BEAVERCREEK — The Wilmington High School boys bowling season ended Wednesday in the Division I Southwest District tournament here at Beaver-Vu Lanes.
The Hurricane finished with a pinfall count of 3,287, which included 905 in six baker games.
“This was the toughest shot I’ve seen all year … by far,” said WHS head coach Josh Fisher. “They gave them something they haven’t seen a lot of (this season).”
Fisher said Wilmington struggled with the lane conditions even in pre-tournament sessions.
“During practice on Monday, it was the same way, up and down,” Fisher said.
Ryan Hottinger led WHS with a 539 series (155, 189, 195). Zach Zeckser had a 534 (141, 233, 160).
After a slow start of 731 in the first game, Wilmington moved up the board with a big second game, 904. The Hurricane was 16th overall and just 98 pins away from the final state qualifying spot.
But struggles in the third game (747) all but ended the WHS chances of continuing its season. Baker games were 148, 136, 132, 160, 185 and 144.
Donavon Brown finished with 474 (147, 198, 129). Timothy Wright had games of 154 and 140 while Tristan Reiley had a 134 game. Subs bowled games of 138, 123 and 146 for Wilmington. Clayton Jones and Zach Davis bowled in the baker games for the Hurricane.
“Spares were a crucial part and we just didn’t do our jobs all the way around,” said Fisher.
To compare, Hottinger finished with a 659 series last year and missed by 39 pins of making the state tournament. This year, 635 by Mason’s David Neal was the top individual bowler on a non-qualifying team.
Cincinnati Oak Hills was the overall top team with a 4,025 pinfall. Centerville at 3,912, Miamisburg at 3,836, Vandalia Butler at 3,812 and Huber Heights Wayne were the other four state qualifying teams.
Individually after Neal of Mason, state qualifiers were Hunter Schlagel of Kettering Fairmont with 596, a Lebanon bowler with 585, Max Peterson of Cincinnati Northwest with 585 and Noah Kurtz of Cincinnati LaSalle with 581.
