Taking on Swartz Creek at Richfield Bowl, the boys bowling team beat the Dragons 16-14 on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Leading off with a 237-205 Baker game victory, the Hornets fell behind in the second Baker. Behind by 10 pins in the sum of both rounds, the Dragons took a 6-4 lead heading into the individual games.

Junior Ethan Burke led off the team with a 204-pin performance in his first individual match.

Unable to beat their Metro League opponent, seniors Devin Smith and Nathan Maxwell fell to a deficit of 73 pins.

Returning for action, freshman Gage Slagor took his game by a 186-184 margin, drawing the Hornets within a point of Creek.

Junior Lawson Boshaw assisted the team by winning 224-171, the highest-scoring performance of the first set of individuals.

Anchor Kyle Langworthy, senior, rolled a 197-pin tally to give the Hornets a one-point advantage over the Dragons.

With a first set total of 992-937, Kearsley earned four points to give the team a 12-7 edge.

But then Burke and junior Rodney Baltosser were scorched by their opponent 209-171.

In addition, bowling a strong total of 265 pins, Maxwell lost to a Creek bowler who had a perfect 300-pin game.

Maxwell was proud of his performance but disappointed with the loss.

“It felt good to bowl that high,” Maxwell said. “I’m a little salty that I took the loss.”

Slagor dominated in his second individual game with a 238-pin performance, which gave the Hornets a four-point lead.

Sending 193 pins careening, Boshaw won his game by 10 pins, while Langworthy was beaten by 42.

Outbowling the Hornets by 39 pins in the second set of individuals, Creek tied up the score at 14 apiece.

Thankfully for the Hornets, the total pinfall sat at 2,050-2,034, favoring Kearsley, which gave the Hornets a 16-14 victory.

With a 5-1 record, the Hornets are tied with Clio for second in the Metro League. They will face Clio and Fenton on Saturday, Jan. 5, at Holly Lanes.

Maxwell feels the team should beat its opponents.

“I feel like our chemistry is coming along quite nicely,” Maxwell said. “We should win and continue building momentum toward regionals and states.”