McKinley passes early season test with win over Polar Bears
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
NORTH CANTON--It is one thing for Canton McKinley and Jackson to have a basketball rivalry.
Bowling is another.
Whereas McKinley has risen from the bottom of the Federal League since its inception, the Bulldogs have become the team everyone is hunting for now. With vaunted power in their lineup, the Jackson Polar Bears arrived to Park Centre Lanes confident of a victory that would shift the trajectory of the league balance.
McKinley is still holding all the cards.
Jackson showed their tremendous power early and often but in the end, the Bulldogs had enough in the tank to stifle the hosts and captured a close 92 pin decision in the form of a 2408-2316 tally in the league opener for both high schools. It is only the first meeting with a second one coming later in the year.
Canton McKinley head coach Kim Heaton relayed the importance of this early season match and not falling behind early in the standings.
"Jackson had a lot of power and they are a good team. We had a lot of players step up today and I am very proud of my team and how they responded," she said.
Bulldogs bowler James Tucker bowled a 408 series to lead the boys charge. The boys junior varsity team also posted a competitive 1868-1846 win over the Polar Bears with Austin Robinson bowling a 389 series.
Jackson head coach Dustin Dingler knows his team is not far away from supplanting McKinley based on the results. Eventually, McKinley's experience of having been in pressure situations proved dividends for them, something the Polar Bears hope to attain and eventually take that next step.
"We have a lot of depth this year. We just needed to have a big game in the Baker series that we just couldn't get," he said. "Other than that I think we bowled great tonight."
The McKinley girls varsity were able to post a victory tally of 2086-1795 and the girls junior varsity also posted a victory in the form of a 1191-1140 victory. Brooklynn Liming bowled a 233 series for the junior varsity while Maria Wise was on fire with a 430 series for the Bulldogs.
The McKinley girls are head coached by Wiley Currence.
"Our goal is to have our players be ready come tournament time. We want to also have players develop and when that time comes, they will be ready," he said.
It is one thing for McKinley and Jackson to have a basketball rivalry on the floor. Bowling is another and the second meeting just may be a preview of a future league championship late in the year.
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