Mark Lang rolled a 289 game for the Great Bend High School boys’ bowling team on Tuesday.
His career-high game is the top game in the Western Athletic Conference this season.
The GBHS boys and girls both beat Liberal at Walnut Bowl in Great Bend 6-1.
The Panthers beat Liberal in the first two match games, but the Redskins pulled out a win 773-750 in the final game heading into the Bakers’ format.
“We lost the last match against Liberal, but the boys have been clicking on the Bakers side,” GBHS head coach Mike Perry said. “It seems like they respond well to the noise and they just click together as a team.”
Lang’s 289 game, the highest game bowled by a WAC player this season beating four bowlers who have reached the 279 mark, led to his career-high series of 660.
“Mark Lang has got the WAC high game for the year with a 289,” Perry said. “He hit the front 10, and then he got nine and spared, so he ended up with 289. He ended up with a 660 series and Dakota Conaway ended up with a 661 series, so he beat him by one.
“But like Mark told me, he’s like, ‘Man, I’m happy. This is where I need to be, and if I’m beat by a teammate, I’m happy.’ That’s just a great attitude and the boys are just gelling as a team.”
Conaway rolled 223, 256 and 182 to finish one pin ahead of his teammate.
The boys also swept Hutchinson, which didn’t participate in the Baker’s format games, in match play.
The GBHS boys and girls are 31-11 heading into Thursday’s competition as the No. 1 seed.
“We’re going in with a five-game lead,” Perry said.  “If (Garden City and Dodge City) split today, then we could have an eight- or nine-game lead, so hopefully we’ll have a bit of a cushion heading into Liberal. But, the way we’re bowling, these guys are on the right track.”
The Lady Panthers dropped the first game of the Baker’s format during the meet.
“They lost that first Bakers match, and I think it was the ugliest game I think we’ve bowled in our lives,” Perry said. “I don’t know what the deal was, but I got them together, and they were down. I just made them laugh a little bit and said ‘I don’t think you can throw any worse than that. Quit trying so hard. Go out there and just have some fun.’
“Then they went out there and got that second win, and that just seemed to get them on fire. It was neat to see everybody come together like that. Now we have momentum heading into the WAC.”
Senior Jacy Quade led the GBHS girls with a 546 series.
“Jacy Quade was the top performer for us,” Perry said. “It was kind of a senior night. So it’s kind of cool to see the senior captain go out on top.”
Miranda Hejny finished with a 535 series. Senior Maddie Roach rolled a 507 series and Kelli Kirmer bowled a 507 series.
“Miranda Hejny finished third overall with a 535,” Perry said. “We had Maddie Roach over 500 and Kelli Kirmer was over 500, too, so we had four girls shooting 500. That’s great.”
Hutchinson beat Great Bend in the second game 777-699.

HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING
Western Athletic Conference

At Great Bend
Walnut Bowl

Tuesday

GIRLS

Total pins
1. Great Bend, 2,565; 2. Liberal, 2,278; 3. Hutchinson, 1,995.
Bakers’ format
Great Bend, 111-160-190 — 461; Liberal, 130-121-136 — 387
Great Bend varsity results
Jacy Quade, 200-158-188 — 546; Miranda Hejny, 166-165-204 — 535; Maddie Roach, 171-166-170 — 507; Kelli Kirmer, 166-191-150 — 507; Addie Soukup, 158-177-133 — 468; Erin Bowers, 151-123-134 — 408
Great Bend junior varsity
Alex Eye, 160-158-189 — 507; Sterling McAllister, 161-129-149 — 439; Jessica Sterba, 107-148-136 — 391; Marissa O’Connor 130-99-125 — 354; Abby Rose, 110-1332-82 — 324; Kira Bunn, 103-104-91 — 298

BOYS
Total pins
1. Great Bend, 3,081; 2. Liberal, 2,600; 3. Hutchinson, 2,048
Baker’s format
Great Bend, 187-248-227 — 662; Liberal, 168-148-145 — 461
Great Bend varsity results
Dakota Conaway, 223-256-182 — 661; Mark Lang, 289-183-188 — 660; Eric Ruiz, 188-178-195 — 561; Daniel Herrman, 174-146-178 — 498; Jeff Meitler, 133-178-185 — 496; Kolt Ramey, 160-175-145 — 480 
Great Bend junior varsity
Alex Morgan, 199-186-140 — 525; Kevin Coleman, 171-175-146 — 492; Matt Black, 156-165-146 — 467; Hunter Gregg, 137-144-164 — 445