DIVISION I BOWLING: Centennial girls pull off comeback to capture title

Centennial's girls bowling team found itself in a deep hole Friday after losing the first two games of the Division I state final and trailing by a total of 125 pins.

"There's something about us, where we always come back in the third game," Dolan said. "Even with Shadow (Ridge) in the (Sunset Region semifinals), we were down two games and won.

"We just realize that we need to have fun and not stress anymore. Once we started having fun and being loud, it started getting the other team down on themselves. We started picking up and feeding off each other's energy."

Starting in the third frame of the last game, Dolan provided the key spark by rolling five consecutive strikes and giving the Bulldogs some much-needed energy. Dolan had a 208 and finished with a team-best 556 series.

The Bulldogs were awarded three points for finishing with a higher pin count (2,014-1,959) and two more for winning the third game outright.

"My dad was giving me tips and I just decided to go ahead and put them forth," Dolan said about her third game. "Once I got the first few strikes, I started to stay in that spot and recognize and repeat what I was doing. … I'm just really proud of my team. We all tried to stay up and be as positive as we could. We just had fun with it. I'm super excited."

Dolan, a first-year bowler, didn't realize her team was in position to win until the ninth frame. She continued cheering and high-fiving with her teammates until the 10th frame as if the Bulldogs were still trailing.

"I'm not a bowler, so I don't know the stuff," Dolan said. "But I recognized in like the ninth frame. Once I realized the amount we were up I was like, 'Oh my gosh. We won this thing.'"

Christine Cibura rolled a 529 series from the anchor spot to help the Bulldogs.

Foothill's Morgan Peacha had a 599 total (265-200-134), which was the top girls series of the day.

Desert Oasis won its first boys state title, 7-2 by outscoring Liberty 2,397-2,238.

"No better way to retire after four years of doing this," said Desert Oasis senior Matthew Dobbs, who rolled the day's best series with a 706. "No better way to go out."

Dobbs also had the tournament's best game by rolling a 279 in the second game. The Diamondbacks lost the first game by 26 pins, but answered with an 855 in the second to take a 52-pin lead.

"If it wasn't for that four pin (in the second game), I would have had my second 300," Dobbs said. "I just stayed smooth and consistent the whole time. It was just incredible."

Terrance Rock led Liberty with a 614 series.

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson