SMYRNA — Rolling the highest pin-fall tally of any Bearette in TSSAA State Bowling Championship history, Bradley Central has a second straight Top 10 finisher.
Surpassing last year's 1,007 total by classmate Olivia Reddish to earn ninth place, senior Carley Horning knocked down 1,048 pins on the Smyrna Bowling Center lanes to finish 10th Wednesday.
Reddish also did well once again, placing 21st with a 945 six-game score.
"Carley and Olivia both worked hard on the lanes today," praised Bearette head coach Chelsea Hancock. "They are both leaders on and off the lanes and have been wonderful examples in their time at Bradley."
The duo led the Region 2 champion Bearettes (15-2) into the program's first TSSAA State Team Championships Thursday afternoon, where they battled Tullahoma (7-1) in the state quarterfinals, but came up short in the tightest Elite Eight matchup — 17-10.
After presstime in Friday's semifinals, the Lady Wildcats were to face Creek Wood (20-3), which defeated Bartlett (14-3) by a 19-8 total.
Also advancing to the Final Four seven-time state champion Hardin County (17-0) blasted previously unbeaten Rhea County (14-1) by a 26-1 margin. The Lady Eagles were the only team to beat Bradley during the regular season.
Dickson County (22-1) did the same to Carter (21-1), spoiling their perfect record in a 21-6 outcome. The state championship match was set for Friday afternoon.
Five Bradley County bowlers also competed in the Boys' Individual State event, with Cleveland High junior Darius Thompson leading the way with a 14th-place showing.
Walker Valley senior Caleb Austin came in 21st, while Blue Raiders Tripp Hall (T-23rd), Carter Pierce (30th) and Joshua Bomboy (38th) rounded out the local effort.
Horning came into the Individual State Tournament having rolled the eighth-best qualifying score in the state, rolling a six-game 1,060 total (176.7 average) at the region event.
Posting a 174.7 average Wednesday, she rolled consistent scores of 174, 161, 171 and 163 to open, before putting up her high game at 231. She slipped a little in her final try with a 147, leaving her just two pins out of ninth place and 46 from making the six-player championship tree.
Reddish, who qualified 17th with a 996 (166 average) at the region, rolled scores of 167, 145, 193, 148, 156, 136 for a 157.4 average. She was just a single pin shy of a Top 20 finish and 58 short of the Top 15.
"It's amazing to be able to be part of both of their accomplishments," commented Coach Hancock. "They work together and have each other's back. They are both dedicated to the sport and to becoming better all the time.
"As Olivia's career in high school comes to an end, it's definitely a bittersweet moment. She is a great kid and bowler, who I will miss coaching. The growth she's made over the years is amazing and I'm so proud she will continue at TWU [Tennessee Wesleyan]," added the Bearette mentor, who was a state qualifier herself when she was rolling for Walker Valley.
In Thursday's team action, Bradley opened strong as the teams split the half dozen American 10-pin games but with the pin-fall bonus the Bearettes led 5-3.
Reddish (175), Horning (160) and Brooklyn Pritchard (135) notched the heads-up wins, plus the team posted a 898-883 pin-fall tally.
In Round 2, only Reddish (190) and Horning (143) had the only Bradley wins, as Tullahoma claimed the other four, plus the bonus with a 908-840 edge.
The teams split the two Baker games, the Lady Wildcats winning the opener 193-125, with the Bearettes came back for a 165-158 total, but once again dropped the pin-fall tally as well as the overall bonus points by a 2,142-2,028 final count.
"We are so proud of the girls' hard work this season. They have worked together to succeed in their accomplishments this far. They are determined to win a championship and bring home the hardware. They all arrived in Smyrna with great attitudes."
In just Cleveland High's second season of having a team, Thompson set the standard high with a 187 average, that included a top score of 230 in his 1,122 pin-fall count.
Coming as the 43rd seed in a 48-player field, he also rolled a 197, 185, 177, 171 and a 162 to finish just eight pins out of 13th place and 18 from 12th.
Austin qualified 38th but improved 17 slots with a 1,072 tally. The senior's 178.7 average including rolls of 208, 187, 183, 180, 170 and 144.
Hall, a state qualifying golfer as well, was the 33rd seed, but moved up to 10 spots with a 176 six-game average to tie White Station's Dakota Carter for 23rd place. The senior's 1,056 tally included scores of 225, 197, 187, 170, 142 and 135.
Coming in 32nd, the junior Pierce stayed steady with a 1,023 (170.5 average) — 191, 178, 175, 168, 156 and 155.
Also an 11th-grader, Bomboy came in as the highest seed at No. 10 before posting rolls of 224, 176, 165, 160, 129 and 119 for a 973 tally for a 162.2 average.
