The Vermilion boys and North Ridgeville girls are favored to successfully defend their titles in Sunday’s North Shore Bowling Conference Tournament at Rebman Rec in Lorain.
The teams are peaking at the right time — both riding hot streaks after winning their respective rolloffs on Jan. 30.
Last year Vermilion beat  North Ridgeville, 3,008- 2,816, while the Ranger girls edged Admiral King by just two pins, 2,479-2,477.
Play gets under way Sunday at 9 a.m.
“Our younger players really handled the pressure of the rolloff very well,” said Vermilion junior Jake Casto. “North Ridgeville ruined our chances for an undefeated season, but there’s nothing we can do about that.
“Our main focus is being consistent and hitting our shots. The goal is simply to try and bowl a 200 game or better every time out.”
Vermilion finished third last year in the NSBC dual-meet standings, but came on strong beginning with last year’s NSBC Tournament.
“The main thing we need to remember is staying focused on ourselves and the things that we do best,” said Vermilion junior Bryan Buckosh. “We know everyone is going to be gunning for us.”
Casto leads the NSBC with a 216 average, right in front of Keystone’s Tyler Minnich (215) and Firelands’ Ryan Pettry (213), also juniors. Buckosh is No. 4 with a 209 average.
Consistency has carried the North Ridgeville girls again this season. Four of their bowlers rank among the 14 best in the conference: Tabitha Hill (166), Nichole Lamie (166), Devan Freeman (165) and Heather Hill (150).
Lamie is the only senior of the group. The Hills are sophomores and Freeman is a freshman.
Firelands senior Erica Friend leads the girls field with a 186 average. Admiral King senior Natalie Velasquez (184) is right behind. Southview sophomore Ciera Diaz (179) and Keystone junior Ashley Branham (173) round out the top four.

Locals stand out

Olmsted Falls sophomore Ethan Arnold and Brookside junior Chris Pranckunas had a great weekend at Saturday’s handicap knockdown matches for the Greater Cleveland Interscholastic Bowling League at Buckeye Lanes in North Olmsted.
Arnold had the league’s best 700 series (289-278-206—773), beating out Lutheran West’s Travis Podvorac (297-230-201—728). Pranckunas rolled the top 600 series (247-242-209—698) as he beat out Benedictine’s Brandon White (683).
Westlake senior Alan Moorman also bowled extremely well. He had the second-best 550 series (597) to Valley Forge’s Nick Fadil (599).
Lutheran West (91-49) overtook Brecksville (89-51) in the Reed Division. The Longhorns won all seven handicap games from the Bees, clinching the division crown in the process.
In addition to Podvorac, Nate Yencho (595), Alex Soltis (591) and Rodney Bassett (590) bowled strong 550 series for the ’Horns.
Second-place North Olmsted (82-58) won four of seven handicap games with Corr Division handicap leader Cleveland Central Catholic (87-53), but it wasn’t enough, as the Ironmen clinched division honors.
Mike Hull had 580 in the 550 series for the Eagles. Shane Harmon bowled a 645 in the 600 series for North Olmsted. 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Bryan Buckosh, Vermilion

CLASS: Junior
LAST WEEK: Buckosh bowled games of 217 and 208 for a 425 series on Jan. 30 at Rebman Rec to lead Vermilion over North Ridgeville in a rolloff for the regular-season championship of the North Shore Bowling Conference.
BIO: Buckosh was a member of last year’s sectional champ and state-qualifying team. He  ranks No. 4 in the NSBC with a 209 average. His career-best game is 299. He is a member of National Honor Society, math honor society, student council and ski club. He sails competitively for the Vermilion Boat Club and carries a 3.8 gpa.
PARENTS: George and Maureen Buckosh

Heather Hill, North Ridgeville

CLASS: Sophomore
LAST WEEK: Hill bowled a high game of 192 and high series of 369 in leading North Ridgeville over Vermilion in a rolloff for the NSBC girls title.
BIO: Hill is the Rangers’ No. 4 bowler with a 150 average.
Her career-high game is 237. Her sister, Tabitha, is the team’s No. 1 bowler along with Nichole Lamie (166 avg.). Tabitha is also a sophomore, but a year older than Heather. In addition to bowling, Heather enjoys movies, especially romantic and horror. She has a 3.0 gpa.
PARENTS: Dwight and Diane Hill

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