Bowling

KIRKWOOD – Oxford bowler Emily Howard produced a true come-from-behind story in leading the Blackhawks girls to a second-place team finish at the recent Midstate Athletic Conference Championships at Sunset Lanes in Kirkwood.

Howard has steadily moved up the individual standings for overall average, and that has coincided with the Blackhawks' team performances over the past several weeks. In the last four matches, Oxford claimed 14 out of 16 total team points.

Howard posted several 500-plus series along the way, and was inching toward a top-five spot in overall league average. The top five spots at the end of the season earn spots in the Section IV state qualifier, a feat accomplished just twice by Oxford bowlers – Nicole Head in 2012 and Nate Head in 2013.

"We knew Emily was getting close to that top five spot, but didn't know how close until the day before the championships," said Oxford bowling coach Lance Thorne.

Howard had accumulated over 5,000 total pins in matches during the season, and was a mere 32 pins out of the fifth-place spot with three games left to bowl in her season at the MAC tourney.