The Lady Wildcats came back with a victory after trailing Farmington in their bowling meeting on Jan. 10.
‘This was a great performance by these ladies. Coming back from 10 down isn’t easy and they did it against a good team,? said Bowling Coach JR. Lafnear. ‘When our girls are on they are a hard team to beat. They can build off of this.?
The girls knew that Rav’en Turner was in her home house and she and the girl Raiders would pose a challenge. Oxford would loss both baker games and be down 10 to 0. That’s when the girls got it rolling. Oxford would win 4 matches and totals in game 1 818 to 749. Hannah Farmer won with a 173, as did Alyssa Hurlburt 178 and Caitlyn Wroblewski 179 and Ashley Miller 134. The Wildcats still trailed 11-8 going into the final game. In that game Wroblewski shot 215, Farmer scored a 193 and Hurlburt won with a 180. The Wildcats completed the comeback victory 896 to 860. Final score 17 to 13 Wildcats.
The boys knew North Farmington bowls well there and would have to be on their game to win. After splitting two baker games the Wildcats won game one 948 to 921. Sean McKinney led the way with a 235 game, leading all bowlers. Oxford had the lead 11-8 going into the final game. North Farmington stepped up and defended their home lanes beating the Wildcats 1039 to 977.?’The final score was North Farmington 17 to 13.??
On Jan. 12, the team headed to Imperial Lanes to compete in the L’anse Creuse North’s Bakers Dozen Team Invitational. Oxford entered 4 teams, Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity and 2 JV boys? teams into the tournament. The format was 13 baker games with the top 16 teams moving on to head up competition. Then they would bowl best two of three baker games until a champion is crowned. There were separate divisions for JV boys and girls as well as Varsity boys and girls.
All four teams advanced to the head up round. The Girls Varsity and 1 of the JV boy’s team would lose in round one. The JV team remaining advanced into the final four before losing. They did however win the consolation match to take 3rd place. The Varsity boys would lead the tournament for the first 11 games advanced into the Championship round vs Clarkston. Clarkston who is undefeated this year in the OAA, took game one 239 to 210. Oxford would rebound and take the second game 216 to 202. Game three went right down to the 10th’frame. Oxford trailed the entire way but mounted a charge with strikes in the 6th, 7th and 8th’frames. When a Clarkston bowler opened in there 8th’frame, it was anyone’s match. Both teams marked in the 9th’and the game would go into the tenth. Clarkston’s Kirby threw an arrant shot for a six count, which opened the door for Brandon Hurlburt. If Brandon throws the first two strikes he shuts Clarkston out. If Kirby doesn’t convert the spare Oxford wins. Kirby converted. Hurlburt threw a great shot and got tapped on a 7 pin. Oxford finished second?239 to 226. The Boys from Oxford bowled 24 baker games and averaged 210 per game for the day.?
‘The team bowled so well. We have been getting better in baker games and today they competed like champions. We went to game three in three rounds and just battled,? Lafnear said. ‘I haven’t seen an Oxford team compete like ever. I love the way these guys are growing and really look forward to the future.??