MUSKEGON — Whitehall earned a sweep of Montague Monday at Northway Lanes, but it wasn’t easy - not, at least, on the boys’ side.
The Wildcats grabbed all 10 points in the Baker games, putting Whitehall in the unfamiliar position of having to rally from a deficit against its chief rival. However, the Vikes proved up to the task, outscoring Montague 17-3 in the individual games.
“They stepped it up in the individual games,” Whitehall coach Tyson Jasperse said. “They bowled really well. They did what they needed to do and got the win.”
Mason Slaughter led the comeback, delivering each of the team’s two top scores in individual play. He rolled a 202 and a 191 in matchups against Montague’s Carson Johnston, coming out on top in both.
Slaughter has emerged as a high scorer over the course of the season, occasionally unseating teammate Phoenix Hoffmeyer for the honor of top scorer in a match.
“I feel like the lanes were pretty good today,” Slaughter said. “I feel like I was throwing the ball the right way, shape and form. I’m pretty sure that helped me a lot getting those strikes and those spares.
“At the beginning of the year, we started off struggling. (After) that point...we’ve started to step it up and we’re starting to see the improvement in ourselves. I feel like we’ve come a long way.”
Hoffmeyer was Whitehall’s #2 scorer in individual play, rolling a 169 and a 170, and Max Schneider delivered a 175 in his second game on his way to a 2-0 finish. Jeffrey Hackey earned a pair of wins too.
Jasperse said the team has shown improved depth this year, which has led to better results.
“A couple of our guys have stepped up into some roles this year and have really turned it up into the second half of the season,” Jasperse said. “Even when some of our big shooters don’t hit the high scores, we’ve had other kids step it up.”
Matthew Leatherman led Montague in individual play, rolling a 156 and a 172 to earn a pair of wins. Chris Williams had the Wildcats’ high game, a 179.
In girls’ play, Whitehall was dominant against the rival Wildcats, earning a 28-2 win. Ava Garcia led the team, with individual games of 166 and 147.
“I was not very happy with my second game, but it was still fun with our team, and I’m glad I got a W there,” Garcia said. “My ball was hooking a little more than usual today, but overall, I’m pretty happy with our team performance.”
Also starring for the girls with 2-0 individual days were Morgan Garcia and Jersey Pierson. Whitehall swept all 10 Baker game points. Alonna Hysell and Aurelia Ambriz each scored a point for Montague, with Ambriz’s 178 the top score of the day for either team.
The rivalry matchup always adds some extra juice to the lanes; Slaughter said he had a headache early in the match. However, at its core, the rivalry is a fun one.
“Especially with the guys, it’s always a close match with Montague,” Jasperse said. “We love hanging out with the Montague teams. We love hanging out with the Montague coaches. It’s always a good time, whether we’re here or at Sherman (Lanes).”
