Local Sports Journal
The Mona Shores girls had a solid qualifying run on Friday in the Division 1 team bowling state finals, but fell to Walled Lake Western in the quarterfinal round.
In that match, Mona Shores lost 1,187-1,144.
“We made a good run through the qualifying, but when they switch ends …,” said Sailor coach Greg Schmelling. “It’s always tighter down here as far as lane conditions go and we couldn’t get the girls to get quite lined up with their ball reactions.
“We tried to get them lined up, but with the short format, you start making a lot of moves and you throw yourself out of the game,” Schmeling said. “Our goal was to just get them around the head pin and make the spares, which they didn’t make all their spares.”
Shores qualified seventh in the morning session (Qualifying Block) and that meant a matchup with No. 2-seeded Walled Lake Western in the quarters.
Mona Shores had a lead after the two Baker games, but fell short in the individual game.
The Sailors rolled Baker games of 174 and 169 and led by 28 pins heading into the individual game. In that game, the Sailors were outscored 872-801 by Walled Lake Western.
“We just couldn’t quite get them lined up in the team portion of the event,” Schmeling said. “We missed a lot of one-pins spares.
“There’s a lot of pressure when you get into the Elite Eight,” Schmeling said. “I feel bad for the seniors.”
