NORTH CANTON — Triway High School’s girls bowling team rolled through the qualifying round of the Park Centre Holiday Tournament, finishing with 3,332 total pinfall.
That was 278 pins in front of second-place Green — and 58 pins ahead of the Titans’ boys team, which also was top-seeded heading into match play.
But Green girls assistant coach Alex Snowberger made it clear which team the Bulldogs wanted to face in the title match.
“We wanted them,” said Snowberger and his mother, head girls coach Eydie Snowberger, said together.
“I knew I wanted it bad, and I could tell the girls wanted it bad,” Alex Snowberger said. “So I told them this is our chance. Let’s go get it now.”
The Bulldogs, after dropping Game 1 of the best-of-five championship match Saturday at Park Centre Lanes, rebounded to sweep the next three games for a 3-1 win over the defending OHSAA Division II state champions.
In the boys division, Triway had to rally in its opening match after holding a 2-0 lead against Canton South and went on to stop North Canton Hoover 3-2 to claim the title.
GAME 2 RALLY KEYS GREEN
After battling transitions throughout the qualifying and first two Baker System match-play rounds, Green and Triway bowled on a fresh oil pair that had not been used until the title match.
“I’m not making any excuses, but it makes a difference when you’re used to moving throughout the day with girls who aren’t used to it,” Triway coach Corby Anderson said. “My girls are pretty used to doing that. But you’re moving, moving, moving and changing balls to get into the oil.
“Then, all of a sudden, we had to go back to what we were thinking in Game 1 of the day. It’s no excuse; we have to figure it out.”
After Triway won the opening game of the title match 150-135, Alex Snowberger agreed adjustments had to be made.
“At the beginning of the day, it really didn’t feel much different, but I noticed it broke down real fast,” Snowberger said. “And it did it all at once. Then one frame, we had to jump way inside.
“Every single game we were moving left and chasing the shot. But in the title match, we had to go back to throwing equipment from Game 1. We told them that’s how it was going to be so let’s move back to the right, and they got it done.”
The big key came in Game 2 when the Bulldogs ran off six straight strikes en route to a 219-161 win. It came after one bowler covered a key 4-9 split to start the surge.
“That’s the best way to do it in bowling,” Snowberger said. “One person gets it to click and it makes the whole team better. Everyone else just falls into line.”
After the Bulldogs’ went big in Game 2, they recorded wins of 179-129 and 188-164 in the final two games to claim the title.
“Everything we do is geared toward the postseason,” Anderson said. “We knew that Green is good and they are solid on fresh oil … they have girls who throw the ball great.
“It’s no excuse. We have to figure things out. After bowling well all day it’s disappointing to end it like that. It’s still about the long haul and moving our minds toward that. Moving back to fresh like that tricks up your mind a little … you have to remember what you’ve done earlier in the day.”
The Perrine sisters — Madison and Marissa — again led the Bulldogs with two-game series of 499 and 492, respectively, during qualifying.
“The girls made spares and worked together as a team,” Alex Snowberger said. “That was the most important thing.”
Triway’s Emma Yoder turned in the top girls series with 501, with Lindsay Miller adding 446 and Danielle Densmore 443. The Titans finished the two regular games during qualifying with 2,132, 10 pins ahead of the top boys team.
Triway and Green will meet again during a Stark County High School Bowling Conference match Jan. 26 at Stonehedge Family Fun Center.
TITANS BOYS GET A WIN
Triway boys coach Vince Yoder admitted a close call during the Titans’ opening match-play round battle with Canton South gave his team momentum.
“We were up 2-0, and them bringing it back to a tie and forcing a fifth game gave us momentum,” Yoder said. “We told them to worry about their shots, their lane and their timing, and they came through.”
Triway used the same philosophy in the title match against Hoover, again jumping out to a 2-0 lead (213-162, 222-209) before the Vikings rallied in Games 3 and 4 (224-158, 227-170).
“I just told them in Game 5 to bowl one frame at a time and not look at their scores,” Yoder said. “Just put up as many strikes as we can and stay clean.”
The Titans earned a 224-215 win in Game 5 after getting a back break in the ninth frame when Chad Harper left a solid 9-pin on a strike and just barely making the spare.
“Everyone pitched in today. We moved the lineup around a little bit,” Hoover boys coach Austin Crowe said. “We used the same kids, but just moved them. We just told them to stay positive and keep their heads in the game.
“Some of the kids come out firing, but you have to keep your heads in the game until the end.”
This marked the Titans first tourney win of the season.
“It helps mentally when you can overcome the hard push from another team,” Yoder said. “You have to stay on top of things, stay within yourself and make good shots.
“We’ve been knocking on the door a lot and, hopefully, this gives them the confidence that they can do it.”
Harper led the boys division with 491, and Aeron Meshew added 447 as the Titans led qualifying with 3,274, 98 pins ahead of Hoover.
“If we need a shot, it’s either Chad or Aeron who makes it. Aeron has more experience in JTBAs and tournaments,” Yoder said. “He’s the guy we lean on.”
Hoover was led by Austin Crowe’s 474 series. The Vikings won the Muskingum Invitational in Coshocton two weeks ago.
“Anytime you win, it gives you confidence, and experience in tight matches like this can get you over the nerves. We can build off of that,” coach Crowe said. “You can’t teach that when practicing.
“They were in it as thick as it gets there. It will make a difference the next time.”
Let the second half of the season begin.
NOTEBOOK: The tournament drew 24 teams, 12 boys and 12 girls, with the fields being cut to the top eight respectively for match play. … The oil pattern was a PBA50 Tour 39-foot pattern. … Emma Yoder had the high series of the day and was the lone bowler to break 500 for two games. … Qualifying consisted of two regular games and six Baker System games, with all match-play matches being best-of-five Baker System. … There was a 61-pin difference between eighth and ninth in the girls division and just 23 pins in the boys division, with Canton South earning the last spot in match play with 174 the final Baker game to just 141 for United Local.
PARK CENTRE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
(Saturday at Park Centre Lanes)
BOYS
Qualifying results: 1, Triway 3,874 total pinfall; 2, North Canton Hoover 3,176; 3, GlenOak 3,079; 4, Perry, 3,038; 5, Lake 2,940; 6, Green 2,843; 7, McKinley 2,796; 8, Canton South 2,748; 9, United 2,725; 10, Alliance 2,680; 11, Perry JV 2,491; 12, Central Catholic 2,431.
Quarterfinals (best-of-five Baker System): Triway d. Canton South 3-2; Hoover d. Canton McKinley 3-2; Green d. GlenOak 3-0 (two-frame rolloff in Game 3); Lake d. Perry 3-1.
Semifinals (best of-five Baker System):Championship (best of five Baker System): Triway d. Green 3-0; Hoover d. Lake 3-2.
Championship (best-of-five Baker System): Triway (213-222-158-170-224) d. Hoover (162-209-22-227-215) 3-2.
All-tournament team: Chad Harper (Triway) 491; Austin Crowe (North Canton Hoover) 474; Kaleb Corrin (Perry) 456; Aeron Meshew (Triway) 447; CJ Ault (Lake) 438.
GIRLS
Qualifying results: 1, Triway 3,332; 2, Green 3,056; 3, Perry 2,691; 4, Tallmadge 2,626; 5, North Canton Hoover 2,562; 6, Lake 2,532; 7, GlenOak 2,421; 8, Central Catholic 2,370; 9, Perry JV 2,307; 10, United Local 2,182; 11, McKinley 2,132; 12, Alliance 1,840.
Quarterfinals (best-of-five Baker System): Triway d. Canton Central Catholic 3-0; Green d. GlenOak 3-0; Lake d. Perry 3-2; Tallmadge d. North Canton Hoover 3-2.
Semifinals (best of-five Baker System): Triway d. Lake 3-0; Green d. Tallmadge 3-0.
Championship (best of five Baker System): Green (135-219-179-188) d. Triway (150-161-129-164) 3-1.
All-tournament team: Emma Yoder (Triway) 501; Madison Perrine (Green) 499; Marissa Perrine (Green) 492; Lindsay Miller (Triway) 446; Danielle Densmore (Triway) 443.