RIVERSIDE LANES

champs Chase Nadeau & Steven Acuff

    A pair of JBT regulars claimed their first titles in exciting dual conference JBT action at Laughlin's Riverside Lanes.

    The scratch division used our PBA format, with best 2 out of 3 matches after a cut to the top 16 bowlers.  Jimmy Hefley and Mark Myers tied for the high 5-game qualifying score, but Hefley's 278 gave him the top seed, which may have been the last thing he wanted, as the #1 jinx sprung up again, as #16 "Dirty Dan" Hansen scored a 2-1 upset victory.  Myers fared better, sweeping #15 Logan Kennedy.  All the other round one matches were 2-0 sweeps, highlighted by #11 Matt Herbert's win over hard-luck Zack Hattori, as his 224 and 246 lost to Matt's 259 and 247 scores.

    In the round of eight, Hansen (who threw a 268 in gave 5 to make the cut by one pin) ousted #9 Brandon Allred in three tough games, while #4 Aaron Foshie, #14 Nadeau, and Myers all scored sweeps.  In one-game semifinal matches, it was Nadeau over Myers 248-220, and Foshie over Hansen 224-167, to set up the title match.

       Nadeau, at age 15, is one of the JBT's fast rising stars, while Foshie was a 3-time winner in the handicap division, but has yet to claim a scratch title in an otherwise very successful return to JBT competition this season.  The title game proved to be all Chase, and he cruised to a 224-158 win and the first of what could be many JBT titles.

        Jon Gutierrez opened the handicap division stepladder finals with a big 260-216 win over Megan Carlson.  Acuff then just got by Gutierrez 243-232, and followed with a big 257-182 win over Danny Varholdt to reach the title match.

        Top seed Joey Mogavero was enjoying his best JBT event ever, and after trading the lead with Danny throughout the day, used a big game eight to capture the top seed.  Acuff, meanwhile, was seeking redemption from a stepladder match he let slip away just the day before in Phoenix.  Steven started the match red-hot, while Mogavero struggled to find the carry, and that spurred Acuff to a 258-210 win, finally joining his brother Derek as a JBT champion.

        April Urban claimed her first JBT Women's Series win of the season with a 211-190 victory over Taylor King.  She is now eligible for a bonus $500 scholarship at the Girls Invitational, held this summer in Las Vegas.

        Over $1,900 in scholarships were awarded to bowlers of all averages.  There's still time to get in on the fun and excitement of JBT this season!  Check out our schedule and come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!