TEXAS STAR LANES

champs Dallas Leong and Hezy Miller

        Dallas Leong and Hezy Miller wrapped up the JBT Mojave Conference regular season with big wins at Texas Star Lanes.

        Zach Hattori, one of many bowlers returning home from college making a much tougher scratch division field, opened the stepladder finals with a 215-204 win over Brandon Myers, when the Oregon bowler couldn't get the second hit in the tenth frame.  The tables were turned in the second match, as this time Hattori couldn't get the second strike in the tenth (on a brutal messenger that didn't connect), losing to Kyle King 189-183.  Leong then took down the Tour's all-time titles leader with a 196-173 win to move on to the title match.

        Top seed Cortez Schenck had dominated the event, leading since game two, but like his higher-rev counterparts Kyle and Zach, started to struggle on the deteriorating WTBA Athens lane pattern.  Leong, conversely, was able to solve the tough pair, starting strong in the title match and eventually coasting to a 204-148 win, good for the fourth title of his JBT career.

        Kristen Lee began the 8-bowler handicap division stepladder finals with a 197 game that was enough to defeat Cerell Cardines (147) and Jake Hilton (155).  Devyn Patalina then came up with a 206 second round effort to oust Lee (169) and 8 year-old Cole Telford (154).  April McDonnell, second in points heading into the weekend, continued a push towards the top with a 187 win over Patalina (135) and Collin Deppe (174) to reach the title match.

        Top seed Hezy Miller is a fellow league bowler with April at Texas Star, and he took advantage of the home cooking to lead the event.  In the title match, April struggled a bit, but Miller showed no signs of rookie nerves as he cruised to a 195-151 win and his first career JBT title.

        In a Women's Series title match that came down to the last shot, Correen Lieber edged Marina Stever 189-187 for the day's crown.

        Thanks as always to the amazing Jerry Francomano and his team at Texas for hosting our event.  The field is now set for the Mojave Invitational, where qualifiers will compete for $1,000 top scholarship prizes!