With only one returning member of last year’s state finals-qualifying team, Clarkston boys bowling is close to getting another ticket punched to the state finals competition.
The winners of the Greater Oakland Northern Lakes Conference are getting ready for the regional playoffs at Wonderland Lanes in Commerce Township on Friday and Saturday.
‘The team refuses to lose, they use everything they’ve got,? coach Bill George said.
‘It was interesting, they’ve come a long way and it’s been fun.?
The 6-2 Wolves defeated Oxford in a tie-breaker to claim first place outright on Feb. 10 after their league match with Waterford Mott.
One of the Wolves? strengths is their ability to pick up finishing pins with spares.
‘Spare shooting has gotten us through games where other teams shot better,? George said.
The team’s ability to stay consistent even when the conditions of the lanes are less favorable helped them excel too.
‘The team really bears down, even when lane conditions break down, and they make shots. They’re mentally tough,? George said.
Jackson Kimball, the lone returnee, leads the boys with a 217-pin average. Freshman Paul Anderson carries a 202-pin average.
‘He gets the job done. It doesn’t seem to matter about the (lane) conditions,? George said.
Paul’s brother Warren reserves the honor of most improved bowler, pushing his per game average to 176 pins this season.
Warren Anderson’s average doesn’t quite reflect his non-league contributions, George said.
‘He does well in tournaments and baker games, and that doesn’t show up in your individual average,? he said.
This weekend’s regional playoff at Wonderland Lanes is like a home meet for the three Walled Lake teams, Northern, Western and Central, who will be among the 16 teams bowling on their home lanes.
George said the fact that Clarkston has only bowled at Wonderland Lanes one time would make the competition more difficult than the others? home-lane advantage.
‘I don’t know that it will be hard to shake it,? George said.
The top three teams will qualify for the state meet the following weekend in Sterling Heights. The top 10 individual bowlers will earn an invitation to the state finals also.