Free State's Alex Jimenez, left, and Matthew Eagle slap hands between frames during the Sunflower League Bowling Tournament Thursday in Olathe.

It hasn’t been the easiest week to focus on bowling for Free State High senior Matthew Eagle, especially before Thursday’s Sunflower League bowling tournament at Olathe Lanes East.

Eagle and his family were displaced when their house suffered significant damage in a fire on Monday morning, and are now staying at a family friends’ house,

But there Eagle was Thursday, rolling strike after strike like usual. He helped the Firebirds to third place in the team standings. As a team, the Firebirds had a 2,536 series, trailing champion Olathe East by only 88.

Lawrence High’s girls bowling team also took third place at the league tournament.

“The day after the fire, we actually had a tournament and that one was pretty tough,” Eagle said. “I was on not very much sleep. But I didn’t even think about it much today. I was pretty focused in on my bowling. I don’t think it really affected me that much.”

Eagle finished fifth individually with a 648 three-game series, the third time in his career he finished in the top 10 at the league tournament. FSHS junior Alex Jimenez was third with a 669 series.

Bowling for the first time time at Olathe Lanes East this season, the Firebirds had trouble adjusting to the “sticky” approach. For a sport that is based off of adjustments, the Firebirds, who entered the tournament as the top seed, had little room for error.

“If you can’t slide, your swing is off,” Jimenez said. “If you stick, you’re going to pull it. If you slide too much, you’re just going to throw it out a ditch. It’s not going to be a fun day.”

Along with Eagle and Jimenez, FSHS junior Cameron Edens bowled a 607 series, his third time above 600 this season.

Lawrence’s boys bowling team struggled to find its rhythm, finishing in 11th place with a 2,207 series. Triston Decker led the Lions with a 588 series, including a 226 in his first game. Cameron Stussie added a 552 series.

The Lions have bowled three times at Olathe Lanes East. The first time was their worst performance of the season. When they returned, they responded with, by far, their best series of the year. Then it was back to the wrong side of the extremes Thursday.

“It was kind of frustrating for them,” LHS coach Paula Bastemeyer said. “We came in thinking, ‘OK, we have these lanes figured out.’ And then we didn’t. Luckily, this isn’t where we are bowling regionals.”

The LHS girls bowling team was also a little disappointed by its third-place finish. The Lions had a 2,126 series, 123 behind champion Olathe North.

LHS junior Morgan Daniels led the Lions with a 540 series, placing eighth. She showed consistency with games of 179, 180 and 181.

Not far behind Daniels, Lawrence’s Miranda Krom (522 series), Diamonique Vann (514), Holly Evans (512) and Izzy Schmidtberger (509) were among the top 20 bowlers individually.

“I was impressed with the fact that they just stuck with it,” Bastemeyer said. “I didn’t see any big peaks and valleys. I just don’t think it was our day to get the roll. Some days you get it, some days you don’t.”

Free State’s girls bowlers placed sixth with a 1,937 series, a little below their goal of 2,220. Senior Gentry Jordan rolled a 524, finishing 11th, and sophomore Morgan Wright followed with a 464.

“Gentry had one of her best series of the year,” FSHS coach Burton Gepford said. “This is kind of where she left off last year. Our hope is that she will continue and get a little bit better and be ready for regionals.”

Both schools will compete at regionals on Feb. 26 at West Ridge Lanes in Topeka.

Sunflower League

Bowling Tournament

Thursday at Olathe Lanes East

BOYS

Team scores: Olathe East 2624, Leavenworth 2581, Free State 2536, Olathe North 2487, SM Northwest 2445, Olathe Northwest 2431, Olathe South 2397, SM East 2377, SM North 2335, SM South 2220, Lawrence 2207, SM West 2037.

FSHS results: 3. Alex Jimenez, 235-194-240 — 669; 5. Matthew Eagle, 222-182-244 — 648; Cameron Edens, 182-206-219 — 607; Matt Meseke, 168-205-204 — 577; Avery Allen, 169-190-209 — 568; Alex Craig, 133-211-153 — 497.

LHS results: Triston Decker, 226-180-182 — 588; Cameron Stussie, 168-192-192 — 552; Javier Lemmons, 193-177-167 — 537; Montez Sanchez, 183-145-157 — 485; Morgan Sisson, 138-140-202 — 480; Adonis Stanwix, 149-140-147 — 436.

GIRLS

Team scores: Olathe North 2249, SM Northwest 2204, Lawrence 2126, Olathe East 2076, SM West 2049, Free State 1937, SM North 1870, Leavenworth 1791, Olathe South 1757, Olathe Northwest 1736, SM South 1702, SM East 1435.

LHS results: 8. Morgan Daniels, 180-181-179 — 540; Miranda Krom, 173-158-191 — 522; Diamonique Vann, 174-181-159 — 514; Holly Evans, 172-181-159 — 512; Izzy Schmidtberger, 194-155-160 — 509; Hannah Reed, 187-124-160 — 471.

FSHS results: Gentry Jordan, 174-173-177 — 524; Morgan Wright, 150-168-146 — 464; Hailey Jump, 143-168-131 — 442; Jamie Souders, 188-113-137 — 438; Sydney Jordan, 127-159-151 — 437; Brianna Burenheide, 125-118-140 — 383.