D4's Best Win in Dramatic Fashion

March 4, 2017

By Dick Hoekstra
Special for Second Half

LANSING – It took the third highest series of bracket play to do it, but Bronson sophomore Brandon Hyska eliminated three-time reigning champion Kyle Tuttle of St. Charles 482-456 in a Quarterfinal match and went on to capture the Division 4 individual championship in boys bowling Saturday at Royal Scot Lanes.

In the girls Final, senior Kendra Schuitema of Ravenna bowled strikes in frames 5-10 and an extra frame to pull away from senior Paige Kortz of Napoleon and also earn an individual title.

Hyska, the No. 2 seed after morning qualifying, rolled his best series of 487 in the first round of bracket play to set up the match with the No. 7-seeded Tuttle.

“He was making good shots so I had to keep making good shots,” Hyska said. “We were both striking. It was a high-scoring match. I knew he would put up a good fight. So I knew I had to put up a good score to beat him.”

Tuttle was disappointed, especially after his St. Charles team lost by just 13 pins in a team Semifinal a day earlier.

“Qualifying was a grind after starting off with a 154, but I slowly came back from that,” Tuttle said. “That was a good match (with Hyska). I missed a spare on a 10-pin in the first game. I could have won in the 10th, but I 2-8-10ed. That’s what it came down to was bad shots. But he bowled well with a 482.”

Hyska then defeated No. 3-seeded sophomore Korey Reichard of Vandercook Lake 318-268 in a Semifinal and No. 1-seeded senior Chase Elkins of Grass Lake 453-377 in the Final.

“I got off to a good start, and had a 50-pin lead,” Hyska said. “So I had to stay clean, make strikes and spares, and throw good shots.”

Hyska felt he could be a contender after throwing the best score of 1206 of the six Division 4 regionals the previous weekend. He also had the experience of making the final 16 as a freshman a year ago before losing in his first match of bracket play.

“I knew I had a good chance to come out here, do what I can do, and shoot good scores,” Hyska said.

Schuitema, on the other hand, never expected her success.

“I was a champion at Regionals last year, but I never thought I would be a state champion,” she said.

She placed fifth at her Regional this year and came into bracket play as the No. 7 seed after morning qualifying.

“Coaches just kept saying you can beat any girl here,” Schuitema said. “I didn’t believe it, but I did it. What a way to end up senior year.”

She defeated No. 10-seeded Melissa Steinbis of Bad Axe 369-313, and then No. 2-seeded Mackenzie Johnson of Vandercook Lake 419-402. Johnson’s series was the third best of the day, but Schuitema managed to throw her best series to beat her. Then she overcame a 10-pin deficit to edge Jennifer Stratton of Hudson by just eight pins at 360-352 in a Semifinal and recorded her second-best series of 410 to earn the title.

Schuitema started to believe she could win it all with the Semifinal victory. But it wasn’t until the sixth frame of her second game, which was the second of her seven straight strikes, that she felt she had it won.

Kortz, who held a slim 172-167 lead after the first game of the Final, qualified fifth and defeated the No. 12 seed Victoria Ivey of Beaverton 367-323, No. 13 seed Chasta Ganski of Rogers City 373-348, and then No. 1 seed Shaierica Gould of Flint Beecher/Mount Morris 364-305 to make the Final.

“I was mainly focusing on not showing my emotions, and getting my spares, because the lanes are getting harder,” Kortz said. “I got a couple bad breaks that were mentally tough. At the end, she found out what line to shoot. I was still struggling to find the line.

“I wanted to leave it all on the table my senior year. I made it to state two previous times, but never made the cut.”

Elkins finished fourth in a Regional won by Hyska, but secured the No. 1 seed Saturday by 27 pins after morning qualifying. He defeated No. 16 seed Drake McFarland of St. Charles 482-318 with his best series of the day, and then won two super close matches. He edged No. 9 seed Cody Johnson of Sandusky (who was coming off a spectacular 526 series) 469-461 in a Quarterfinal and No. 5 seed Chase Castro of Beaverton 413-407 in a Semifinal to reach the Final.

“I actually missed more opens in those two games than I did all day,’ Elkins said of the Final. “I think the nerves got to me, and the adrenaline. But I’m happy with my performance today.”

Click for full girls results and full boys results.

PHOTOS: (Top) Bronson sophomore Brandon Hyska with his supporters Saturday. (Middle) Ravenna senior Kendra Schuitema stands with her supporters at Royal Scot.

Davison Extends Run, Roosevelt Starts 1

March 4, 2016

By Scott Keyes
Special for Second Half

STERLING HEIGHTS – Davison's Kailee Tubbs wanted to end her senior season on top.

That's exactly what she did Friday afternoon at Art Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights, helping the Cardinals win their fourth MHSAA Division 1 girls bowling championship in seven seasons. 

Tubbs was a member of three of the championship teams, but also part of Davison’s loss in the Final a year ago to Macomb Dakota.

That loss gave Tubbs and the Cardinals drive to get back to the Finals this season.

"I think you always think about that loss in the back of your mind, but I really think it was a building block to this season," Tubbs said after the Cardinals defeated Farmington Hills 1,206-1,139 in the championship match this time.

"To be a part of three of these championships, especially winning one during your senior season, is pretty special. What a great way to end your high school career."

Kailee's dad Robert Tubbs with the help of many coaches, assistants and educators has helped build the Davison boys program into a state power since taking over the Cardinals 12 years ago.

He was choked up after watching his daughter throw her final shot as a high school bowler. However watching Kailee end her season with an MHSAA title was just icing on the cake.

“Her freshman year at the state finals, after two frames the coach said, ‘Get in there,’ and she hasn’t left the lineup,” said Tubbs, who watched his daughter shoot 184 in the regular game portion of the final.

The Wisconsin Whitewater-bound bowler finished her career with four Regional titles, three MHSAA titles and a runner-up finish. Kalee Johnson shot 192 in the Final, Bailey Gipson shot 188, Taylor Davis 175 and Olivia Stephenson 116 rounded out Davison's scoring in the Final.

With Kailee Tubbs the lone senior on the Cardinals squad, don't be surprised if Davison isn't back a year from now seeking to add to the run.

"It really comes down to our feeder programs," said Robert Tubbs. "We do such a great job developing our younger bowlers, and when they get to the high school level they know what to expect."

Davis’ 275 during qualifying helped her team secure the top seed in match play with a total of 3,406, nearly 150 pins better than second-seeded Farmington (3,258).

Davison advanced to the semifinal by beating Zeeland, 1,254-1,134, while St. Clair Shores Lakeview eliminated Howell, 1,235-1,213. Harrison moved on to the semifinals with a 1,308-1,114 win over Sterling Heights Stevenson and then defeated Brownstown-Woodhaven 1,178-1,172 to advance to the championship match.

While Davison’s girls have been dominant, Wyandotte Roosevelt’s boys captured their first MHSAA title under first-year coach Charlie Cassise with a 1,342-1,211 victory over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North. The winners built a 411-305 lead in the Baker portion and were led by Cory Coffey’s 214 in the regular game.

"The kids came into today knowing what to expect. They had a game plan and executed it," Cassise said. "I've been around this sport 50 years, and I can honestly say nothing feels better than watching these kids win a state championship."

Brent Calhoun added a 191 in the Final for the champions, while Jacob Schultz had 183, Gabe Cassise 179 and Devin Challfour 164.

Jacob Mackowiak led L’Anse Creuse North with 204 and was followed by Kevin Rhoney with 199.

Grand Haven’s Logan Batka had one of the highlights for the day on the boys side, rolling a 289 during qualifying to lead his team to a score of 1,131 pins – which bumped the Buccaneers up to sixth heading into match play. They ended up reaching the quarterfinals.

Click for full boys results and full girls results.

PHOTOS: (Top) Davison’s girls bowling team. (Middle) Wyandotte Roosevelt’s boys bowling team. (Photos by Scott Keyes.)