SOUTH PLAINS LANES

champs Adel Wahner & Mateo Gonzalez

        Adel Wahner claimed a bit of history, while Mateo Gonzalez and Bree Vargas had outstanding days of their own, in exciting JBT Texas-New Mexico Conference action at South Plains Lanes in Lubbock.

        Vargas began the scratch division stepladder finals with a 245-204 win over Angel Ortega.  Curtis Lindeman then stopped Vargas 237-217.  Levi Fintel, who blasted a 299 in qualifying for the high game of the day, then defeated Lindeman 238-210 to move on to the title game.

        Adel Wahner has just been getting better and better, and nabbed the top seed for a stepladder finals for the first time with a +300 eight game effort.  This time she was able to finish the deal, sparing in the tenth to beat Fintel 203-197 for the title.  She won the Main Event last December, but this breakthrough win was her first in an open scratch event, and first by any female since Courtney Nikolas in May of 2014.

        Unsurprisingly, Wahner and Vargas were the finalists in the day's Women's Series event, and neither disappointed there, putting on a show that ended in a 236 tie.  Bree came up with the 10-9 win in the ensuing rolloff to claim the day's girls' title.

        James Fine won the handicap division stepladder opener with a 245-204 decision over first time finalist Tressa Robinson.  Another finals rookie, Bryson Ellis, then stopped Fine 261-222, and followed with a 242-176 win over Daniel Hall to advance to the title match.

        Mateo Gonzalez found himself in familiar territory as the top seed at South Plains, the same position he earned here last year.  He couldn't finish the deal last time, but this time he left no doubt, staying in control of a 225-204 win over Ellis, good for the second title of his JBT career.

        Big thanks to Jim, Jimbo, and the crew at South Plains for their usual terrific hosting job.  Want in on all this fun for all ages and averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!