Kitchens cool as CP edges Hanover again
LOWELL — The anchor bowler on a team is typically counted on to execute and thrive in pressure situations.
Crown Point senior Koree Kitchens qualifies as that type of bowler, and he definitely thrived in the anchor role during the Bulldogs most important match of the season at Saturday’s Quad County Conference Sectional Championship against rival Hanover Central.
Needing a strike on the first shot of the tenth frame to preserve the team’s two-pin lead, Kitchens delivered the big shot and spared on his final shot to help the Crown Point boys to a thrilling 385-383 win over top-seeded Hanover Central.
Crown Point won the first contest 170-168 on the strength of three strikes in the tenth frame from Kitchens, who admits that he loves to be in the hot seat — win or lose.
“My thought was before that first shot — one strike, and I’m the man of the hour,” Kitchens said. “I’d rather have the pressure. If you mess up, of course you get the heat — but if you hit the big shot, they love you.
“I know I needed those three strikes in the first game to beat them by two. That turned out to be bigger than I thought.”
Ironically, Saturday’s nail biter was a repeat of last week’s Quad County Conference Championship, where Crown Point also executed in the final frame to edge Hanover Central.
“Hanover is a definite rivalry for us,” said Crown Point’s Cody Locher. “They’re one of our strongest opponents, and they definitely bring out the best in our team. We had another great match today against them.”
Crown Point, which qualified second 139 pins behind Hanover Central, defeated Lowell 405-310 to reach the championship. The Bulldogs won the first game 198-176 and finished strong with a 207-134 second game. All three teams advanced to next Saturday’s Sectional Championship at Stardust II.
In the girls division, Lowell qualified first and captured the Sectional title, defeating Kankakee Valley 309-259. Kankakee Valley reached the finals on the strength of a 323-302 win over Boone Grove. All three teams qualified for next Saturday’s Regional Championship at Stardust II.
“It was exciting and hectic all at the same time,” said Lowell’s Taylor Helgoth. “We had to cheer each other on and not get stressed. We stayed focused as a team and didn’t get distracted.”
At Saturday’s Greater Lake County Conference Sectional Meet at Stardust III, it was an all Lake Central-Highland final — as both the boys and girls teams faced off for the Championship.
The Highland boys defeated Lake Central 472-376, and the Lake Central girls defeated Highland 369-341.
For the Lake Central girls, the team found itself behind 194-145 after the first match but roared back with a 224-147 in the second game to capture the championship. Highland boys jumped out to a 237-192 first game advantage and stayed on course with a 235-184 second-game effort.
All four team’s qualified for Saturday’s Regional Championship — as did the Griffith Boys team, which dropped a 399-364 decision to Highland in the first match.