Kahoks head to bowling regional on Friday
by Mark Jurgena
The Collinsville boys bowling team had mixed results over the past week splitting dual matches and finishing in 11th place at the O’Fallon tourney but found themselves outside the afternoon tournament round.
Panther Team Challenge
At the Panther Team Challenge at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon, the Kahoks finished the morning round with a total of 2875 pins to put them in 15th place before the four-game Baker series to determine team tournament qualifiers.
After those four games, the Kahoks had jumped into 11th place with a total of 6085.
Individually in the three-game morning round, Hayden LaDrew was the high Kahok with a 605 series to put him in a tie for 49th place with sophomore Sully Frye just behind in a tie for 52nd place with a 597 set.
“He has always been okay, he just never scored,” said Collinsville coach Sean Hay. “We had a little competition over the break, just a little internal one and he learned a lot from that. He’s decided to care a little more and now in the last couple of weeks, he has averaged 220.
“In those last two weeks he’s been killing it, he gets it. He’s a sophomore and that’s a great year to be getting stuff. That’s a silver lining.”
Travin Elliott of Mt. Vernon ripped off a 784 series to win the morning crown while Breese (Central) was the surprise winner of the tournament beating the state number four, eight and 14th-ranked teams. The Cougars beat the lowest-ranked of those three, O’Fallon, 420-401 to win the title.
They knocked off the highest ranked school, Salem, in the semifinals after beating Mascoutah in the quarterfinals.
Dual match split
Collinsville lost a close match to O’Fallon at Camelot Bowl on Jan. 9 by a 26.5-16.5 count.
“The match actually came down to the 10th frame,” said Hay. “It was a nail-biter it was close.”
In their previous match the day before they beat Edwardsville at Edison’s Entertainment Complex.
Upcoming Schedule
The boys compete in the Columbia Regional on Friday at West Park Bowl. Collinsville will host the sectional next Saturday, Jan. 25 for teams and individuals who qualify.
