BOYS BOWLING: Las Vegas and Arbor View set to face off for state title Friday
Regardless of the outcome Friday in the Class 4A boys bowling state championship match, there will be a team winning its first state championship.
The Las Vegas High and Arbor View boys bowling teams moved one step closer to the ultimate prize by capturing region titles on Thursday at The Orleans.
Las Vegas defeated Liberty 7-2 to capture the Sunrise Region crown, and Arbor View defeated Clark 7-2 to win the Sunset and move into the title match at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
“We’ve never won a state championship in bowling,” Las Vegas coach Stephen Gaspar said. “It would be a huge accomplishment if we can do it.”
The Wildcats have had individual winners in the state championships but has never had a team bowling championship.
Las Vegas outscored the Patriots 2,361-2,221 in their three game series Thursday.
“The kids did a good job,” Gaspar said. “We had been bowling really even with (Liberty) so it really came down to who bowled well today.”
Arbor View outscored the Chargers 2,197-2,072 in its win in the Sunset.
“They worked really hard,” Arbor View coach Tom Garrett said. “They’re hungry for it. But it’s going to be tough. We have a tough team we have to face tomorrow.”
Arbor View and Las Vegas have been the most consistent teams in the tournament, both holding three of the top-10 series scores.
Las Vegas’ Jordan Richards also holds the third-best single-game score of the tournament with 257, which he scored during the region final Thursday.
The mental part of bowling is more important than ever in a championship matches. Garrett believes his team is prepared for anything that comes its way Friday.
“The first couple of days the nerves got into them a little bit, but they stayed a little more calm today” he said. “Their nerves are definitely in better shape than they were on Monday. I think they’re ready to go.”
The game plan for Arbor View is simple heading into the state championship match.
“Hopefully get our spares if we don’t get the strikes,” Garrett said. “It’s all about picking up the spares really.”
Contact reporter Bill Slane at bslane@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4559. Follow @bill_slane on Twitter.
