FROM STAFF REPORTS

FOLEY – The Thompson High School girls bowling team won the South Regional bowling tournament held in Foley from Jan. 20-21. Thompson, coached by Michael Craycraft and Chris Hollingsworth, beat Northview High School in the finals by a total pin score of 1,371 to 1,328 to lay claim to the inaugural region title. Senior Jalexia Griffin rolled a 150 in the traditional game against Northview to pace the Lady Warriors.  Freshman Katie Keener finished in sixth place, and Alexianna Griffin was 14th overall on the first day of competition.

The girls came out of the first day’s action as the fourth seed and reeled off four wins on Thursday, including a 13-pin victory over top seed Spain Park in the semifinals, to win the regional title. The Warriors beat second-seed Northview by 43 pins in the championship match.  Thompson’s other wins were over Spanish Fort in the first round of the 16-team qualifying bracket and over Mary Montgomery in the quarterfinals.

Teams members include: Keener, Jessica Sherman, Alyssa Keaton, Gillian Baker, Alexianna Griffin, Jalexia Griffin and Alexis Wilkes.

The boys’ team also qualified for the state tournament by posting their highest scores of the year. On the first day, the Warriors recorded their highest regular game of the tournament with a 920-point team game, which helped them secure the fourth-place position for the elimination day of the tournament.

They defeated Valley High School in the opening round of the 16-team bracket before falling to Prattville in the quarterfinals. However, the boys’ victory in the fist round secured them a spot in the 16-team field at the state tournament.

The boys’ team was lead by Junior Ben Gould, who finished fourth overall and averaged 205 the first day. He then rolled a 256 his first game on Thursday to help lead the Warriors in their victory over Valley. Freshman Brandon Boner finished 13th on the first day.

Team members incude: Gould, Brian Barcoma, Boner, Caleb Farmer, Henry Holder, Nathan Renew, Jacob Brantley and Madison Boone.

Eight boys and girls teams’ clinched berths from the South Regional for the AHSAA’s inaugural State Bowling Championships, which will be held Jan. 28-29 at Pelham’s Oak Mountain Lanes.