Great Scores at the Christmas Tournament

The weather was good, although a bit icy on some roads and parking lots in Pocatello, and members trekked from all over to Tough Guy Lanes to partake of a great shot and some famous Idaho potatoes.  

  A couple of 1200s were posted at the annual SISBA Christmas Tournament, the first by Max Shellabarger of Roy, Utah, who was top qualifier in the first squad with a game of 275 as part of a 1222 series. Then, in the second squad, Ron Hendricks of Fort Hall, Idaho, bested that score to become top qualifier of the second squad with a whopping 1275 which included games no lower than 225 and a 279 game.

  But it was John Bertolina of Henderson, Nevada, who stole the thunder as he rolled out a perfect 300 game to wipe out the STORM 300 Game Pot again. He did it last year, too, during the Grand Finals held at - where else - Tough Guy Lanes. There were others hoping to tap the pot, too: Dave John of Pocatello, Idaho, was sooo close with a 298 game, and Ron Hendricks' had the 279 game.

  The qualifying was tough, but the playoffs had drama of their own as fourth seed Fred Holbeck of Missoula, Montana eked out a win over Brenda Roberts of Blackfoot, Idaho with a two-game series of 410 to 408. And in the one-game elimination match, first-timer Ray Hart of Idaho Falls squeeked past Carl Bond of Elko, Nevada, 227 to 226.    See tournament results.

   Thank you very much to our continuing sponsors: EconoLodge University who gives us such good room rates, Vardell Tait of American Electric, and to Intermountain Beverage who donated quite a few items including shirts, bottle jackets and bottle openers as well as a Miller bowling ball, Miller bowling bag and a Miller stein.

  Econolodge University will also be a sponsor for the Bob Ross Memorial Tournament which will be at  Pine Bowl in Pocatello in February.

  The next tournament will be January 8, 2006 at Bowl-ero Lanes in Idaho Falls - always a fun tournament. It is sponsored by Leo O'Ryan of Leo's Place - a great pizza and sandwich restaurant about a block from Bowl-ero Lanes and by Vic's Truck and Auto Repair. You know Vic as a SISBA director. 

  And now, for the vote on whether to continue the divisional tournaments: Ballots were distributed to those who bowled in the December tournament. The question on the ballot was: Should the Senior Intermountain Scratch Bowling Association continue to conduct divisional tournaments (A Division of ages 44 and under, B Division of ages 45 to 60 years of age, and C Division of ages 60 and over). A simple yes or no was required.

  Of all the votes cast, there were only three who voted to continue the divisional tournaments. 51 voted to discontinue the divisional tournaments

  It was an experiment which did not work out well as the participation suffered in all divisions in the first three tournaments of the season. There were only nine A Division entries in the September tournament in Boise, 10 in the October tournament in Missoula, and 18 in the tournament in Burley in November - and two of those were qualified to bowl in the B Division. In the end, the turnout for the A Division did not justify the payout.

  The Tough Guy Shootout at Tough Guy Lanes in Pocatello has started up to accomodate bowlers of all ages and gives the younger bowlers a chance to participate with the best. It is held the first weekend of each month. For more information, call Tough Guy Lanes at 208-233-2930.

  The names of those in the A Division who participated in the SISBA tournament will be kept on file and when they are 45 years of age and eligible to bowl with SISBA, an invitation will be sent to them.

Welcome to new members Jay Ankeny and Shane May, both of Jackson, Wyoming; Michael Dansie of West Jordan, Utah; John Gould of Boise, Idaho; and Ray Hart of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

We thank Steve Young, Pat Luras and all those employees of Tough Guy Lanes and King Pin Lounge for their great hospitality.

SO!! Who's Winning the Pots?