Just 10 pins separated the top three teams after the first three games at the Division I sectional tournament. Troy had the lead with 2,862 while Miamisburg tallied 2,856 and Centerville was four pins back with 2,852. The Vikings knew their Baker play had to be on point.
“It was really tight and I said, ‘Hey girls, where else would you want to be?’ ” Ross said. “And the truth is that’s exactly where they wanted to be because this girls team wants to bowl against the best.”
Now the Vikings are the best after dominating the six-game Baker series to win their first sectional title Thursday at Poelking Lanes South. Miamisburg eclipsed second-place Troy 4,082 to 3,979 in a team-record performance.
A pair of seniors came up big as four-year starters Bailey Cook and Brittney Sheehan placed sixth and seventh with 635 and 632, respectively.
“Bailey is just the heart and the soul of this team, she has worked very hard to get where she is,” Ross said. “But both of them are just incredible bowlers and wonderful girls.”
Ross, who suffered a heart attack and underwent three subsequent heart surgeries last fall, missed the early part of the season. But missing the postseason was not an option.
“This is very emotional for me,” he said. “I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
Singles champs: Xenia sophomore Caity Moody took the girls individual sectional title with a 222-255-246–723, the only bowler in the girls' field to crack 700. Stebbins senior Alexandria Mann was second with 683.
Beavercreek sophomore Michael Donahue took the top honor in the boys’ sectional with 208-264-269–741.
Four-peat: The Centerville boys clinched their fourth consecutive sectional title Wednesday. The Elks edged Greater Western Ohio Conference rival Beavercreek by 159 pins, 4,617 to 4,458, at Poelking South.
“It was a perfect ride today,” Centerville coach Andy Parker said. “It was one of those days where every button we pushed worked.”
Seniors Dylan Dobran and Aaron Henderhan led the Elks with 723 and 722, respectively, good for second and third in the individual standings. Junior Mason Eckley was close behind, in sixth place, with 705. Eight Elks got in some valuable time on the lanes.
“Everybody on the team was very selfless today,” Parker said. “Everyone was clicking and we led from game one until the end, which meant I could rest some starters.”
The sectional title wasn’t the Elks’ only accomplishment as they also posted a school-record 3,379 three-game series.
GWOC dominance: All five boys teams in the GWOC East advanced to the district tournament as Centerville and Beavercreek finished first and second while Fairmont and Wayne were fifth and sixth and Springfield eighth. Of the nine D-I boys teams qualifying to the district tournament, all but one was a GWOC team as Butler and Troy finished third and fourth, respectively, and Fairborn seventh.
Next up: The D-I Southwest District tournament gets underway on Wednesday at Beaver-Vu Bowl with the girls competition. The boys will bowl for state berths on Thursday.
Division I Sectional
(at Poelking South)
District Qualifiers
Girls
Teams
1. Miamisburg 4,082
2. Troy 3,979
3. Centerville 3,963
4. Fairmont 3,887
5. Xenia 3,834
6. Butler 3,774
7. Springfield 3,673
8. Beavercreek 3,544
9. Stebbins 3,410
Individuals
Jenna Beatty, Sidney, 616; Ryleigh Crouse, Wayne, 604; Audrey Renner, Fairborn, 593; Audrie Goffinet, Wayne, 555; Jasmine Fails, Monroe, 525; Cassidy Hunter, Northmont, 523; Morgan Atkinson, Wayne, 506; Kaitlin Schell, West Carrollton, 503; Hailey Yingst, Northmont, 502.
Boys
Teams
1. Centerville 4,617
2. Beavercreek 4,458
3. Butler 4,334
4. Troy 4,244
5. Fairmont 4,207
6. Wayne 4,130
7. Fairborn 4,015
8. Springfield 3,988
9. Bellefontaine 3,967
Individuals
James Ridgeway, Tippecanoe, 701; Cody Jessee, Springboro, 663; James Moore, West Carrollton, 641; Nick Lanham, Tippecanoe, 637; Caleb Witt, Miamisburg, 635; Hunter Baughman, Stebbins, 632; Jacob Blair, Miamisburg, 624; Joe Teti, Springboro, 621; Damion Phillis, Sidney, 590
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