MOJAVE DOUBLES

champs Daryus Alo & Marguerite Evans, and Alex Watanabe & Steven Villanueva; additional pictures below

        Four bowlers claimed JBT titles in exciting action at the JBT Mojave Doubles tournament, hosted by The Orleans.

        The sister duo of Shauna and Courtney Schultz opened the handicap division baker-style stepladder finals with a 177-163 win over Jarred Starr-Moncayo and her son Jarred.  Recent JBT grad Casey Nagamine and Sebastian Polhill then teamed up to beat Shauna and Courtney 215-171.  Marguerite Evans and Daryus Alo then turned the tables on Casey and Sebastian with a 188-165 win to move on to the title match.

        Top seeds RJ and Sabrina Reyes have had previous success in this event, but this result would mark their career high finish.  Evans finally claimed her first JBT title just two weeks ago in the So Cal doubles event, and with the help of 8 year-old "babyloft" Daryus, they kept the lead most of the title game.  Needing a double to win, RJ couldn't get the first strike, and Evans and Alo each claimed their second career JBT title with the win.

        The scratch division finals began with one of the most bizarre finishes in JBT history.  Against Junior Gold champs Cortez Schenck and Wesley Low, scratch newcomer Jake Hilton needed all three strikes to tie the game in the tenth.  After getting the first two, Hilton's final shot went way wide right- but the 1-2-4 caved in backwards for a 191 tie.  Then his partner Ray Johnson struck in tehe tiebreaker to win the rolloff 10-9 and advance.  The following matches were calmer, with Ian and Nathan Hanuscin stopping Hilton and Johnson 212-151.  Dallas Leong and Zack Hattori outsriking teh Hanuscins 225-205 to set up the title match.

        Top seeds Alex Watanabe and adult star Steven Villanueva made it an all-Vegas finale for the crown, and the match was one-sided in favor of the #1 qualifiers.  Alex and Steven won the match 247-176, earning the long awaited first title of his JBT career.

    Thanks as always to The Orleans for hosting our events, and to all the adults who took the time to bowl with today's JBT bowlers.  If you want in on the fun, just come on down to our next event!