MIDNIGHT MADNESS OVERNIGHT MARATHON

   champ Brandon Allred

        Often, JBT events start at 9 AM.  This one FINISHED at 9.  In one of the most unique tournaments in the history of the JBT, Brandon Allred captured his 8th career JBT title as champ of the Midnight Madness Overnight Marathon, hosted by South Point Bowling Center.

        After 12 games of qualifying (which finished at 5 AM), the field of sixty bowlers was cut to the top 16 for nerve-wracking triple-elimination matchplay.  Top seed Nick Lamek struggled a bit, but survived to round six, where nine bowlers remained standing (but not necessarily awake).  Allred, as the #9 seed, had the best matchplay round, going 5-0 through the early rounds to gain the advantage the rest of the way.

        In round six, #2 seed Kyle King enjoyed a bye, and Allred handed #6 Devin Bidwell his second loss.  The other games were all eliminators, wherein #7 Jimmy Hefley ousted Lamek, #5 Riley Dempsey ousted #13 Rebeca Reguero, and #12 Kris George eliminated #12 Zach Hattori.   In round seven, King stayed alive by handing Allred his first loss, while George eliminated Dempsey and Hefley ended Bidwell's day (night). 

        Down to four bowlers, Allred eliminated Hefley, while King and George played a strange match where King missed a 10th frame spare, but George followed with an unmade split to give the game back to Kyle.

        However, the strange was just beginning, as Brandon would need to beat Kyle just once in two games to win the title.  Allred has struggled lately, and surely did not want to let this win get away from him.  Kyle must have already felt that he had used nine lives to get this far.  It looked like the battle would mercifully end in game one, but King struck out from the 8th frame to force Allred to mark for the win.  After leaving a 10-pin, Brandon missed the spare, giving Kyle the win and forcing a deciding game.

        Obviously in a battle against physical and mental exhaustion at this point, these two outstanding bowlers managed to put on a brilliant final game as well.  Again it was King who made the comeback, again striking out from the 8th frame to put all the pressure on Allred.  Needing a 20-fill to win, Brandon got the strike on the first ball, and then left- what else- a 10-pin, needing to spare to win.  After composing himself, Allred left no doubt this time, converting the spare for a breathless 237-236 win and the championship.  The great turnout boosted his first place check to a healthy $700, while King added over $400 to his scholarship totals.

        Thanks to everyone at South Point, especially the overnight staff and GM Mike Monyak, for making this event possible.  Thanks also to all the bowlers who helped make this experimental event a success with their attendance.  Over $3,000 in scholarships were awarded to the bleary-eyed field.  Want in on all this fun, but at amore reasonable hour?  Check out our schedule and come see JBT in action soon!

     some pictures from the madness, 5 AM and 3 AM respectively.