SOUTH PLAINS LANES

champs Mason Edmondson & Nick Lloyd

          A pair of Texans defended their home state, capturing titles in exciting JBT New Mexico-Texas Conference action at Lubbock's South Plains Lanes.

          Tim Crites began a run up the scratch division stepladder with a 198-169 win over Courtney Dutton, the high finisher among a battallion of girls to make the scratch cut on the day.  Crites then came up with the game of his JBT career, a front-ten, 289-234 victory over points leader Nick Lee.  Tim then got by another Arizona bowler, Joe Lewandowski, 225-204, to reach the title match.

         Top seed Mason Edmondson is a Jason Belmonte fan, and bowls like a mirror image of him, two-handed from the lefty side.  He probably figured it would take a big score to beat the red-hot Crites, and he came through with just that, throwing eleven strikes in a 279-236 win over Tim for the second title of his JBT career.

        JBT rookie Beau Carson had a great day, opening up the handicap division stepladder finals with a 266-222 win over Brandon Heckler, whose broken non-bowling arm proved to be no impediment to him.  Priscilla Red then defeated Carson 227-193.  Nick Lloyd then turned the tables on Red 225-214 to advance to the title match.

        Top seed Jerimiah Martin, like Lloyd, has been saddled with a few runner-up finishes, so somebody was going to break through for win number one, and in a tight match, it was Lloyd coming away with the 213-200 win for his first career JBT title.

        Hannah Stedman made sure the Texan dominance extended into the Women's Series, defeating Courtney Dutton 245-181 for the days's Women's title, the second of three wins she needs to qualify for the 2012 Girls TPC this July in Las Vegas.

        Thanks as always to the crew at South Plains for a wonderful job hosting our Tour.  Over $1,600 in scholarships were earned by bowlers of all ages and averages- want in on the fun?  Check out our schedule and come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!