The Soddy-Daisy High School boys’ bowlers made a return to the state tournament easy on themselves Monday.
The Trojans, champions of Region 3, took control from the start and breezed to a 22.5-4.5 sectional win over Region 4 runner-up LaVergne at Holiday Bowl Hixson.
Later Monday, Bradley Central lost 21-6 to Smyrna High School at the Smyrna Bowling Center, site of the state tournament this Thursday through Saturday.
Division I Boys’ State SectionalMonday at Holiday Bowl HixsonSODDY-DAISY 22.5, LaVERGNE 4.5Game 1: Soddy-Daisy, 7.5-0.5Highlights: SD — Joseph Leffew 277, Matt Lyon 257, Kaleb Langston 227, Adam Gravitt 208, Andy Holden 204, Alllyn Pickett 189. L — Michael Heika 189, Zach Roc 177, Justin Burns 174, Drew Shukla 174, Brandon Thiede 172, Brent Batts 156.Game 2: Soddy-Daisy, 6-2Highlights: SD — Leffew 254, Pickett 226, Lyon 213, Langston 207, Gravitt 195, Holden 151. L — Burns 209, Roc 201, Thiede 194, Shukla 191, Batts 178, Heika 146.Game 3: Soddy-Daisy, 6-2Highlights: SD — Lyon 235, Gravitt 232, Jeremy Hood 205, Leffew 204, Holden 192, Wes Lowery 156. L — Shukla 234, Roc 229, Batts 171, Heika 169, Theide 159, Burns 157.Total pins (3 pts.): Soddy-Daisy, 3,832-3,280.
Soddy-Daisy finished second in the Division I state last year, and four of the Trojans will be competing in the individual tournament before team play gets under way Friday afternoon. Two of those, Joseph Leffew and Matt Lyon, had series of 735 and 705 in the sectional.