Big finish helps Stevenson’s Wittert to NSC crown

Saving the best game for the last one of the day sure worked out for Ashley Wittert.

The Stevenson senior rolled a 235 final game. That moved her from third place, 58 pins back, straight to the North Suburban Conference girls bowling individual championship on Friday.

Wittert did much the same thing a couple of years ago as a sophomore and went on to advance out of the sectional for a trip to state.

In the team competition, Zion-Benton rolled to an NSC title with 5,383 pins to top runner-up Stevenson (5,163) and third-place Wauconda (5,061) at Bertrand Lanes in Waukegan.

Wittert finished with a 6-game total of 1,234 with games of 225, 203 an 199 for a 665 in the morning set. Then she rolled a 193, 179 and the 235 game for a 607.

Wittert put together a string of 5 strikes in a row in the sixth game to put her over the top.

“I was nervous and tried to take things positive, going frame by frame,” said Wittert, who won the Jacobs Invitational a couple of weeks ago. “I really tried to concentrate on my shot.

“I didn’t know that I could win it. When I got the strikes in a row, that’s when I knew I had a chance. I really never thought I could win at conference.”

Libertyville’s Emma Davellis took second place, 11 pins behind at 1,223. Kaitlyn Rudy of Stevenson was third (1,216).

“It was good to have a lot of support from my teammates,” Davellis said. “I thought I was prepared to bowl.”

Davellis, a freshman, rolled a 665 for the first three games with games of 234, 178 and 253. Then Devellis tossed 201, 186 and 171 for a 558.

Rudy had shot an opening 607 series and put together a 609 over the last. She had the lead going into the final game.

Zion-Benton led for the first three games with a 2,714. The Zee-Bees shot games of 902, 849 and 963.

For the final three games, Zion-Benton threw 883, 973 and 813.

“We’re starting to bowl more consistent,” said Bob Voight, whose team also won the Lake Division title. “We focus on bowling our best at the end of the year. We want to achieve our ultimate goal of reaching state once again.

“I know all the teams, and I worry about all of them. If we bowl to our capabilities we should be fine.”

The sectional round will be hosted by Warren next Saturday at Bertrand Lanes, starting at 9 a.m.

Grant captured the Prairie Division title ahead of Wauconda and Antioch.