The Great Bend High School girls’ and boys’ bowling teams beat Liberal and Hutchinson in a triangular on Tuesday afternoon at Walnut Bowl.
The Panthers finished with a score of 2,547, beating second-place Liberal by 321 pins. The Lady Panthers knocked down 2,150 pins, topping Liberal’s second-place total of 1,892.
“We did really well,” GBHS head coach Mike Perry said. “We started out a little slow, but the boys took care of business, and we had some girls step up for us.
“Both the boys and the girls beat Liberal and Hutch straight up. At this point in the season, I’m looking at their sets and not the Baker’s games with (Class 5-1A) regionals coming up.”
Kelli Kirmer led the Lady Panthers with a career-high 613 series. Her high game was 226. Jessica Sterba was their No. 2 bowler with a 529 series.
“Kelli Kirmer had a great day,” Perry said. “She stepped up for us. Our usual No. 1 bowler, Miranda Hejny, has been battling illness, so it was great to see Kelli do that.
“Jessica Sterba had a big series for us, too.”
In Western Athletic Conference competition, the Lady Panthers beat Liberal 10-1. They sit in first place in the WAC standings with a record of 57-9.
Dakota Conaway led the Panthers with a 700 series. He has a WAC-leading game average of 225. His high game in the triangular was 248.
“Dakota is the horse pulling the wagon,” Perry said. “He’s the lead dog. He’s the boss. When he bowls well, they all bowl well. He gets the rest of the team fired up.”
Jeff Meitler was the No. 2 bowler for the Great Bend boys, finishing with a 649 series.
The Panthers finished 9-2 in WAC action with the Redskins, and lead the conference standings at 58-8.
Great Bend closes the regular season with a WAC tournament on Thursday in Dodge City, starting at 12:30 p.m.

                                              — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING

Tuesday

At Great Bend
Walnut Bowl

GIRLS

Team scores
1. Great Bend, 2,150; 2. Liberal, 1,892; 3. Hutchinson, 1,824

Great Bend results
Kelli Kirmer, 203-226-184 — 613; Jessica Sterba, 162-172-195 — 529; Addie Soukup, 164-143-178 — 485; Miranda Hejny, 156-166-159 — 481; Alex Eye, 182-136-117 — 435; Sterling McAllister, 157-159-111 — 427

Baker’s format
Great Bend 2, Liberal 1
137-160, 153-142, 172-147

BOYS

Team scores
1. Great Bend 2,547; 2. Liberal, 2,226; 3. Hutchinson, 1,981

Great Bend results
1. Dakota Conaway, 236-248-216 — 700; 2. Jeff Meitler, 184-233-232 — 649; Eric Ruiz, 200-205-190 — 595; Kolt Ramey, 196-182-203 — 581; Daniel Herrman, 193-171-203 — 567; Mark Lang, 171-157-197 — 525

Baker’s format
Liberal 2, Great Bend 1
183-208, 178-171, 201-178