• Fairhope boys advance to state tournament, Baldwin County, Daphne and Foley fall short in qualifying round

FOLEY—Stanhope-Elmore sophomore Blake Kelley rolled a 203 in the championship match traditional game Jan. 21 to help the Mustangs beat Baker and win (1,821-1,533) the AHSAA South Regional boys bowling championship at Foley’s Gulf Bowl. 

Fairhope qualified for the state tourney in the boys’ division with a 1448-1321 win over Oak Mountain in the qualifying round. Other first-round winners were Stanhope, Baker, Prattville, Spain Park, Benjamin Russell, Mary Montgomery and Thompson. The Pirates lost to Spain Park in the quarterfinals 1,671-1,358.

The Mustangs started the final day as the top seed after scoring 2,578 points in the first round’s three traditional games format. Stanhope edged arch-rival Prattville in the semifinals by a slim three-pin margin, 1,772 to 1,769. The Mustangs also beat Satsuma and Benjamin Russell in Friday’s first two rounds.

Thompson, coached by Michael Craycraft, beat Northview 1,371 to 1,328 in a close girls’ South Regional finals Thursday night.  Senior Jalexia Griffin rolled a 150 in the traditional game of the finals to pace the Lady Warriors. 

The Thompson Warriors beat second seed Northview by 43 pins in the championship match. Thompson’s other wins were over Spanish Fort in the first round of the 16-team qualifying bracket and over Mary Montgomery in the quarterfinals.

The eight girls and eight boys teams that clinched berths from the South Regional for the AHSAA’s inaugural State Bowling Championships will compete Jan. 28-29 at Pelham’s Oak Mountain Lanes. Qualifying for the state tourney in the boys’ division were Stanhope, Baker, Prattville, Spain Park, Benjamin Russell, Fairhope, Mary Montgomery and Thompson.

Qualifying in the girls’ division were Thompson, Northview, Spain Park, McGill-Toolen, Beauregard, Satsuma, Pelham and Mary Montgomery.

For more on the North Regional tournament visit AHSAA.com.     

South Regional Bowling Championships Results (All First-round winners advance to State Bowling Championships)

Girls 16-team qualifying bracket

Finals

Thompson 1,371, Northview 1,328

Semifinals

Thompson 1,236, Spain Park 1,223

Northview 1,298, Satsuma 1236

Quarterfinals

Spain Park 1,375, McGill-Toolen 1,305

Northview 1,189, Beauregard 1,151

Satsuma 1,312, Pelham 1,272

Thompson 1,295, Mary Montgomery 1,244

First Round

Spain Park had bye

Northview had bye

McGill-Toolen 1,188, Benjamin Russell  1,160

Mary Montgomery 1,187, Alma Bryant 1,061

Thompson 1,226, Spanish Fort 1,059

Satsuma 1,186, Indian Springs 988

Pelham 1,245, Foley 1,155

Beauregard 1,254, Valley 1,139

Boys 16-team qualifying bracket

(All First-round winners advance to State Bowling Championships)

Finals

Stanhope Elmore 1,821, Baker 1,533

Semifinals

Stanhope Elmore 1,772, Prattville 1,769

Baker 1,746, Spain Park 1,722

Quarterfinals

Stanhope defeats 1,663, Benjamin Russell 1,407

Spain Park 1,671, Fairhope 1,358

Baker 1,608, Mary Montgomery 1,584

Prattville 1,567, Thompson 1,467

First Round

Stanhope Elmore 1,708,  Satsuma 1,251

Spain Park 1,673, Alma Bryant 1673 – 1289

Mary Montgomery 1,709, Baldwin County 1,297

Thompson 1,615, Valley 1,160

Prattville 1,542, Foley 1,535

Baker 1,478, Daphne 1,451

Fairhope 1,448, Oak Mountain 1,321

Benjamin Russell 1,501, Northview 1,409