T-L Photo/RICK THORP Harrison Central senior Marley Basich sends a ball down the lane during the Baker game portion of Thursday’s Ohio Division II girls’ sectional bowling tournament at St. Clair Lanes in St. Clairsville. Basich helped the Huskies finish third, qualifying them for a berth in next week’s district tournament in Zanesville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Bobbie Parkinson wasn’t feeling extremely confident after the trio of regular games at Thursday’s Ohio Division II girls’ sectional bowling tournament at St. Clair Lanes.

Her Harrison Central squad had just turned in a 703 in Game 3 and entered the six Baker games with a slim 37-pin advantage over Conotton Valley.

But with the Rockets closing in, the Huskies picked up their game, closing the nine-team event out strong and securing the last of three spots in next week’s district tournament in Zanesville.

“They poured it on in the Bakers,” the Harrison Central head coach said of her team. “They bowled well there. That’s what got us out.”

Harrison Central joins sectional champ Claymont and runner-up Minerva in advancing to Sunrise Strikes next Friday, along with a trio of individual qualifiers that include a pair of locals.

Monroe Central’s Shaylei Giesey became the first Seminole bowler — boy or girl — to reach district play, while St. Clairsville’s Emma Poe earned her first district berth. They’ll join Conotton Valley’s Katie Schaar at next week’s event, which begins at 11 a.m. There, one boys team and two girls teams will advance, along with one boy and two girls not on qualifying teams.

The top three teams and top three individuals, not on a qualifying team, advanced Thursday.

Union Local’s Cherika Koplets also advanced as an individual qualifier during sectional action at Boulevard Lanes in Dover. Koplets was second overall with a 649, 12 pins behind sectional champ Allie Murray of River View.

The Jets finished fourth as a team, just 18 pins out of qualifying.

Harrison Central registered a 977 Baker total to pull away for a 203-pin cushion against Conotton Valley.

The Huskies finished with a score of 3,146. The Mustangs and Lions battled it out for the top spot, however, with Claymont withstanding a late charge by Minerva to win by 33 pins — 3,466-3,433.

Buckeye Local was fifth (2,911), followed by Tusky Central (2,685), St. Clairsville (2,606), Monroe Central (2,601) and Martins Ferry (2,215).

Claymont also boasted the sectional champion in senior Kayla Beckley. She fashioned a 599, boosted by a Game 3 227. The Minerva duo of Megan Keister and Skylar Thompson were second and third with scores of 556 and 541, respectively.

Tory Thompson, a junior, paced the Huskies, finishing fourth with a 500. Teammate Kamree Best was tied for 10th with Poe with a 463.

“We struggled in our regular games,” Parkinson said. “We couldn’t pick up our spares. But we put things together for the Bakers.”

Parkinson praised the continued team effort from her club, especially a freshman who came through in a pinch.

“Lauren Best came off the bench and bowled well,” she said of the newbie, who rolled a 145.

“It took all of the girls to come together and get us out. We live for another week. I’m very proud of my Huskies.”

For Giesey, the district berth came after missing out by just a few pins during a previous sectional tournament.

“She was really heartbroken about that,” Monroe Central head coach Tessa Hill said of the senior, who rolled a 470 and showed great emotion after finding out she’d qualified.

“She really put a lot of great effort into trying to improve her game. She’s a pretty good all-around athlete. We’re pretty excited.

Giesey started her day with a pair of 159s before finishing with a 152.

“She tried to stay consistent and keep her head up and make some good shots,” Hill noted. “She came through.”

As did Poe, a sophomore.

“She puts in a lot of time with her dad, which helps her a lot,” Red Devils head coach Courtney Reinbold said. “Her goal is to be better than him and she’s getting there quick.”

Poe, too, was consistent in her first two games — 164 and 165.

“She made a lot of good shots when she needed to,” Reinbold said. “She made a lot of spares. Spares are the most important thing, and when you make them, you win.”

Boys sectionals are set for today at Boulevard Lanes and Saturday at St. Clair Lanes. Barnesville will be competing today, with the remainder of the local squads (Beallsville, Harrison Central, Union Local, Bridgeport, St. Clairsville, River, Monroe Central, Buckeye Local, Martins Ferry) hitting the lanes Saturday.