TOWN & COUNTRY

champs Jess Gagliardi & Stacia Cilley

            Jess Gagliardi and Stacia Cilley kicked off a new decade in fine fashion, with wins in exciting JBT NM-TX Conference action at Roswell's Town & Country Entertainment.

            Christina Waldron looked unstoppable as she won three matches in the scratch stepladder finals to get to Gagliardi.  She began with a 235-220 over fireballer Nick Lee in round one.  In an all-female round two, Christina beat Hannah Stedman 224-203, and followed with a 226-183 win over first-time scratch finalist Travis Turner to reach the title game.

            Top seed Gagliardi had absolutely owned this event, averaging over 240 in qualifying to coast to the number one seed.  However, he had his hands full with Waldron, who was throwing good shots and brimming with confidence.  Unsurprisingly, it was a strike-fest in the finale, but unfortunately for Waldron she was the one to blink first, missing a 7-pin in the ninth frame that was the difference in a 247-245 win for Gagliardi, who claimed the 4th win of his JBT career.

            Alonzo Richardson opened up the 8-bowler handicap stepladder finals with a 228 game that eliminated Kendra Jones (188) and Olivia Stedman (162).  Joe Palma then blasted a 247 to win round two over Richardson (218) and Shawn Perry (202).  Palma was good again in the semifinals, as his 240 beat Tim Baribeau (218) and Bailey McFarland (227) to reach the title match.  Despite two girls making the scratch finals, McFarland, at 12 years old, was the highest average female of the day, averaging over 210!

           Top seed Stacia Cilley had the early lead in qualifying, and regained it in the last semifinal game.  She countered Palma's strike barrage with a long string of her own, shooting 235 scratch in the final for a 272-243 win and her first career JBT title.

             Thanks as always to Brian Casaus and the great staff at Town & Country for a wonderful hosting job at this traditional new year's event.  Over $1,500 in scholarships were awarded to bowlers age 22 & under of all skill levels- want in on the fun?  Check out our schedule page and come on down to a JBT event soon- it's really that simple!