After taking down the Dixon Dukes on Monday, the Hubs varsity bowling team returned to Rochelle’s T-Byrd Lanes for a conference battle with the Sycamore Spartans on Tuesday. And while the purple and white were unable to lock down another victory, head coach Doug Koch said he was impressed with how his boys hung with the talented Sycamore varsity squad.
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ROCHELLE — After taking down the Dixon Dukes on Monday, the Hubs varsity bowling team returned to Rochelle’s T-Byrd Lanes for a conference battle with the Sycamore Spartans on Tuesday. And while the purple and white were unable to lock down another victory, head coach Doug Koch said he was impressed with how his boys hung with the talented Sycamore varsity squad.
The Spartans outscored Rochelle 3,424-3,268 over three games, with Sycamore taking the first game 1,175-1,122 behind 225 from Austin Verhaeghe and 214 from Matt Leuze. Junior Dallas Driver’s 232 and senior Mark Bratko’s 208 headlined Rochelle’s efforts in the first game.
“Getting that win on Monday really boosted the confidence of our kids,” Koch said. “The boys shot really well against Dixon… The kids had an extra boost of energy coming into this match and I thought the boys really hung in there.”
Trey Wideman’s 226 and Keegan Palm’s 214 led Sycamore to victory in the second game, 1,156-1,115. Three Hubs crossed the 200-mark including Bratko (201), senior Tyler Nalley (202) and junior Brady Shank (222). A big reason for Rochelle’s improved play in recent weeks has been the emergence of Nalley, a junior varsity bowler last year who wound up with a 575 series on Tuesday after throwing a 642 series on Monday.
“He’s really grown and he’s developed much more balance and coordination at the foul line,” Koch said. “He can hit his mark pretty well. Before, he was all over the place, and we’re still working him on walking straight. He played a down-and-in line at Dixon and he just killed it over there.”
Verhaeghe’s 246 and Leuze’s 220 propelled Sycamore to a 1,093-1,031 win in the third and final game. Verhaeghe (652) and Leuze (617) finished with the top two series scores in the match, while Shank tossed 220 in the third game for a 616 series to lead Rochelle, who dropped to 2-5 on the season with the loss.
“Our spare shooting was pretty good,” Koch said. “There were a couple spared we should’ve had, but overall I think our spare shooting has really improved.”