Written by Junior Freelance Writer River Martinez.
On a cold December afternoon, Tower Lanes was hot as it roared with the sound of competition. The Bonney Lake Panthers squared up against Curtis High School Vikings, their first match away from the safety of Daffodil Lanes. The Vikings, a team well known for their timeless skill and seniority in the 4A league, proved to show their might. Despite their efforts, the Panthers fell to the Vikings, now holding a 3-2 record as they continue their battle through the competitive 4A league.
BLHS’s Highs and Lows in Games One and Two
The first game started rough for the Panthers, allowing the Vikings to capitalize on their mistakes. Frame one showed no strikes and only two spares for the Panthers. On the other lane, only one pin was left up, the Vikings already showing their steady rhythm of pick-up balls, echoing their cheers as each pin fell.
The Vikings secured an early 83-pin lead with consistent strikes and multiple individual turkeys. The crowd spirit fell silent as the Panthers' strike and spare balls fell and fell into the gutter. Jayden Thayer (117 & 222) and Brooke Musial (121 & 114) saw their first strikes late into the game in the 9th and 10th frames. Though the Panthers never gave up, the Vikings kept dealing blows. As the Panthers fell, the Vikings were now led by 189 pins.
However, as the Panthers looked down toward game two, there seemed to be a spark to keep them alive. Bonney Lake’s mindset looked toward a comeback as Brieanna Huynh's (128 & 106) ball rolled right into the pocket, banging out a strike in the first frame. The Panthers’ spare balls were finding the pins; spare after spare rolled in. Thayer's dry spell in game one was gone, as Thayer consistently striked again and again. Musial and Huynh built off Thayer's success, creating Team Turkey in the third frame. Thayer proved once again her state ranking, combating the Vikings with a double (two strikes in a row) and a four in a row (four strikes back to back).
The Panthers fought back with their claws out, giving and receding pinfall lead. But again, the Vikings displayed their resilience, ending game two with a 31-pin lead. The Panthers stared down a humongous Viking lead, knowing they must bowl their best bakers all season for a chance at victory.
The Comeback Ends…
The first frame of baker number one, the pick-up, was not met, mathematically stopping their valiant comeback attempt. That did not halt the Panther bowlers from persisting, with another excellent Thayer performance in the baker rounds. However, the Panthers lost their groove and steam while the Vikings continued to prove their overall skill. Even though the Panthers did not squeak out this win, they continued to prove why they are a force to be reckoned with, as they continue to fight with veteran 4A champs.
As the Panthers recoup after their second loss, they look toward their next match against the Tornados. BLHS will have to travel long to Prairie Lanes, where Yelm holds a home advantage with their wooden lanes, providing another hurdle for our Panthers.
The journey of the Panther Bowlers is proving to be thrilling, as in each game, they show their adaptiveness to the 4A league, where their season full of ups and downs has only just begun.
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