Leong siblings help Tech strike for two state titles

Dallas Leong wasn’t stressing over his performance entering the final match of his high school career Thursday.

With the Division I-A boys state title at stake, the Tech senior was more engrossed with how his sister, Emi, was faring five lanes down from him.

Before the siblings left the Orleans, both were carrying trophies.

Dallas Leong rolled a 246 en route to a 686 series that propelled the Roadrunners to a 9-0 victory over Boulder City and their second straight championship.

“I knew coming into here we had a good shot at repeating,” Leong said. “I’m just excited we can do it. I really wanted to go out this year with a bang. To do it with my sister was just the cherry on top.”

Tech’s girls won their first state title with a 9-0 victory over Cheyenne, capping an unbeaten season.

“This is amazing,” said Jim Marra, who coaches both teams. “I’m shocked. It’s been an unbelievable season and something I never expected. You couldn’t have dreamt it up or written it in a script.”

Dallas Leong rolled eight strikes in the second game to lift the Roadrunners to a 826-657 victory.

“He has so much talent that I don’t think he even knows how much,” Marra said of the right-hander, who had a season average of 225.

The Roadrunners clinched the match behind Zach Zimdars’ match-leading 248 in the third game, which included eight strikes. He rolled a 740 series.

In the girls final, Tech sprinted to a 4-0 lead with a 593-509 win in the first game and a 658-600 victory in the second game that gave them a 145-pin lead.

Tech junior Chrystalene Pineda rolled a 562 series, highlighted by a 218 in the second game. 

“I tried to not worry about the surroundings,” Pineda said. “I just wanted to focus on hitting my mark and picking up spares.”

Emi Leong cemented the match with a 200 in the third, giving her a 526 series.

Sami Cedar had a 523 series, rolling a match-high 220 for the Desert Shields.