Lawrence High’s girls bowling team didn’t forget the runner-up finishes at the Free State Invitational over the past two seasons.

When the Lions advanced to the finals of the Baker-formatted match play, they knew they weren’t going to let another opportunity slip away. The Lions won the 18-team tournament at Royal Crest Lanes on Friday, defeating Washburn Rural in the championship.

After rolling a three-game series, the tournament went to the Baker format, where five teammates alternate bowling toward one score. In match play, two schools went head-to-head in a best-of-three series.

The Lions saved their best for last. They rolled five straight strikes in the first championship game against Washburn Rural for a 214-157 win. They won the second game for the title, 178-150.

Lawrence High School bowler Miranda Krom completes a clean game with 7 strikes and 4 spares for a score of 237 in her second game Friday during an LHS and FSH bowling tournament at Royal Crest Lanes.

“I’m really happy,” said Diamonique Vann, who was ninth overall during the three-game series before match play. “Last year I didn’t get to have this experience because I was on JV. Now that I’m on varsity, it’s a really great accomplishment.”

LHS junior Morgan Daniels was eighth overall, rolling a 587 series, and senior Miranda Krom took 14th with a 563 series.

“I’m very happy for them because right now you’ve got the team bonding going on,” LHS coach Paula Bastemeyer said, “which at this time of the season is fabulous. Usually that comes in at the big tournaments at the end.”

The Lions were the top seed for match play after knocking down 3,450 pins in their three-game series and six Baker games prior to match play with Vann, Daniels, Krom, Holly Evans, Izzy Schmidtberger and Hannah Reed.

Free State bowler Gentry Jordan celebrates after a strike in game 3 of an LHS and FSH bowling tournament Friday at Royal Crest Lanes. Jordan had rolled a score of 345 through the first two games.

In the first two rounds of match play, the Lions split the first two games before cruising to wins in the third and final game.

“We feed off each other a lot,” Vann said. “When someone strikes, that just builds everyone’s confidence.”

The Firebirds fell short of eight-team knockout rounds, finishing in 11th place with 2,792 pins during the qualifying period.

Senior Gentry Jordan was 23rd overall with a 532 three-game series.

“I feel like I could’ve done better individually,” Jordan said. “As a team, with Baker bowl, we didn’t do too hot.”

Senior Jamie Souders knocked down 504 pins during her three-game series, and freshman Sydney Jordan rolled a 451.

“We definitely thought we should’ve made match play,” FSHS coach Burton Gepford said. “But the girls know what they did wrong, and we know what to look forward to at our next tournament.”

The Free State Invitational will host 18 boys teams at Royal Crest Lanes, starting at 8 a.m. today.

Free State Invitational

Friday at Royal Crest Lanes

Three-game series

Varsity team scores: Washburn Rural 2318, Olathe North 2311, Lawrence 2302, Topeka Seaman 2246, Shawnee Heights 2204, St. James 2034, Topeka West 1976, SM Northwest 1966, SM West 1934, Topeka 1932, Free State 1922, SM North 1721, Mill Valley 1654, Topeka Hayden 1641, Atchison 1616, Highland Park 1514, BV West 1467.

Junior Varsity team scores: Olathe North 1573, Lawrence 1572, Shawnee Heights 1558, Washburn Rural 1511, St. James 1477, Topeka Seaman 1438, Mill Valley 1432, Free State 1428, Topeka West 1374, SM West 1353, SM Northwest 1322, Topeka 1287, SM North 1263, Topeka Hayden 1079, Atchison 1069, BV West 1065, Highland Park 808.

Lawrence High varsity: 8. Morgan Daniels, 133-237-217 — 587; 9. Diamonique Vann, 180-184-214 — 578; 14. Miranda Krom, 150-237-176 — 563; Holly Evans, 191-157-160 — 508; Izzy Schmidtberger, 123-175-178 — 476; Hannah Reed, 163-105-153 — 421.

Free State varsity: 23. Gentry Jordan, 157-188-187 — 532; Jamie Souders, 177-172-155 — 504; Sydney Jordan, 147-133-171 — 451; Brianna Burenheide, 142-135-146 — 423; Morgan Wright, 122-128-158 — 408; Ashley Givens, 135-112-149 — 396.

Lawrence High JV: 4. Renea McNemee, 105-157-161 — 423; 5. Carli Stellwagon, 138-94-190-422; Ashley Dykes, 99-113-135 — 347; Sofia Rommel, 109-115-115 — 339; Kira Auchenbach, 113-108-109 — 330; Sierra Magdaleno, 118-83-113 — 314.

Free State JV: 3. Hailey Jump, 123-144-162 — 429; 12. Sapphie Knight, 127-124-138 — 389; Mamie Rupnick, 116-76-111 — 303; Lexie Lockwood, 83-104-93 — 280; Raegan Finkeldei, 110-71-86 — 267; Baily Murphy, 70-49-57 — 176.