STARLIGHT LANES

champs Danny Cobine & Tylor MacPhee

        Danny Cobine and Tylor MacPhee came up with convincing wins in exciting JBT New Mexico-Texas Conference action at Santa Ana Star Casino's Starlight Lanes.

        Braxton Williams, making back to back finals on the weekend, opened up the scratch division stepladder finals with a 217-211 squeaker over fellow Texan Michael Hopkins.  Cobine then took over, beginning with a 230-211 win over Williams, and following with a big 263-202 win over Derek Acuff, who settled for third place both days on the weekend. 

        Top seed Cortez Schenck, coming off a dominant win the day before, worked his way to the lead again, still with a mathematical chance to win as many titles as his age before his birthday (he turns 14 in two weeks).  However, he had a determined Cobine to deal with, and despite being in obvious pain from a leg injury, Danny was brilliant, defeating Schenck 268-202 for the win (That's 531 for the last two games!).  It's the third title of his JBT career, while Schenck's 1-2 finish nearly catches him up with Jakob Butturff for the all-conference points lead.

         Newcomer Mark Vigil, another product of the Mayfield high school bowling program, opened the handicap division stepladder finals with a 225-218 win over Sophie Diaz in a well-bowled match.  In another close one, Tylor MacPhee struck on his first ball in the tenth frame for a 218-215 win over Vigil.  MacPhee then turned it up for a 230-212 win over Joey Balistreri to reach the title match.

        Top seed Nathaniel Duran had his career best JBT day in leading the event, at one time over +300, but struggled in his first career title match.  MacPhee meanwhile, whose previous JBT win came here at Starlight two years ago, remained confident, and was able to beat Duran 203-188 for the second title of the talented ten year-old's JBT career.

        Top seed Hannah Stedman was the highest scoring girl of the day by far, then won the day's Women's Series event 175-174 in a heartbreaker for Diaz, who didn't get the mark she needed in the tenth frame.

        Thanks as always to the terrific crew at Starlight for hosting our Tour.  If you want in on the fun, just come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!