After graduating nine seniors from last years 2011 Regional Champion and State Tournament team, the 2012 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central girls bowling team has been a pleasant surprise – considering this is their first year bowling at the varsity level. Coach Rick Dykema and first year assistant Coach Larry Chilton have been working hard with this years roster.
Today’s match found the visiting Rangers at Park Center Lanes, the home ‘house’ of the Grand Rapids Christian Eagles. The rivalry between these two proud schools always draws a crowd of loyal followers.
For those new to high school bowling matches, there are a total of 30 points to be awarded in a match. It starts out with two Baker Games. A Baker game consists of a single line score for each team of 5 players. The first bowler rolls in frames #1 and #6. The second bowler rolls in frames #2 and #7, third #3 and #8, etc. The team that rolls the highest single line score is awarded 4 points. Two Baker games generate 8 points. The team that rolls the highest total pin count of both Baker games combined is awarded 2 points. Thus the Baker round contains 10 total points.
The final 20 points come from two, 5 on 5, head to head match-ups. Each team member rolls their own ten frame game. Bowler #1 from FHC is matched against bowler #1 from GRC. #2 vs. #2, etc. Each head to head competition is worth 1 point (5 points per game). The highest total score of all 5 players is worth 4 points. Thus, each 5 on 5 game is worth 9 points. The final 2 points is awarded the team that scores the highest pin count of the two 5 v 5 games. That totals 30 points!
In today’s match, Baker game #1 saw both teams struggle to consistently mark. (A mark is when a player rolls a spare or a strike in a frame). Through 8 frames, FHC held a slight 8 pin lead. They managed to increase their lead to 11 pins, through the final two frames, and were awarded the first 4 points.
FHC improved their number of marks in Baker Game #2 and totaled 30 pins more than GRC. 4 more points are awarded to FHC. The total pin count of the two Baker Games showed FHC with a 41 pin differential and they were awarded the final 2 points for the Baker Games. Score at the end of the Baker Games: FHC 10 – GRC 0.
The first 5 v 5 match-up was close from start to finish. After 7 frames GRC held a 26 pin lead over FHC. In frames 8 and 9 FHC marked in 5 of their 10 frames while GRC struggled with only a single mark. Christian’s 26 pin advantage had disappeared and FHC now holds a 19 pin lead heading into the final 10th frame. GRC had 4 marks in the 10th to FHC’s 2. Grand Rapids Christian won 3 of the 5 head to head match-ups, but Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central managed to win their 2 head to head match-ups by a greater pin margin. FHC totaled 647 pins to GRC with 634. A mere 13 pins! GRC wins 3 points while FHC wins 2 + 4 (total pin count) or 6 points.
Forest Hills Central was led by sophomore TaylorMackey with a 151 and senior Kate Casey with a 142.
Score after the first 5 v 5 is: Forest Hills Central 16 – Grand Rapids Christian 3.
The final 5 v 5 saw three head to head match-ups decided by 12 pins or less. Grand Rapids Christian took 3 of the 5 head to head points as well as the total pin count for another 4 points. FHC took their 2 points by a mere 1 and 3 pins respectively. The final 2 points for total pin count of both 5 v 5 games was awarded to GRC.
Forest Hills Central was led by Taylor Mackey with a 140.
Final Match Score: Forest Hills Central 18 –Grand RapidsChristian 12.
Forest Hills Central will play host for the OK Black Preseason Conference Tournament this Saturday, January 7th at their home ‘house’ – Eastbrook Lanes.
The boys team match-up saw Grand Rapids Christian win Baker #1 by a score of 189 – 159. Baker #2 saw FHC mark in 11 of the 12 frames, including 8 strikes for a final tally of 221 v 145 for GRC.
Score after Baker Games: Forest Hills Central 6 –Grand RapidsChristian 4.
In the individual 5 v 5, Grand Rapids Christian held a slight 3 pin lead after 7 frames. In frames 8 and 9, FHC marked in 9 of the 10 frames while GRC marked in 6. FHC leads by 33 pins. FHC senior anchor Marcus Gignac trailed his opponent by 29 pins in the 7th and proceeded to ‘mark out’ the rest of the game, including 4 strikes in a row in the 9th and 10th frames. He rolled the game high score of 217 v 211 for his opponent. FHC senior Brendon Reynolds rolled a 190 and senior Connor Verbraska added a 180. FHC took 3 of the 5 match-ups and series total 909 v 881.
Score after the first 5 v 5: Forest Hills Central 13 – Grand Rapids Christian 6.
The final individual 5 v 5 was a blueprint of game #1. In the 7th frame Grand Rapids Christian held a 44 pin lead over Forest Hills Central. FHC proceeds to mark 9 times in frames #8 and 9 while GRC managed just 6. Those additional 3 marks propelled FHC to a 48 pin lead through 9 frames. The 10th frame saw GRC accumulate 5 marks while FHC gathered 6. The final score was FHC 852 – GRC 792. FHC took 3 of the 5 match-ups, the 4 points for total pins and 2 points for total pins of both 5 v 5 contests.
Forest Hills Central was again led by senior Marcus Gignac with a fine 210 and a 427, two game individual series.
The final match score: Forest Hills Central 22 – Grand Rapids Christian 8.
