Flint Kearsley, New Boston Huron Rule D2
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2019
WATERFORD – There couldn’t have been a more appropriate showdown for the Division 2 girls bowling team championship Friday.
Flint Kearsley and Tecumseh entered No. 1 and No. 2 in number of Division 2 titles won, and happened to be seeded No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, out of the qualifying block.
Both won their quarterfinals and semifinals to set up a rematch of last year’s Final. But from there, Kearsley went out and took sole possession of the spotlight.
Kearsley won its sixth straight Division 2 title with a 1,352-1,239 win over Tecumseh, although it took a rally late in the regular game.
“I’ve got seven of the best girls I think I’ve ever had,” Kearsley head coach Rob Ploof said. “This is one heck of a team.”
After leading by two pins following the two Baker games, Kearsley struggled in the first few frames and saw Tecumseh take a sizable lead.
But Kearsley showed its championship mettle, rallying to win the regular game going away, 997-886.
“I just got them together and said, ‘You’ve got to want it. You’ve got to want it more than they do,’” Ploof said. “They had to find a way to win the game, and they did.”
Kearsley knocked off Coldwater in a quarterfinal, 1,315-1,135, before beating Charlotte in one semifinal, 1,332-1,264.
Tecumseh beat Mason in the quarterfinals, 1,309-1,204, before topping Carleton Airport in the other semi by just six pins, 1,151-1,145.
Tecumseh was seeking its first Finals title since it won three straight from 2008-10.
“Rob is an amazing coach, and it seems like when he huddles them up, they come out striking,” Tecumseh head coach Ken Richard said. “We couldn’t hang with them. But they blew us out of the water last year, and we hung with them longer this time. I’m real proud of the girls.”
As for the boys competition, the Final matchup was the opposite scenario featuring two teams that advanced to the championship match for the first time.
New Boston Huron and Tecumseh both made it farther than they ever had, but it was New Boston Huron that took home the championship trophy, knocking off Tecumseh by a score of 1,403-1,352.
“It’s been a special year,” New Boston Huron head coach Larry Collins said. “It’s a team of destiny. They worked hard and probably were the best group of kids I’ve had.”
New Boston Huron was the top seed out of the qualifying block, while Tecumseh was the seventh seed.
Continuing its dominance throughout the day, New Boston Huron took a 436-321 lead after the two Baker games.
Tecumseh made it interesting in the regular game and beat New Boston Huron 1,031-967, but that margin wasn’t enough to overcome the Baker deficit.
New Boston Huron beat Jackson Northwest in the quarterfinals, 1,296-1,231, and then beat Owosso in one semifinal, 1,323-1,166.
Tecumseh beat Coldwater in a quarterfinal, 1,320-1,187, and then dispatched Cadillac in the semifinals, 1,422-1,325.
Tecumseh junior bowler Hunter Rapaich, the second bowler in the lineup, rolled a 300 during the regular game.
Click for full girls results and full boys results.
New Boston Huron photo courtesy of New Boston Huron athletic department.
Zeeland Girls Rally to Win Final 2 Games, Claim 2nd Division 1 Title
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2024
ALLEN PARK – Brianna Fortney burst into tears after she missed a spare in the deciding fifth game Friday during the MHSAA Division 1 Final at Thunderbowl Lanes.
But they weren’t tears of frustration. Zeeland had locked up the championship, and she was so overcome with joy she couldn’t hold back before her team finished a closing 158-137 win over South Lyon.
“A lot of people thought we couldn’t do it,’’ said Fortney, a senior. “My sister left, and we had another bowler leave. This is so special. I’m just so glad we were able to do this.’’
Zeeland – a cooperative program of West and East high schools, coached by Tony DiLaura – won the first game 185-176. South Lyon rebounded to win the second 149-147 and then the third 193-144. But Zeeland managed to pull out a 150-149 thriller to force a fifth game.
“We had a couple of bowlers out sick, and they weren’t even able to practice until Thursday,’’ said DiLaura. “We pulled out the fourth game, and I thought we had a chance. This means so much for our program.’’
The Team Bowling Finals went to a new format this season with five Baker games determining the champion.
The championship was Zeeland's second, joining the Division 1 title won in 2020.
Utica’s freshman core created the most excitement on the way to the championship match. Freshman Ava Mazza struck in the fourth game of her team’s Semifinal against Zeeland to force Game 5 with her team down 2½ to 1½. Utica proceeded to win the fifth game to force a five-frame roll-off – won by Zeeland 94-92.
South Lyon advanced to the championship match by eliminating Oxford in three games.
Utica, with three freshmen in the lineup, surged during the qualifying block to claim the top spot in match play at 3,197. South Lyon was second at 3,192 and Macomb Dakota third at 3,103, one pin better than Zeeland. Holt, Oxford, Grand Blanc and Grand Haven rounded out the match play field.
Oxford swept Dakota in the Quarterfinals to face South Lyon, which had downed Grand Blanc 3-1. Utica advanced with a 3-2 win over Grand Haven to face Zeeland, which edged Holt 3-2 in their Quarterfinal.