Lawrence High and Free State’s boys bowling teams both left the FSHS Invitational Friday pleased with their overall performances, but frustrated at the same time after their season-opening tournament at Royal Crest Lanes.

The Lions and Firebirds placed third and fifth, respectively, out of 16 teams in the Baker-format-style tournament, which was good enough to qualify for the eight-team match-play tournament to end the day. It was a short stay in the match-play bracket for both schools, though, as Topeka West swept FSHS, and Topeka Seaman blanked LHS in the best-of-three-game series.

“I don’t think any of those two schools (Topeka West and Topeka Seaman) had a 250 game in the seven Baker games before this (match play),” said FSHS coach Burton Gepford to LHS coach Paula Bastemeyer after the Firebirds and Lions were eliminated.

Lawrence ran into some tough luck right away, having splits on its first four frames of the opening game. Topeka Seaman did not need any help, either, as the Vikings put away the Lions, 205-138, 255-183.

“There was nothing the kids did wrong. It’s just sometimes the 10 pin goes down, and then sometimes the 10 pin doesn’t,” Bastemeyer said.

The Firebirds ran into a buzzsaw of their own against Topeka West, falling 232-226, 216-190. Junior Matthew Eagle helped the Firebirds rally in the first game by rolling a perfect final frame, but Topeka West held off FSHS by picking up a spare on the 10th.

“The boys bowled the best they could during match play,” Gepford said. “They did a really great job. It’s just unfortunate that the other team also had a great game.”

While the match-play section left a sour taste in the Firebirds and Lions’ mouths, there were still plenty of highlights for each team early in the day. LHS freshman Adonis Stanwix bowled the third highest single game of the day with a 266 in the three-game morning session and also took fourth overall with a 707 series.

Right ahead of Stanwix in the individual standings was Eagle, who led the Firebirds with a series of 708.

“Seven hundred is awesome,” Eagle said. “I usually go for at least 600, so 700 is just a bonus.”

Royal Crest Lanes will play host to another action-packed day of bowling starting at 8 a.m. today as the FSHS and LHS girls squads kick off their respective seasons.

Free State Invitational

Friday at Royal Crest Lanes

Varsity Match Play (Best two of three)

Quarterfinals

1. Olathe North def. 8. Mill Valley, 188-168, 182-198, 279-211; 4. Topeka West def. 5. Free State, 232-226, 216-190; 6. Topeka Seaman def. 3. Lawrence High, 205-138, 255-183; 2. Washburn Rural def. 7. Sacred Heart, 228-200, 191-192, 222-182.

Semifinals

1. Olathe North def. 4. Topeka West, 232-235, 214-206, 258-227; 2. Washburn Rural def. 6. Topeka Seaman, 235-211, 236-161.

Finals

1. Washburn Rural def. 1. Olathe North, 244-159, 245-175.

Junior Varsity Match Play

(Best two of three)

Quarterfinals

1. Lawrence High def. 8. Shawnee Mission North, 144-121, 168-125; 4. Free State def. 5. Olathe North, 181-148, 169-187, 178-162; 3. Mill Valley def. 6. Topeka West, 181-143, 166-134; 7. Washburn Rural def. 2. Topeka Seaman, 153-152, 114-125, 137-109.

Semifinals

1. Lawrence High def. 4. Free State, 170-133, 169-117; 3. Mill Valley def. 7. Washburn Rural, 166-139, 168-174, 121-114.

Finals

1. Mill Valley def. 1. Lawrence High, 202-181, 149-146.

Three Game Scores

Varsity

Lawrence High

1. Adonis Stanwix 214-266-227 (707 series), 14. Ivan Davidson 184-232-225 (641 series), 22. Colin Decker 197-212-208 (617 series), Triston Decker 140-214-182 (536 series), Hunter Krom 123-214-193 (530 series), Morgan Sisson 175-141-176 (492 series).

Free State

1. Matthew Eagle 228-245-235 (708 series), 12. Alex Jimenez 222-205-225 (652 series), Eric Glogau 176-242-180 (598 series), Avery Allen 182-211-173 (566 series), Alex Craig 195-192-161 (548 series), Tyrease Richards 183-130-142 (455 series).

Junior Varsity

Lawrence High

1. Michael Blocker 239-191-172 (602 series), 7. Montez Sanchez 189-174-201 (564 series), 12. Dillon Schroeder 183-155-203 (541 series), 13. Javier Lemmons 182-158-199 (539 series), 24. Jared Radford 122-146-210 (478 series), Cameron Stussie 146-196-127 (469 series).

Free State

1. Matt Meseke 170-191-223 (584 series), 15. Dmitri Smith 154-172-212 (538 series), 19. Cameron Edens 143-225-130 (498 series), 23. Tom Reno 133-165-181 (479 series), John Easum 122-163-159 (444 series), Zach Lockwood 138-121-11 (370 series).