Rocket bowlers knock down most pins in class
Both Neshoba Central bowling teams appear to be the teams to beat when they enter the Class 2 State Bowling tournament February 12 at Metro 24 Lanes.
Both teams were crowned Central Division champions Friday. All teams bowled three games. The two teams with the most pins knocked down then competed in the Baker Series to determine the winner.
The Central Zone tournament was held at the Depot Family Fun Center in Philadelphia.
The Neshoba Central boys knocked down 2892 pins with Ridgeland coming in second with 2239 pins. The Rockets then defeated the Titans in the Bakers Series, 3-0.
The individual scores for the Rocket bowlers are as follows: Craig Taylor 781, Chris Chamberlain 562, Landon Coward 539, Justin Fox 523, and John Rylee Barrett 470.
The Lady Rockets will be going for their fourth straight state bowling championship. In the region tournament, they finished with 2422 pins with Florence coming in second with 1795 pins. The Lady Rockets defeated Florence 3-0 in the Baker Series.
The scores for the Lady Rockets were as follows: Allie Williams 570, Destiny Dill 484, Olivia Nicholson 477, Ashton Luke 473 and Reagan Thornton 419.
The top four bowlers on each Neshoba Central team were named to the all-tournament team.
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Champions and runners-up were also decided for the North and South divisions. Two wildcards will also be entered in the boys and girls divisions.
Here are the teams entered in the Class 2 state tournaments and the number of pins each knocked down:
Boys # of pins
1) Neshoba Central 2892
2) Cleveland Central 2723
3) Lafayette 2609
4) Long Beach 2574
6) Pontotoc 2332 (W)
7) Vancleve 2330 (W)
8) Ridgeland 2239
Girls # of pins
1) Neshoba Central 2422
2) Cleveland 2167
3) Long Beach 2157
4) Pontotoc 1967
5) North Pike 1930
6) Itawamba AHS 1879 (W)
7) Vancleve 1870 (W)
8) Florence 1795
(W) – Wildcard
Both Neshoba Central teams had the most pins knocked down in Class 2. But having the most pins doesn’t assure a team of victory. The top two teams go to the Baker Series.
In regions, one second place team won out in each bracket by taking the Baker Series.
In the boys bracket, North second place Cleveland Central had more pins but lost 3-2 in the Baker Series to Lafayette, the defending state champion. Long Beach is the South champion while Vancleve came in second. Corinth and Pontotoc are the wildcards.
In the girls bracket, North second place Cleveland lost to Pontotoc in the Baker Series, 3-1. Long Beach is the South champion and North Pike is the No. 2 team out of the South. Itawamba AHS and Vancleve are the wildcards.