November 4, 2020 at 10:12 a.m.
Iola edges Hodags 5-4 in prep bowling opener
Iola edges Hodags 5-4 in prep bowling opener
Iola ran four games in the middle of Sunday's match, which was enough to defeat the Hodags 5-4 at Nick's Hodag Lanes.
A battle of two of the top three teams from last year's conference Division 2 co-ed standings did not disappoint. Iola-Scandinavia, which finished second overall in the state in Division 2 last year, averaged 174 pins and a 73.3% fill rate over the nine-game baker series. The Hodags, who placed fifth in D2 last year, averaged 177.3 pins with a 75.6% fill rate, but Iola won just enough close games to take the match. Iola won three of the four games decided by 13 pins or fewer.
"We didn't average that bad. We've got six of the games that are over 175," Hodag coach Mike Bourcier said. "We bowled well, but Iola was just a little bit better when it needed to be. When you're losing by under 15 pins, that's just the spare shooting," Hodag coach Mike Bourcier said. "It shows. We worked on it. Some drills from the week and just telling them the spares are it. It showed."
Two close affairs in Games 5 and 6 ultimately swung momentum Iola's way. Rhinelander trailed by only two pins entering the 10th frame of Game 5, but anchor bowler Katrina Blasius had a seven-count on her first ball in the 10th and was unable to convert the spare as Iola eked out a 169-157 win.
The Hodags led by 36 pins after six frames in Game 6, but had back-to-back single pin spare misses by Calvin Welch and Bella Walkowski in the seventh and eighth frames while Iola strung together four consecutive strikes for a 188-175 win that clinched the match, with the Thunderbirds leading 5-1.
With the match decided, Rhinelander threw three of its four best games of the match, taking the last three 199-188, 208-139 and 188-174.
"Once we lost the match, it was like they relaxed and they started throwing the strikes and they were picking up their spares then," Bourcier said. "They didn't let down. They didn't give up. They could have easily gave up. They stayed with it and that's a big bonus to this, something we can build on and go from there."
Both teams started cold, with four open frames in the opening game. Kody Litzen left four pins standing on a split in the ninth frame, was unable to convert and Iola took the opening game 154-143. Rhinelander found its stride in the second game, with marks in the last seven frames to take it 190-162. The Hodags followed with a 184 in Game 3, but Iola caught fire with nine strikes and bowled a 214. Iola also took the fourth game 179-152.
Litzen and Blasius were Rhinelander's two top bowlers in terms of fill percentage on Sunday. Each went 15 of 17 on the day with eight strikes. Welch, a freshman, was 10 of 12 with five strikes and Cody Bednarz was 12 of 15 with eight strikes.
"Calvin Welch, when we got him going, he overall did not have a bad day. He only had two opens for 12 frames. He did really well," Bourcier said. "Cody B(ednarz) did alright. Kody Litzen and Katrina are going to be my two strong ones. That's who did really well."
Bella Walkowski finished 8 of 14 with three strikes, Jacob Wagler was 7 of 13 with three strikes and Jeremiah Braun was 1 of 2 with a strike. Senior Mackenzie Bourcier had a prior obligation and was unable to compete.
Despite losing a couple of seniors off of last year's boys' squad that placed fifth at state, the Hodags expect to be as strong if not stronger this year. Due to low numbers, the club's boys' and girls' squads merged into one co-ed team for this season, adding two individual state qualifiers - Blasius and Mackenzie Bourcier - to the boys' team.
Rhinelander had to get accustomed to the merged squad, and having to sit bowlers with only five allowed to bowl at a time. Plus the team had to get used to this year's District 9 dual meet format, which has only teams in a bowling center bowling at one time, as opposed to all the teams together bowling in one large meet.
"A little different atmosphere. It was quiet. You're used to noise and you're used to a loud crowd," Bourcier said. "Now we're only the two teams. I can't say that changed the scenario, I think it's more that we know we have more kids bowling on the team. Some are going to be sitting, some are not. When you sit, you come in you might be a little cold that first game or whatever."
The Hodags return to action Nov. 15 at Manawa.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.