Free State High's Matthew Eagle gets set for his release in a triangular bowling meet on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at Royal Crest Lanes.

A few years ago, Free State High junior Avery Allen tried out for the bowling team without much experience at the suggestion of a friend.

On Tuesday, Allen had everyone at Royal Crest Lanes watching his every move.

His first eight frames produced strike after strike. The left-hander was four rolls away from a perfect game before he knocked down just eight pins to open the ninth frame. He still finished strong for his best game of the year, a 264, and his performance led the Firebirds boys’ team to second place at the FSHS triangular, only 65 pins behind Olathe North.

After each strike, more and more people went up to Allen to give him a high-five or offer words of encouragement. But that also meant there was no hiding from the fact that he was aiming for something historic.

“The pressure does come on,” said Allen, who finished second overall with a three-game series of 692, his best of his career. “You just have to keep calm and throw the ball.”

Allen, who rolled a 534 series Monday, said he didn’t make any changes to his delivery Tuesday, but rolling at his home lane had some advantages to it.

“The last couple years, he’s just really improved,” FSHS coach Burton Gepford said. “He’s been more consistent, and you saw it that game. He was just throwing the same shot.”

The Firebirds were also boosted by junior Matthew Eagle, Alex Jimenez and Eric Glogau, who all finished inside of the top 10.

“I was really happy. (The varsity boys) shot a 2,600, and that’s our highest so far, and that’s with some disappointing games in Game One,” Gepford said. “So to come back and shoot a 2,600 to take second, that’s really good. They really stepped up.”

Free State’s girls team started slowly but had scores above 200 from Jamie Souders, Gentry Jordan and Bri Martin in their second games. They finished third in the tri, but were bowling without one of their regulars, Chaise Hegrenes.

Souders finished second overall with a 595 series, rolling a 224 in her last game.

“Oh, gosh, I was so excited,” Souders said. “I’ve just been focusing hard and really following through with my mark — keeping my eyes down, instead of coming up and looking at the pins. I just have to stay focused.”

Lawrence High’s girls bowling team took second place, just 21 pins behind Olathe North, last year’s Class 6A state champions. Morgan Daniels (588 series) and Ashlee Erickson (584) finished third and fourth, respectively. In their final game, Erickson rolled a 255, while Daniels rolled a 211.

Kaitlyn Applegate also added her season-best series of 571, while Miranda Krom had a 568 series, both finishing in the top seven overall.

Meanwhile, Lawrence High’s boys finished third, but they placed two bowlers in the top five: Javier Lemmons (689 series) and Hunter Krom (654). Each had games with scores above 250.

“Our girls and our guys both, they shot better than they’ve been shooting,” LHS coach Paula Bastemeyer said. “To me, that’s a sign of growth. We still have a few tournaments to go. You don’t want to peak yet. We want to continue to improve. I was impressed with them.”

Free State triangular

Tuesday at Royal Crest Lanes

Boys three-game series

Varsity team scores: Olathe North 2727, Free State 2662, Lawrence 2524.

Lawrence High boys varsity

3. Javier Lemmons, 232-256-201 — 689; 5. Hunter Krom, 253-181-220 — 654; Adonis Stanwix, 194-207-203 — 604; Dillon Schroeder, 190-189-167 — 546; Ivan Davidson, 176-199-169 — 544; Morgan Sisson, 182-200-141 — 523.

Free State boys varsity

2. Avery Allen, 231-264-197 — 692; Matthew Eagle, 206-228-215 — 649; Alex Jimenez, 160-227-255 — 642; Eric Glogau, 226-195-212 — 633; Alex Craig, 188-160-162; Tyrease Richards, 135-156-215 — 506.

Junior Varsity team scores: Olathe North 2238, Free State 2114, Lawrence 2101.

Lawrence High boys JV

Cameron Stussie, 179-172-205 — 556; Montez Sanchez, 194-144-188 — 526; Michael Blocker, 198-131-192 — 521; Triston Decker, 155-165-146 — 466; Ethan Huslig, 158-147-152 — 457; Sam Thomas, 142-125-159 — 426.

Free State boys JV

3. Cameron Edens, 162-179-241 — 582; 4. Matt Meseke, 198-172-209 — 579; John Easum, 169-148-163 — 480; Zach Lockwood, 151-155-159 — 465; Tom Reno, 146-144-147 — 437; Dylan Edwinson, 104-156-127 — 387.

Girls three-game series

Varsity team scores: Olathe North 2362, Lawrence 2341, Free State 2136.

Lawrence High boys varsity

3. Morgan Daniels, 188-189-211 — 588; 4. Ashlee Erickson, 135-194-255 — 584; Kaitlyn Applegate, 170-224-177 — 571; Miranda Krom, 193-180-195 — 568; Holly Evans, 156-182-165 — 503; Izzy Schmidtberger, 135-161-184 — 480.

Free State boys varsity

2. Jamie Souders, 158-213-224 — 595; Gentry Jordan, 179-203-167 — 549; Bri Martin, 139-213-140 — 492; Sarah Pesce, 166-161-115 — 442; Maddy Dethloff, 115-149-169 — 433; Sapphie Knight, 112-81-144 — 337.

Junior Varsity team scores: Lawrence 1838, Olathe North 1834, Free State 1744.

Lawrence High boys JV

1. Diamonique Vann, 140-193-169 — 502; 2. Hannah Reed, 164-201-132 — 497; 3. Miranda Sexton, 158-158-156 — 472; Renea McNemee, 137-128-101 — 366; Carli Stellwagon, 88-129-99 — 316; Taylor Webb, 71-122-97 — 290.

Free State boys JV

4. Ashley Givens, 156-171-138 — 465; Morgan Wright, 155-152-136 — 443; Erica Crockett, 136-137-131 — 404; Brianna Burenheide, 143-133-124 — 400; Chaise Hegrenes, 116-165-0 — 281; Jillian Schuler, 81-92-84 — 257.