Wildcat Bowling Headed to State

By Coach Godley
Girls’ Regionals – Rounds 1 & 2: Central Beats Denham Springs for a 3rd Time This Season
    Central High Girls’ Bowling (10-1) has become one of the best teams in not only the Baton Rouge area, but in the state of Louisiana over the last 2 years.  The Wildcats have only one senior on this year’s roster, so it appears Central will be a contender for district and state titles for years to come.  After Wednesday’s (3-25-15) action in the Regionals of the LHSAA State Playoffs, the 2015 District Champions showed they’re ready to make a run towards a “Final Four” appearance, which would be a first in CHS history.  As the #1 seed in the Baton Rouge Region, Central received a bye in Round 1 and faced 4-Time State Champion Denham Springs (5-6 and #4 seed) in Round 2 of the LHSAA Bowling State Playoffs.
    After beating Denham twice this season (20½-6½ and 22-5), the Wildcats quickly wrapped up Round 2 as Central routed the Yellow Jackets 23-4 and 2693-2315 and extended their winning streak over the former state powerhouse to 6 matches.  

Only needing 14 points to win a match, Central wrapped up the match after 2 games by winning Game 1 6-2 (825-686) and Game 2 8-0 (884-762) and taking a 14-2 lead.  The Wildcats finished the match by winning Game 3 6-2 (984-867). Haley Young (Senior/Captain) led all scorers with a 236 game and 576 series, followed by Brittnee Robinson (Sophomore) with a 484 (183), Sarah LeDuff (Junior) with a 463 (179), and Brianna McCurley with a 450.

Girls’ Bi-Regionals – Rounds 3 & 4: Central Beats St. Joseph’s to Make First Final Four
    Bi-Regionals consist of teams remaining in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas in which teams are reseeded.  As a #2 seed in these rounds, Central once again received a bye (this time in Round 3) and took on local district rival St. Joseph’s in Round 4.  No strangers to each other, the two teams split their regular season meetings with each team winning at their home the last two seasons.  
    This time around, not only did the Wildcats defeat St. Joseph’s, but they did it in solid fashion.  Central won all three games, winning Game 1 5-3 (916-844), Game 2 6-2 (902-806), and Game 3 5-3 (939-879).  Central also won the 3 bonus points for Total Pins by over 200 pins, 2757-2529.  Haley Young (Senior/Captain) led the team with a very nice 601 (239), Brittnee Robinson (Sophomore) had a strong day with a 477 series (181 game), and Brianna McCurley (Sophomore) rolled a nice 448.  
    This time last year Central was trying to figure out where it all went wrong after a crushing 12-15 loss to St. Scholastica that bounced the Wildcats out of the State Playoffs.  This year, the ladies won the “big one” and advanced to the LHSAA State Bowling Final Four for the first time in school history.  This Wildcat team continues to prove that they’re a team that has a real chance to bring home a State Championship, but Round 5 won’t be an easy task if the Wildcats want to make the Finals.  
    In Round 5, the Wildcats take on 1-seed Ellender.  Ellender has a team average of 941, which is just a bit higher than Central’s 935.  The Final Four match is #6 seed Central Lafourche vs #1 seed St. Scholastica.  Come support your Wildcats to a State Championship on Friday (4-10-15) at Acadiana Lanes in Lafayette.  Matches start at 11 a.m.  Admission is $5.

Boys’ Regionals – Rounds 1 & 2: Central Downs Baton Rouge High
    Central (12-0) received a bye in Round 1, due to being the #1 seed in the Baton Rouge Region,  and bowled Baton Rouge High (7-5 and #9 seed) in Round 2 of the LHSAA Bowling State Playoffs.  Once again Central flexed their muscles in another route.
    On Wednesday (3-25-15) at All Star Lanes, the boys won all three games fairly easily, winning Game 1 6-2 (1099-976), Game 2 5.5-2.5 (1122-1036), and Game 3 7-1 (1073-872).  Overall, the Wildcats won by a final score of 21.5-5.5 (3294-2884 Total Pins) with Jacob Garretson (Senior/Captain) and Parker Aucoin (Sophomore) leading the way with a great 650 series (Garretson with a high game of 243 and Aucoin with a 234), followed by Dylan Ringo (Sophomore) with 589 (232), Bryce Delaune’s (Sophomore) 531 (186), and Johnathan Ryder (Junior) with a 501. 
 
Boys’ Bi-Regionals – Round 3: Central Boys Cruise against St. Michael’s
    Central High Boys’ Bowling (12-0) finished the season as arguably the best team in the Baton Rouge area and roll into the LHSAA Bowling State Playoffs as one of the few favorites from Baton Rouge to make a serious run at a state title.  After Wednesday’s (3-31-15) action in the Bi-Regionals of the playoffs, that is exactly what Central is looking to accomplish.  The #2 seeded Central dismantled #10 St. Michael’s (8-4) in the 3rd Round to set the tone for the day.
    The Wildcats defeated St. Michael’s 25-2.  Only needing 14 points to win a match, Central had the match wrapped after 2 games, leading 16-0 (1195-863 & 1279-972 in Total Pins).  The Wildcats came out strong in Game 1 behind Jacob Garretson’s (Senior/Captain) 235, Parker Aucoin’s (Sophomore) 233, and Johnathan Ryder’s (Junior) 216.  
    Game 2 saw Central simply blow the doors off the building with a school record setting performance.  Garretson led the team with a 280 (new boys’ school record game), followed by Aucoin’s 248, Bryce Delaune’s (Sophomore) 213, and Dylan Ringo’s (Sophomore) 209.  When all was said and done, the Wildcats set a new school record for a team game with a 1279.  The Wildcats finished the match, winning Game 3 6-2.  Overall Garretson led Central with an outstanding 706 series, with Aucoin chipping in a 665 and Delaune rolling a 567.

Boys’ Bi-Regionals – Round 4: Central Boys Knock Off a Tough Dutchtown
    Round 4 didn’t reflect Round 3 in any way.  Round 4 was against Dutchtown (12-0 and #3 seed).  This was a rematch from a couple of weeks ago in which Central won easily 20-7 and by almost 350 pins.  But a different day made this match go unlike the previous match, and Central would have to withstand a strong effort from the Griffins.  
    Central came out swinging and tried to deliver a knockout punch early in the match.  In Game 1, Central jumped out to a 5-3 and 1192-1111 lead and was led by some great bowling of Garretson (246), Ryder (227), Aucoin (218), and Ringo (214).  The Griffins would hang around in Game 2, but once again Central was able to narrowly win 6-2 and 1156-1062.  Central’s Ringo would lead the way with a 240 and Aucoin with a 203.  
    With Central up 11-5 and about 170 pins going into Game 3, Central just needed a solid game to win the match.  Dutchtown would win Game 3’s total pins 1088-1074, but Central won the individual points 4-2 for the two teams to split 4-4.  Aucoin was the high Wildcat in Game 3 with a 228, and Delaune rolled a 198.  When all the pins settled, the final score was 18-9 and 3422-3261 in Central’s favor.  Overall, Aucoin led the Wildcats with a 649, with Garretson rolling a 619, Ringo with a 598, Delaune with a 548, Ryder with a 526, and Klaivon Woods (Sophomore) with a 368 (2-game series).
    For the first time in school history, Central is moving on to the Final Four next Friday (4-10-15) at Acadiana Lanes in Lafayette.  At 11 a.m., Central will be bowling #4 seed HL Bourgeois in Round 5, and in the other half of the bracket will be #6 seed Lafayette vs #1 seed Brother Martin.  The winners will meet at 1 p.m. for the State Championship.  Central’s coaches would like to thank all the parents and fans for coming out to support the team this past Tuesday.  The team looks forward to having everyone’s support once again next Friday!  Admission is $5.