 46 pins of the Rockets, finished third with 3,701, followed by Mentor (3,517) and Akron Hoban (3,494).
Conotton Valley led from start to finish. But Baxter would like to see a better finish.
“We were able to survive in qualifying at the Early Bird in Bakers, but it bit us us during match play,” Baxter said. “It was the same deal, and it’s something we have to work on.
“But leading qualifying in the only two tournaments we’ve bowled so far, we’re happy with that.”
NOTEBOOK: The event had a 19-team field, with the boys part of the event set for 9 a.m. Sunday with a field of 20 teams. … The tourney format was three regular games and six Baker System games. Teams did not change lanes during the entire tournament, with two teams per pair. … Hoban’s Carley Jones turned in the high game with 278 in Game 3. … By virtue of their 1-2 finishes, Conotton Valley and Green earned free entries into next year’s event, a new aspect to the event this season. … The tourney also had a first- and second-team selections for its all-tournament squad. … There is a $5 admission for Sunday’s boys event.
NINTH ANNUAL PANTHER CHALLENGE
(At Charger Lanes, Norton)
Final standings: 1, Conotton Valley 3,797 total pinfall; 2, Green 3,759; 3, Tallmadge 3,701, 4, Mentor 3,517; 5, Akron Hoban 3,494; 6, Nordonia 3,426; 7, Rootstown 3,326; 8, Ravenna 3,176; 9, Howland 3,173; 10, Norton 3,149; 11, Woodridge 3,085; 12, Cuyahoga Falls 2,971; 13, Barberton 2,943; 14, Coventry 2,875; 15, Claymont 2,769; 16, New Philadelphia 2,697; 17, Mansfield 2,451; 18, Ravenna Southeast 2,448; 19, Massillon 2,343
Top series: Marissa Perrine (Green) 701.
High games: Marissa Perrine (Green) 247 (Game 1); Daphne Stuber (Conotton Valley) 246 (Game 2); Carley Jones (Akron Hoban) 278 (Game 3)
All-tournament teams
First team: Marissa Perrine (Green) 701; Daphne Stuber (Conotton Valley) 642; Maria Mara (Tallmadge) 616; Heather Walker (Mentor) 610; Hailey Simmons (Mentor) 605
Second team: Kolbey Lewin (Nordonia) 596; Delilah Williams (Conotton Valley) 590; Amanda Morton (Coventry) 588; Madison Perrine (Green) 578; Dakota Taylor (Tallmadge) 574