Free State bowler Alex Jimenez rolls during a tri with Lawrence High and Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 at Royal Crest Lanes.

Last time the Free State boys bowling team competed at Royal Crest Lanes, it had to overcome a slow start in order to take first place.

This time, it was quite the opposite.

Free State bowled an 887 in the opening game — the highest score of any round by any team — on its way to topping Lawrence High by 33 pins Tuesday at the LHS triangular.

The Firebirds were led by sophomore Bayn Schrader’s 664 series, which was the second best individual score of the triangular. Schrader sparked the quick start by bowling a career-best 259 in the first game.

“The first six balls I threw were strikes,” Schrader said. “I had two spares and the rest were strikes (in the first game). It felt pretty good.”

Schrader said the key to his big day was hitting his marks and adjusting when he didn’t. Even when he missed, he still managed to throw strikes, which fueled his confidence.

Schrader had help, as senior Alex Jimenez placed fifth among individual bowlers with a 629 series. As a result, the Firebirds were able to top the Lions despite junior Javier Lemmons’ big day.

Lemmons bowled the top individual score with a 683 series, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Lions to top their crosstown rival.

“We were competitive, they just were a bit (better),” Lawrence High coach Paula Bastemeyer said. “Losing by 33 pins on your own lane is annoying. Because we know these lanes, the kids know these lanes.”

On the girls’ side, Lawrence High topped Free State by 198 pins to win its third consecutive tournament. Morgan Daniels led the Lions with a 621 series and was the top individual bowler.

“It’s awesome,” Daniels said. “It feels great to know you won out of the sixty or so players.”

The Lions also had two more bowlers place in the top five. Holly Evans was second with a 604 series, and Diamonique Vann placed fifth with a 529 series.

“All three of these girls that I’ve got in these top spots of varsity are competitors,” Bastemeyer said. “They know when to show up. They encourage one another and they fight together.”

FSHS entered the final game in third place, but the team surged into second place by bowling a 783 to close the triangular. Morgan Wright led the Firebirds in the final round with a 258, and Nicole Miele was the teams’ top bowler of the day with a 539 series.

The Firebirds haven’t won a tournament this year, and they’ve placed second in all five of them. Coach Burton Gepford isn’t discouraged, however, by the results. Instead, he said he was encouraged as he searches for his best lineup.

“To continue to switch bowlers up and down and still take second place (is nice),” Gepford said. “I’m looking forward to the end of the season when I’ve got my top bowlers all on the same team.”

LHS Triangular

Tuesday at Royal Crest Lanes

BOYS

Varsity team scores: Lawrence Free State 2494, Lawrence High 2461, SM Northwest 2424.

FSHS scores: 2. Bayn Schrader 259-192-213 — 664; 4. Alex Jimenez 220-202-207 — 629; 7. Cameron Edens 204-159-216 — 579; 11. Alex Craig 170-217-169 — 556; 12. Dmitri Smith 193-191-166 — 550; 13. Cam Edgecomb 204-183-157 — 544.

LHS scores: 1. Javier Lemmons 216-244-223 — 683; 5. Cameron Stussie 193-220-213 — 626; 9. Hunter Krom 179-200-193 — 572; 15. Ethan Huslig 200-149-179 — 528; 16. Adonis Stanwix 146-201-154 — 501; 17. Jared Radford 172-171-157 — 500.

GIRLS

Varsity team scores: Lawrence High 2251, Lawrence Free State 2053, SM Northwest 1995.

FSHS scores: 4. Nicole Miele 182-168-189 — 539; 6. Sapphie Knight 167-181-177 — 525; 7. Morgan Wright 139-128-258 — 525; 13. Sydney Jordan 154-146-139 — 439; 16. Erica Crockett 144-125-159 — 428; 18. Brooke Wright 129-99-140 — 368.

LHS scores: Morgan Daniels 236-204-181 — 621; 2. Holly Evans 193-210-201 — 604; 5. Diamonique Vann 156-172-201 — 529; 9. Renea McNemee 182-126-151 — 549; 10. Hannah Reed 136-156-159 — 451; 17. Ashley Dykes 143-129-133 — 405.