Girls Bowling: Sandburg rolls past field for sectional crown

Updated: February 4, 2012 5:11PM

Putting together what coach Joe Geiger called “the best day in school history” the host Eagles made sure the only drama in Saturday’s Sandburg Sectional in girls bowling was over who would finish second.

Sandburg finished with a six-game total pinfall of 5,815 to run away from the field at Orland Bowl, while Morgan Park (5,282) rallied to finish second.

Both teams advance to next week’s state meet at Cherry Bowl in Rockford, along with individual champion Brianna Andrew, of Chicago Christian (1,290) and Destiny Miller, of Shepard (4th, 1,179).

Sandburg placed all five bowlers in the top 15 — Nicole Powell (2nd, 1,269), Jessica Colson (3rd, 1,235), Faith Anagnos (10th, 1,132), Alyssa Pinkos (13th, 1,101) and Ashley Watson (15th, 1,078).

“Our lowest game of the day (a 918) was 40 pins above our season average,” Geiger said. “Everybody just had a great day. We’ve been improving more and more since winter break.”

“We were determined, we made our spares and we’re so excited,” Powell said.

Morgan Park was in second before a rough 790 in Game 5, falling nine pins behind Chicago Christian. The Mustangs responded with a 922 to Christian’s 846 to punch their ticket to state.

“We had great teamwork,” Morgan Park coach Norm Whitenhill said. “The girls rallied. They knew what they had to do the last game and they played it all the way through.”

Nina Thompson (7th, 1,149) paced the Mustangs.

Despite her team falling short, Andrew advanced to her third straight state meet.

“I really wish my team could have joined me,” she said. “We wanted it bad this season. But I’m still so excited to get back to state.”

Miller and Eisenhower’s Michelle Manna had a three-frame roll-off after tying with 1,179. Miller won it by tossing two strikes and a spare.

“I was so nervous, beyond shaking,” Miller said. “I’m so happy.”

Manna, nonetheless, was likely to gain an at-large berth to state.

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