Humphrey, Slings lead Newton girls past Gilbert

Career-best series from both Gabbie Humphrey and Genessa Slings led the Newton girls bowling team to a win over Gilbert on Saturday.

The Cardinals faced a narrow deficit after the individual round but rallied with a strong Baker performance and downed the Tigers 2,440 to 2,364.

The Newton boys never got their full footing at Cardinal Lanes and lost to a senior-dominated Gilbert squad 2,972 to 2,880.

“For the most part, the girls were at or above their averages,” Newton head bowling coach Christie Hughes said. “We knew going into today that it was going to be tough for the boys because Gilbert has been bowling right around where we have been. They have a lot of seniors in their lineup.”

Gilbert’s girls led Newton 1,612 to 1,603 after the individual round, but the Cardinals rallied with an 844 Baker round.

Humphrey posted the best series of her career with single games of 229 and 178. She was second overall with a 407 series.

Slings finished third with a career-best 387 series. She had a season-best 214 single game and added a 173.

It was a down day for Libbie Keith, but she was still fifth overall with a 294 series. She had single games of 152 and 142.

Maria Baxim was next with single games of 127 and 144 for a 271 series, while Kelly Holmes added single games of 131 and 113 for a 244 series. Aeris Archer completed the lineup with a career-best 206 series and single games of 108 and 98.

Baxim, Holmes and Archer were 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively.

Kilee Miller of Gilbert led everyone with a 446 series. She had single games of 235 and 211. Sarah Thatcher was fourth with a 319 series and Katie O’Brien finished sixth with a 285.

The Newton JV squad was led by Lina Hinds (222) and Marissa Baxim (205).

Gilbert’s boys led Newton 1,940 to 1,895 after the individual round and then outscored the Cardinals 1,032 to 985 in the Baker games.

The Tigers posted Baker game scores of 233, 226 and 206 in their five games, while Newton’s two best games were 234 and 213.

“I feel like it was a good day. I’m not sad at all,” Hughes said. “The girls won and the boys had a score that is nothing to sneeze about.

“I’m not sure why we struggle at home. That was a great score two years ago. So it’s hard to be mad at a 2,800. The goal is to reach 3,000 because that’s state level. I think the boys will get back there.”

Owen Guldberg led the Newton boys with a 407 series. He was second overall with single games of 181 and 226.

Andrew Wiles and Sebastian King were fourth and fifth, respectively, at 395 and 382. Wiles’ singles games were 214 and 181 and King posted a 168 and a 214.

Tamion Adams was next for Newton in seventh. He had a 361 series with single games of 179 and 182.

David Holmes was ninth with a 350 series and Austin Kennedy placed 12th with a 303. Holmes posted single games of 160 and 190 and Kennedy turned in a 130 and a 173.

Hughes made a few changes to her boys’ Baker lineup as Alex Kearse and Gentry Swarts moved up from junior varsity for some of the Baker games.

Kearse turned in a 399 series in JV, while Swarts posted a 382. Ethan Valtman led the JV bowlers with a 400 series as he turned in single games of 225 and 175. Will Buren had a 342 series from the JV2 squad.

“Ethan went down a little bit in his second game so I was nervous about pulling him up for Bakers,” Hughes said. “I was trying to find the most consistent bowlers for that round.

“I think the top five boys are pretty much secure right now. The difference between the JV bowlers and the other varsity spot is really close though.”

Cole Pflughaupt of Gilbert was the overall winner with a 463 series. He opened with a 268.

Coal Myers was third with a 400 series and Chase Klatt finished sixth with a 372.