LIHUE >> In an unpredictable state tournament, Bronson Teramoto was one of the few people who could be counted on. Teramoto comes through
with state title for Kailua
Star-Bulletin staff
Kailua's Teramoto knocked down 2,003 pins over nine games to win the AT&T Wireless/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Bowling Championships yesterday at Lihue Lanes on Kauai. His nearest challenger, Jesse Cummings of Pearl City, fell 26 pins short, despite rolling a 258 in his sixth game. Moanalua's Daniel Toyooka-Lim was third with 1,893.
"Kailua just bowled better," Pearl City boys coach Shirley Kato said. "Everyone is getting better, especially in the boys division."
The battle between Teramoto and Cummings was for more than individual pride, as the Surfriders beat the defending champion Chargers by 333 pins partly because No. 5 bowler Daniel Rodrigues tallied 123 more pins than Pearl City's platoon of No. 5s. Joshua Wong of Pearl City had the highest game of the tournament, rolling a 267 in the seventh game but finished 10th overall.
The lanes were oiled more than the bowlers are accustomed to, resulting in a few surprises. Colin Yoshimoto of Mililani, who lost to Teramoto by only four pins in the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship, fell to 25th in the state tournament. Cummings took second despite finishing 26th in the OIAs.
"Sometimes you are off," Cummings said. "Today the lanes were oilier, the ball didn't hook as much."
Although the Pearl City boys failed to defend their state title, the girls beat Hawaii Baptist by 272 pins to accomplish their mission.
The Chargers placed all five bowlers in the top 36 and were never threatened, but didn't go home with a sweep. Samantha Masuda of Kapolei rolled 236, 227 and 224 in her final three games to take the individual title by 43 pins over Pearl City's Jodi-Ann Gum.
Masuda finished with 1,787 pins and Gum 1,744. Hilo's Starr Hamamoto was third at 1,716, despite leading after the first day. Masuda started the last day in fifth.
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