Ashland girls, boys bowling teams crowned OCC tournament champions

LEXINGTON − Call them the kings and queens of the Ohio Cardinal Conference.

For the second consecutive season, both the Ashland High School boys and girls bowling teams were crowned both league and tournament champions.

On Saturday at Lex Lanes, the Ashland boys defeated Mansfield Senior 224-214, 187-179, and 237-232 to win their title in the OCC Tournament.

The Ashland girls won their title by downing Lexington 224-125, 224-175, with the two teams tying at 175-175 in the third game before a rolloff was held between both squad's lone seniors, Jada Baker for the Lady A's and Addyson Whitesel for Lady Lex.

Baker came out the victor after both bowlers only scored nine pins in their first frame before Baker closed it out with a trio of strikes to give Ashland the crown.

"Addy is one of my best bowling friends and I thought it was pretty fun, really more fun than being nervous about it," offered Baker, who was named Bowler of the Year in the OCC for the second straight year after averaging 211.5 and tossing games if 213, 227, 207 for a 747 series on Saturday. "It was pretty cool. Last year was much harder but it's still pretty cool to have that success."

More: Maryann Rush tosses lifetime best, lead Ashland girls bowlers to OCC win over Mount Vernon

"When we tied Lexington with that 175 it meant a ninth and 10th frame roll-off, so (Lex coach) Jason Whitesel and I put in our two seniors, Jada and Addy, and they were both super nervous but we talked and decided all of the girls should cheer for both of the girls," Ashland coach Michele Baker said. "They were nervous but having a great time and they know each other so it was awesome."

As a team, the Lady A's shined as Baker's teammates Aubrie Cooke (636 series), Amelia Brown (567 series), and Haley Rowe (554) all were named to First Team All-OCC, and Maryann Rush (528 series) was selected to the Honorable Mention team. "I thought we did well, especially all supporting each other, and I thought we did so much better spare shooting than recently," Jada Baker said. "As long as we are consistent and get our spares, I think we can make it to state. We've been better with our mental game, we're much better now."

Ashland got to the finals by the best overall preliminary score (4090), with the Lady A's holding off Wooster in the semi-finals in five games (183-209, 211-104, 204-170, 159-161, 171-154).

Lexington got by Mount Vernon in four games (190-177, 166-121, 148-220, 210-194).

"The first round against Wooster, they gave us a run for our money and we to Game 5 and we did win but they have improved so much," coach Baker said of the Lady Generals. "All of our girls were bowling pretty good. Jada did well today and we had four out of five girls on the First Team, and all of them today made their averages go up, so that was a bonus."

On the boys' side, again for back-to-back seasons, the Ashland boys not only were the best team but sophomore Luke Rhine was the OCC Bowler of the Year after twirling a series of 802 (277, 278, 247). His average for the year ended at 231.9, nudging past classmate Landon Dreibelbis, who tossed a 692 series (221, 224, 247) and finished at 231.2.

"Last year we set a record I think and Max (Oeken) had a 770, and I guess this year I just got him. I came in today motivated to have a big set and I did it," Rhine reflected. "It was to do that today because Landon had a four-pin lead and for me to shoot an 802, it was something."

Rhine was also named to the First Team as were his Ashland teammates Dreibelbis, Oeken (220 average), Brantyn Long (216.6), and Mikey McKinney (215.5).

"The season has kind of been a roller-coaster But after today it makes it feel like we're more ready for the post-season," Rhine noted. "Today, I felt like our team showed up pretty well, and I think our team is ready for the sectionals coming up."

Ashland coach Jim Brown said the team set another state record at Lex Lanes

"We just came in and did what we usually do, bowl well when it's needed and they broke another state record today," he lauded. "We had a three-game series of 3566. It used to be 3519. I can't say how well they bowled today; it was unbelievable and fun to watch.

"And a back-to-back Bowler of the Year, Luke jumped from 227 to 231 and almost 232 today and Landon bowled phenomenal today with a 692," Brown added. " And with Brantyn having 746 today, it was something else to watch."

The Ashland boys downed Lexington in the semi-final 244-165, 222-225, 188-149, 186-182) to get to Mansfield Senior as the Tygers advanced from the semis with a win over New Philadelphia (223-190, 153-224, 244-238, 192-168).

Both Lexington coaches were named OCC Coach of the Year with Jason Whitsel tabbed for the girls and Jeff Stehle for the boys.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland girls, boys prove victorious at OCC bowling tournament