Free State bowling coach Burton Gepford knew his girls team, in particular, had a chance to win when he saw how his squad stacked up against the opposition.

Still, after four consecutive second-place finishes to start the year, Gepford knew he needed some of his players to step up if they were going to come away victorious for the first time in 2017.

And they did just that. Three Firebirds finished in the top-five, to seal the crown in Wednesday’s Free State quadrangular at Royal Crest Lanes.

“We had a couple bowlers step up and take a leadership role and have a big day,” Gepford said. “With the teams that were here, we looked like we could match up really well now that the girls are in routine and used to the lanes.”

Free State finished with a total sore of 2040, ahead of Olathe Northwest, which came in second with a mark of 1911. Gardner-Edgerton and Shawnee Mission West rounded out the meet, recording a 1790 and 1645, respectively.

Sapphie Knight was the team’s highest scorer — second in the quadrangular — rolling a three-game score of 542. Freshman Nicole Miele’s 539 was good enough to post the third-best score while junior Morgan Wright came in fifth with a 490.

Both Knight and Miele recorded their best individual game during Game Two. Knight bowled a a season-best mark of 213, while Miele notched a 184 in the same lane. Wright’s best score (183) came in her final game of the afternoon.

“Sapphie Knight did really well last tournament,” Gepford said. “This tournament she had two really good games. Her third game was okay and she still finished in the top (two).”

Gepford credited the team’s growth over the early part of the season as well as the familiarity of the lanes, which led to their first victory since Feb. 11 of last year. As a team, the Firebirds claimed four first-place finishes in 2016, including two at Royal Crest Lanes.

Wednesday marked the third time this year Free State took to the very lanes the players also practice at.

“There is a home advantage definitely,” Gepford said. “This is where we practice and we are used to the lanes. Each place you go, you have to play the lanes a little different.”

On the boys’ side, Free State came in second at 2390, finishing shy of Olathe Northwest (2580). It marked the the third time in five meets that the Firebirds came away with a second-place finish, winning the other two.

No player posted a top-five score, as Alex Craig boasted the best mark (586), which was enough to notch seventh. The team’s most consistent bowler, senior Alex Jimenez, rolled a 569 to come in 12th. Meanwhile, Zach Lockwood (576) and Cameron Edens (572), placed 10th and 11th, respectively.

“Overall, the boys did pretty well,” Gepford said. “Most of them were making their spares, we just had a hard time connecting on strikes, which gives you the big score. They shot a 2390, which is our second-highest series on the year.”

Free State will return to Royal Crest Lanes for the Lawrence High triangular at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Free State Quad

Thursday at Royal Crest Lanes

BOYS

Varsity team scores: Olathe Northwest 2580, Free State 2390, SM West 2320, Gardner-Edgerton 2281.

FSHS scores: 7. Alex Craig 200-172-214 — 586; 10. Zach Lockwood 190-203-183 — 576; 11. Cameron Edens 162-192-218 — 572; 12 Alex Jimenez 191-192-186 — 569; 13. Bayn Schrader 190-154-222 — 566; 16. Dmitri Smith 180-192-183 — 555.

GIRLS

Varsity team scores: Free State 2040, Olathe Northwest 1911, Gardner-Edgerton 1790, SM West 1645.

FSHS scores: 2. Sapphie Knight 190-213-139 — 542; 3. Nicole Miele 180-184-175 — 539; 5. Morgan Wright; 180-127-183 — 490 6. Sydney Jordan 178-131-148 — 457; 13. Lexie Lockwood 145-139-126 — 410; 19. Brooke Wright 132-127-98 — 357.