The Great Bend High School boys’ bowling team took a commanding lead in the Western Athletic Conference standings on Tuesday afternoon at Walnut Bowl.
The Panthers took all but one of the 11 conference points available in beating Garden City. The Lady Panthers beat Garden City as well, winning 7 of 11 points.
“It was a good competition for us,” GBHS head coach Mike Perry said. “The boys were able to get almost all of the points, and the girls stepped up at the end to win.”
The boys started slow, but still held a 238-pin advantage heading into the Baker’s portion of the competition.
“From what I saw, the boys started off a little bit slower than I expected they would,” Perry said. “They had a great practice (on Monday), and I thought that would just carry over into (Tuesday).
“By the end of Game 2, we got going again.”
Dakota Conaway led the Panthers with a series of 712. He bowled games of 231, 255 and 226.
Eric Ruiz was Great Bend’s No. 2 bowler, rolling a 674 series.
The Lady Panthers led 1,987-1,930 in total pins heading into the Baker’s games.
Garden City won the first two games 161-157 and 178-145.
Great Bend was able to rally for a 154-136 win in Game 3 to stay ahead in the pin totals.
“The girls, they had a good practice, too,” Perry said. “They just seemed like they couldn’t string strikes together. They couldn’t hit their spares. They were missing their spots.
“They didn’t bring their ‘A’ game, but they did get it done in the end. They stepped up, and that’s what they needed to do.”
The Lady Panthers were led by Miranda Hejny, rolling games of 161, 176 and 193 for a 530 series.
Kelli Kirmer was 20 pins behind her with a series of 510.
Great Bend travels to Liberal on Tuesday, starting at 3 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING

Tuesday

At Great Bend
Walnut Bowl

BOYS

Team scores
1. Great Bend, 3,159; 2. Garden City, 2,881

Great Bend results
Dakota Conaway, 231-255-226 — 712; Eric Ruiz, 211-232-231 — 674; Daniel Herrman, 234-179-207 — 620; Jeff Meitler, 192-201-160 — 553; Kolt Ramey 148-194-201 — 543; Mark Lang, 181-142-159 — 482

Baker’s results
Great Bend 2, Garden City 1
181-157, 158-213, 205-134

GIRLS
Team scores
1. Great Bend, 2,443; 2. Garden City, 2,405

Great Bend results
Miranda Hejny, 161-176-193 — 530; Kelli Kirmer, 193-160-157 — 510; Jessica Sterba, 165-167-144 — 476; Sterling McAllister, 161-126-160 — 447; Addie Soukup, 151-145-149 — 445; Alex Eye, 147-139-135 — 421

Baker’s results
Garden City 2, Great Bend 1
161-157, 178-145, 136-154

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Standings

BOYS
Great Bend     21-1
Garden City    9-13
Dodge City     9-13
Liberal           5-17

GIRLS
Great Bend     18-4
Garden City    14-8
Liberal            9-13
Dodge City     3-19