RIO RANCHO WINS 8TH STATE HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING TITLE

Rio Rancho Rams high school bowling squad won their eighth NMAA High School state 5-A bowling championship Saturday in the event contested by twelve schools at Tenpins & More.

They beat La Cueva Bears in the three-game finale 585-514 with game scores of 213-154, 183-170 and 189-190.

After the local team took a comfortable 59-pin lead in game one, the northeast heights school quickly reduced that to 18 pins with a game two opening four strikes in a row.

However two open frames and a timely double by the Rams recovered the handy lead, never to be threatened again.

Rio Rancho’s eight wins puts them two ahead of rivals, Cleveland who have won the “big schools” crown six times. Others to win once each include Piedra Vista, Manzano, Sandia and La Cueva who won at the Albuquerque Convention Center in 2008.

Winning team members included seniors, Alex Thompson, Alberto Medina, Carson and Kylie Belnap, along with Joshua Zeigler, Mia Medina, Isaiah Lopez and Brody Humphries, who along with coaches, Dana Miller-Mackie and Don Thompson and school sponsor Malissa Thompson celebrated by signing the NMAA banner that will find pride of place at Tenpins & More this week.

Artesia Bulldogs won their ninth state title beating Espanola Valley in 4-A action while East Mountain beat Sandia Prep in 1-A to 3-A at Silva Lanes on Friday.

FATHER BEATS SON FOR KING CROWN

Gary Gill beat his son Jacob in a tense final at Sunday’s King of the Hill tournament at Tenpins & More.

Dad, Gill threw only two strikes on the touchy sport lane condition but converted seven spares from eight attempts, while his son chopped three spares (2-5, 3-6-10 and 6-10 leaves) along with six strikes to lose 171-180.

In earlier “survivor series” action, it took 752 over four games to make the first cut from 25 to twelve. In the cut to six, 191 was the number then 203 by qualifying leader, Leroy Espinoza to determine the finalists as Jacob 222 and Gary 215 entered the final match.

Calendar:

Sat Feb 10 – Valentine’s Doubles at 9am
Sun Feb 11 – Superbowl Sunday Doubles Marathon at 8am