BEST IN THE WEST

champs Hunter Mayes and AJ Imperial (center) flanked by finalists; Avery Domaguin

        Hunter Mayes and AJ Imperial continue to show up in a major way for the big events, winning JBT titles at the Best In The West event, hosted by Bowlero Tucson.

        Kyle Perry began the six-bowler scratch division stepladder finals with a big 275 game to defeat Chris Mayes (203) and Harley Sweigart (183).   Perry kept up the strikes on the two-pattern finals pair with a 265 in game two, which stopped Keith Ylvisalker (212) and Alex Seng (200). 

        Hunter Mayes absolutely lapped the field in the all-matchplay event to earn the top seed.  Able to use his A-game firing top speed from the left corner, he put an end to Perry's excellent run with a strike barrage of his own, winning the final 269-201, good for his second career JBT title and whopping $700 scholarship payday.

        Josh Williams, suddenly on fire on Tour, won a close first round of the handicap finals with a 212 game that edged Caden Meliska (207) and recent 300 shooter Max Premeau (208).  Aiden Othic then continued the trend of huge numbers, blasting 277 to stop Williams (150) and Kyle Lawrence (235). 

        Top seed AJ Imperial took over the lead late he first day and never looked back.  Othic, a JBT winner the month before, put up a big number in an attempt to win his second, but Imperial was clutch down the stretch, holding off Aiden 276-248 to earn his second total.  Amazingly, both he and Hunter each won the last JBT 'major', the Desert Open, for a very rare double-defense!

        Avery Domaguin claimed the weekend's Priority Girls win with a victory over Madison Holman, while Mayes also won U-17 with a win over Ylvisaker.

        Big thanks to JBT alum James Kraykovich and his team for a great hosting job.  Over $3,200 was awarded in the first major of the season- want in on the fun?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!