State Bowling Feature: Indians return to state

How about the 2015-16 season by the Hillsboro Indians boys bowling team for an encore of their success from one year ago?

Coming off a season where they placed fifth in the state in Division I, the Indians returned this season with even more success during the regular season and into the postseason, as the Indians have only lost to one team, went undefeated in the South Central Ohio League to become the champion, won a sectional title, and this past weekend, they improved from last season to win a district championship.

This year, the Indians are bowling in Division II instead of Division I, but don’t let the drop in divisions fool you. The competition is just as strong as last year, and for the Indians, they have one theme heading into this Friday’s OHSAA State Championship Tournament … FOCUS.

Coach Shane Ison said this season “has been amazing.”

“Last year, we had a good team as they qualified for state, but this year they are averaging 19 pins better as a team on the season. We went 18-0 in the SCOL and didn’t have any close matches in the league,” Ison said.

“Going into the non-conference, the guys dominated and had only one bad night (losing to Zane Trace), and that was our only loss of the season, but throughout the entire season, the young men defeated Zane Trace four times in other tournaments and events.

“It is amazing seeing these young men grow as a team. It is a family, and they’ve been together since we’ve had high school bowling in Hillsboro. They’ve had goals and have hit every goal, and now we are down to the last one, and that’s state finals. I do feel they have an opportunity to win a state title. Our kids are good enough, but they will be tested because it is the state tournament, so any time you are bowling at state, you are bowling against the best players.”

Coach Jeff Miller added to the statements of Coach Ison, discussing what he’s seen from the team this season.

“It is a tear-jerking thing because this season has been so special,” Coach Miller said. “You hear all the time how it was all about basketball back in the ’40s and ’50s, and in the ’90s with football, and it was a very special thing. Right now, only four years into our bowling program, this is our heyday. We are living it right now, and every one of these young men understands that and appreciates it, and they try to do everything they can do to finish what they’ve started, and that is to go all the way.

“I think that is something really neat to experience. Shane and I carry it close to the chest. Just like tears of joy when they check off another goal they’ve achieved … checkmark, they got that done … all of the speeches, all the pain and hardship we go through, our families … the things we all sacrifice to be able to help the program … it has all really shown up full force this year.”

As for the word “focus,” it was a common theme this season for the Indians, and as they prepare for their biggest tournament of the season (which will be held at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl), there is no nervousness. In fact, the Indians are looking forward to getting the ball rolling, so to speak, and seeing where the pins fall at the final tournament of the year.

One of those bowlers is senior Jaxsun Miller, who not only wants to improve his overall finish in this trip to state, but in doing so, that will mean more team success, as last year they reached the final eight teams, losing in Round 1 in a best-of-five series, 3-2.

“We have a lot better mental part of the game this year compared to last year,” Miller told The Highland County Press. “We had a couple seniors step up this year, filling in spots. One of our seniors (Chris Jeter), he steps us when it comes to subbing in and bowl in the 230s, helping us win a match.

“We are a lot more comfortable than we were last year. We’ve never really been nervous about anything this year, especially after state last year.”

Miller, who this year averages 203, looked at how his game has improved overall from last year, a season where he earned All-Ohio State Tournament honors.

“I feel like I transition a little better this year,” Miller said. “I’ve learned a lot over the summer in how to transition to lane conditions.”

Also in looking back at how the state tournament went for Hillsboro last year, after the qualifying round they earned the No. 1 seed of the final eight teams.

“We went into final eight fully confident because we were first in the qualifying round, but we got hit by surprise after we lost the first two games,” Miller said. “We came back, won the next two … then lost the last one by a little bit. I’m not nervous at all this year because of that experience.”

Another senior who plays a big role for the Indians is Chris Jeter, who can be described as the sixth man of the Indians, as he’s the top alternate for the Tribe with an average of 181.

“My season, because I’m an alternate, I didn’t get to bowl every single game, but once I get subbed in, something just clicks, and everything becomes serious,” Jeter said. “My game has improved by 20 pins from last year’s average.

“I’ve focused more this year and try to not be distracted and just focus on the lane and the pins. It helps a lot.”

Jeter spoke about how he prepares for a match, never knowing when he’ll be called upon to enter.

“I just stay focused, stay calm and do what I have to do, but the biggest part of this spot is just staying calm,” Jeter said.

For the Indians, other seniors who are alternates include Bryan Holley and Logan Lavan.

“I’ve been able to keep my spot, and here lately I’ve been throwing better,” Holley said. “It has been amazing to see how our team has improved over the season. This year, being an alternate, I’ve been ready to bowl when they’ve needed me to sub and just try to jump in and do my best.

“The role give you a major adrenaline rush. Even when you are not in, you get a fired-up feeling because you never know when it might be your turn.”

Lavan also spoke about his alternate role with the Indians this season.

“Since this is my last year of high school bowling, I’ve used that as motivation since I won’t get to do it anymore,” Lavan said. “Going to state got me going, and I used the goal to get myself off JV as motivation this year.

“We have some really good bowlers on this team, so it is a struggle to increase your average when it comes to everybody else, but it makes the team better. This team is like a family. Everybody treats each other like family. We don’t really put each other down, but sometimes we do have tough love, because we know we can do better.”

The coaches of the Hillsboro boys bowlers have seen the improvement shown by their team and even knew this season was going to be special.

“There was a moment recently – winning the district title – that moment, I didn’t know if they could be stopped,” Coach Miller said. “We knew they were good, but we didn’t know how they would do against so many good opponents at districts at the same time. It was really their first test where it really counted.

“That’s the moment where … wow, we accomplished a lot of our goals, and for me, that was the moment where I knew something special was happening.”

Coach Ison also talked about how special this team has become.

“Going to the district tournament and into an environment switching from Division I to Division II this year, our boys were just two short of staying Division I … and going into that district, knowing the teams they would be competing against, coming out and having one of our seniors (Jaxsun Miller) shoot a 276 in game one (the team shot a 1,114), it was like … This is going to happen. These kids are doing it.

“There were so many emotions. Adding up the scores and realizing the boys had won districts by six pins, to me as a coach, a grown man, a father, I broke down in tears. There was just so much emotion. The kids, the fans … just knowing how much hard work they’ve put into this … they are reaping the benefits. It was something special, and I’ll never forget it. It is something nobody can ever take away from me or those boys.”

The Indians have a talented junior class, knocking down pins in the starting lineup this season as well, with more than one of them placing in the Top 50 at state one season ago.

Junior Hunter Lowe averages 200. He spoke about the team and his individual season as well, even talking about the postseason for the Tribe thus far.

“Compared to last year, this season as a team has been a lot better,” Lowe said. “We only lost the one match, but the season was tougher in some ways as well. My season individually has gone pretty well, but I’ve had a couple matches where I had a bad game but was able to bring it back. Other than that, I’ve done pretty well.

“My average has improved compared to last year, but for this season, as a team, looking back at the sectionals, it was a bit nerve-racking, but we were able to come back in the Baker games. At districts, we had a good day for the most part.

“We are going to face some tough competition at state. There are a lot of good teams. Thinking about last year at state, I want to stay focused more and not let anything distract me. We just need to focus and hit our marks.”

Junior Tyler King, who is averaging 210, compared the differences of last season’s path to state to this year’s.

“How I see it, the team is more together,” King said. “We are close-knit, and finishing in fifth last year, we use it as a target to beat more than motivation to just get there.

“Finishing fifth last year gave us a little more incentive to get back to where we were last year.”

King, who placed 11th in state last year, also took a look at his season.

“My game this year was improved from last year, but I still think my game isn’t as strong as it could be,” he said. “I’m not exactly nervous (for state), but it is exciting to go. Placing 11th last year, that is my target again.”

Averaging 204, Sajoun Jones is also one of the key members of the team who is a junior, and he talked about the team and his individual game before the Indians play at state for the second consecutive season.

“My overall score has improved over 10 pins this year, and that is tough to do,” Jones said. “To get that type of improvement, it has been practicing every day and working on my game.

“As for our team, getting back to state was tough at times … at sectionals, we were down a lot, but we averaged a 219 in Baker and came back, so that was a good hard win. At districts we won by six, so that was a close call. Those type of matches can only help us going forward.”

On an individual level this season, Jones bowled a 300 game at Highland Lanes.

“That was the first time I’d ever done that, and it is still hard to explain what it felt like,” Jones said. “It didn’t feel real for a couple days. When it was going on, every throw I was shaking more and more.”

Hillsboro senior Travis Carter, who is averaging 196, will also compete at the state tournament Friday.

For the Indians, once the state tournament arrives, it all comes back to that one word … FOCUS.

“The focus is our pre-shot routine we try to instill in the entire program,” Coach Miller said. “To be able to block everything else out and the emotions they may have. It is a struggle to do because every kid has different temperaments. It is just about getting a routine in to get a good shot, and that’s one of our earlier lessons.

“Like Shane said, they’ve grown into that and into their own, and we are just glad to be a part of it.”