By BILL SNIER
NORTON — Boardman left AMF Hall of Fame Lanes in Canton after 8:30 p.m. Saturday night and didn’t arrive home until around 10 p.m.
But the Spartans boys team was right back on the bus at 7:15 a.m. Sunday for a return West for the Panther Challenge at Charger Lanes.
“I think it was give or take around 10 when we got home,” Boardman coach Mark Lias, who took the reins for this event in place of John Lucansky after the Spartans finished second to Wadsworth during Saturday’s Muskingum Invitational.
“But they actually had more energy than I thought and they were relaxed, which was good because they probably were tired.”
After sitting 99 pins behind New Philadelphia entering the Baker System portion of the event, the Spartans shot 1,252 (208.6 average) over those final six games with only one game under 200 to claim the title in the 20-team field.
The girls portion of the Panther Challenge was contested Saturday, with Green running away to victory in the 12-team field by 262 pins over Nordonia.
The format was three regular games and six Baker System games on a house oil pattern.
SPARTANS CONTINUE RUN
The win Saturday ended Boardman’s string of second-place finishes during the Ohio State Division I Kickoff Classic and Muskingum Invitational.
“We had good ball reaction and we fed off it all day,” said Lias, whose team crossed with Triway during the tournament. “Staying on the same pair we knew what the moves were and what to do next, and we made every adjustment.
“We made good shots and were watching the ball reaction. My guys talked to each other, and when the team can see it, I don’t have to make every adjustment for them.”
The Spartans remained second after the first three Baker games by 20 pins to the Quakers. But Boardman shot 596 over that final three to New Philadelphia’s 506 to claim the win.
“That was probably the most consistent we’ve been all year and it’s great to see,” Lias said. I think it’s going to be a springboard for us into all our other tournaments. It’s good momentum to build off of.”
The Spartans finished with 4,341 total pinfall, with the Quakers taking second (4,321). They were followed by Cleveland St. Ignatius (4,191), Highland (4,188) and Canton McKinley (4,136).
Individually, Ben Hildebrand led the Spartans with a 666 series while Austin Rule and Jessy McClutcheon tied at 643. McClutcheon made second-team all-tournament by way of a high-game tiebreaker with Rule. Caden Wilcox also had 587 and Don Bagdassarian contributed 550.
The Quakers, making the Panther Challenge their traditional first tourney appearance of the season, had the lead after three games with 3,188. Tournament most valuable player Landon LaBiche led the way with a tourney-high 719 series as four New Philadelphia players shot 600 or better (Jack Fair 674, Chase Hutchison 629 and Nick Tedesco 600).
But splits, missed spares and a lack of carry caught up to the Quakers during the Baker round as they shot just 1,133 (188.8), including back-to-back games of 144 and 168 over the final three.
“Missed spares were a big part along with some tough splits. We still had the adrenaline going, but when you get to that point and you have two open frames in a row, it kind of deflates you a little bit,” said New Philadelphia coach Jeff Locker, who led the Quakers to their first Division I state tournament appearance last season.
“Then it becomes hard to rebound, but we did finish strong the last game. But when you’re in a tournament like this and the competition is so good, you can’t afford to slip up a little. If you do, those other teams are right there.”
Locker said momentum was the key for the Quakers, who shot 1,024 in Game 1 to jump to the top early.
“We started out kind of slow, but once we stated building momentum by the third game we were great,” Locker said. “Against this strong field, we’re really pleased with this.”
Baker games also were costly for Ignatius down the stretch after the Wildcats trailed New Philadelphia by 111 pins heading into the final six games.
But after starting out with 202 and 204, the Wildcats averaged just 177 over the final four, including a 152 in Game 4.
“We came out the opening three (regular) games pretty solid, but then we had an hour break and the kids kind of lost it,” St. Ignatius coach Jim Viets said. “We averaged 200 over our first three, but then we fell apart the last three. Bakers are always the key to these tournaments. Solid Bakers will either make or break you, and we didn’t have solid games.”
Mason Melgaard led the Wildcats with 655, followed by Colin Robinson with 635 and Teague Green with 631.
The Wildcats now have a pair of third-place finishes in their first two tournaments after qualifying for state a year ago.
“I told them to average 230 the final three games to make a splash, but they didn’t shoot 200,” Viets said. “We left a lot of 10-pins out there. You still have to make your spares.”
To show how important spares are, Viets has a pin at every practice with a message written on it. The Wildcats missed advancing to match-play in the OHSAA Division I State Tournament by just one pin a year ago.
“They look at it every practice,” Viets said. “Spares are critical.”
GREEN TAKES TITLE
With senior Madison Perrine earning MVP honors with a tourney-high 633 series, Green captured the girls crown Saturday with 3,813 total pinfall.
The Bulldogs were followed by Nordonia (3,551), Norton (3,483), Akron Hoban (3,477) and Tallmadge (3,045).
The Bulldogs, who averaged 166.7 during the six-game Baker round, were never slowed after trailing 2023 state champion Nordonia by two pins (868-866) after Game 1 of the regular games.
Miah Adkins added 574 for Green, Brooklyn Krager had 570 and Payton Taylor 565.
Grace Bedafka led the Knights with 590, followed by Kaitlyn McNutt (571) and Alex Demarco (547). Madeline Mullett was high for Norton with 579.
NOTEBOOK: During the boys event, Lanes 3-12, 19-20, 23-26 and 29-32 were used, with teams remaining on their same pairs throughout the tournament. There were two teams on each pair. … There were 13 players named to all-tournament teams, with each individual champion being accorded MVP honors while the other 12 made up the first and second teams. Complete teams are listed below. … In the girls division, McNutt posted the overall high game with 244. Cuyahoga Falls’ Justin Wagner led the boys with 275. … Highland’s Gracie Dunne, who bowls on the boys team, also shot 642. The school does not have a girls varsity bowling team.
PANTHER CHALLENGE
(Saturday, Sunday, at Charger Lanes, Norton)
GIRLS DIVISION
Final standings: 1, Green 3,813 total pinfall; 2, Nordonia 3,551; 3, Norton 3,483; 4, Akron Hoban 3,477; 5, Tallmadge 3,045, 6, Conotton Valley 2,960; 7, Cuyahoga Falls 2,740; 8, Streetsboro 2,651, 9, Canton McKinley 2,546; 10, Crestwood 1,804; 11, Ravenna 1,751; 12, Woodridge 1,666
Tourney MVP: Madison Perrine (Green) 633
All-Tournament teams
First team: Alex Pavlik (Tallmadge) 630; Amy Rein (Streetsboro) 619; Grace Bedafka (Nordonia) 590; Madalyn Mullett (Norton) 579; Khloe Moore (Akron Hoban) 575
Second team: Miah Adkins (Green) 574; Kate Folk (Akron Hoban) 573; Kaitlyn McNutt (Nordonia) 571; Brooklyn Krager (Green) 570; Payton Taylor (Green) 565.
BOYS DIVISION
Final standings: 1, Boardman 4,341 total pinfall; 2, New Philadelphia 4,321; 3, Cleveland St. Ignatius 4,191; 4, Highland 4,191; 5, Canton McKinley 4,136; 6, Cuyahoga Falls 4,071; 7, Medina 4,036; 8, Berea-Midpark 3,986; 9, Triway 3,896; 10, Akron Hoban 3,788; 11, Ravenna 3,786; 12, Woodridge 3,710; 13, Nordonia 3,521; 14, Tallmadge 3,338; 15, Howland 3,183; 16, Norton 3,160; 17, Streesboro 3,065; 18, Norway 3,021; 19, Conotton Valley 2,966; 20, Crestwood 2,956
Tourney MVP: Landon LaBiche (New Philadelphia) 719
All-Tournament teams
First team: Luke Nedoma (Berea-Midpark) 677; Jack Fair (New Philadelphia) 674; Ben Hildebrand (Boardman) 666; Gabe Kasper (Highland 665; Justin Wagner (Cuyahoga Falls) 657
Second team: Mason Melgaard (St. Ignatius) 655; Billy Beach (Medina) 650; Carson Oakes (Akron Hoban) 648; Jonathan Waggoner (Canton McKinley) 647; Jessy McClutcheon (Boardman) 643