Trojans breeze to state

Remembering its home loss at the same point last year, the Soddy-Daisy High School boys' bowling team came out smoking against Lawrence County in the state sectional Monday at Holiday Bowl Hixson.

Knocking down 1,389 pins in the first game -- an average of 231.5 per man -- the Trojans assured victory and a state tournament berth by leading 14-2 after two of the three games. Even with substitutes filling five spots in the final set of head-to-head matches, Soddy-Daisy won 23-4 with 3,861 total pins to 3,326 for the Wildcats.

"They came out fired up and never cooled down," Trojans coach David O'Malley Sr. said. "We bowled a good team, and they shot good scores, but we just didn't let them have a chance. I can't say this was typical for us, but the potential is always there."

Central High could feel for the Lawrenceburg team. The Purple Pounders lost 21-6 at Columbia Central, which totaled 3,825 pins.

"We were just outmatched. They had two guys who shot 700 scores," Central coach Jerry Allen said. "We shot pretty much our average."

Aaron Davidson rolled 279 and 289 his last two games for Columbia, and Al Jackson went 247-244-238. Justin Tipton had a 214 game to lead the Pounders (15-6) in the first game, and Chris Evans was their overall leader with a 581 series.

At the Hixson center, three Lawrence County guys bowled 219 or better in the first game -- Dain Fowler with a 245 -- and all lost by 25 or more pins. Cody Hunter rolled a 270 and Wesley Williams, Andy Holden and Matt Lyon were in the mid-240s for Soddy-Daisy (18-0).

Lyon added a 268 before stepping aside in the third game for Joseph Leffew, who had 11 strikes in a 265. Allyn Pickett totaled 441 for his two games, and Williams -- as the only senior, the only starter who bowled all three games -- closed out a 750 series with an 11-strike 279, tying his personal best. His only non-strike was a spare with an opening nine in the ninth frame.

"It hit my mind about halfway through the last game that this was my last home game for Soddy-Daisy," Williams said. "I wanted to go out with a bang, and I guess I did."

He said the team triumph meant more, though, and he acknowledged telling his teammates ahead of time, "Guys, just take your time and throw your shot like you always do, and we'll win."

Adam Gravitt had a 255 with eight consecutive strikes as a game-three sub.

Williams, Lyon and Pickett will be in the individual state tournament Thursday in Smyrna. Team play starts Friday.