Outright league title eludes Chiefs bowlers

WENATCHEE - After splitting the regular season Big 9 title on paper, the Moses Lake Chiefs and Wenatchee Panthers had a bowl off on Wednesday to determine who would claim the top spot heading into next week's regionals.

In the teams' first meeting, Wenatchee won 4-0 on the lanes but would later forfeit the match due to using an ineligible player at Lake Bowl.

When the Chiefs went north for the rematch the result would be the same, yet the two would finish tied heading into the roll off.

Well, an improved Chiefs team brought a strong showing to the match but would ultimately lose by none pins in a 2-2 match.

Wenatchee took both regular games and the Chiefs captured both bakers to lose the match 1,893-1,884 in pin count.

"We had an opportunity to win," Moses Lake head coach Billy Brice said. "Wenatchee got the first strike in the tenth of that second baker game and got what they needed. We had our chance to win but we didn't take advantage of our opportunities."

In the first regular game, the Chiefs fell 793-782 despite a 194 game by Shanice Brice. Brittany Ledbetter rolled a 163 and Ashlann Starkweather finished with a 156 for the Chiefs.

The second regular game saw the Panthers capture an 819-779 win.

Shanice Brice scored a 202 and Brittany Simpson scored a 199 as the Chiefs' late rally fell short.

"We kind of were hanging in there," Billy Brice said. "We were down by over 100 pins early and Brittany helped keep us in the match."

Moses Lake won the two bakers by scores of 175-163 and 148-118, just falling short.

Next is regionals and a shot at a team appearance at state, while Shanice Brice - who was awarded with the Big 9's high average (203) bowler - is the top returning finisher from last year's state tournament.

Shanice Brice took third place in Class 4A, 24 pins short of a title.