Lyons Township High School senior James Praser attended the 2025 boys bowling state meet in Rockford to support graduated teammate Nolan Deines. Now he and the Lions are getting their chance to taste that success. The team qualified for the second time in the past three seasons as their third-place 6,047 at the Fenton Sectional advanced with a top-four finish.
“I’m just so happy we made it as a team. We really brought it as a team. We all came together and just did what we had to do,” Praser said.
“(State) is always nice and I know we always get good food as a team. We have specific places that we go to.”
Senior Logan Allison was fifth overall (1,324 for 6 games, 232 high game), followed by junior Anthony Bonilla of Brookfield (27th, 1,172, 235 sixth game), Praser (30th, 1,166, 205 high game), sophomore Kai Lan Strong (1,001 for 5 games, 228 first game), junior Wyatt Knutson (783 for 4 games, 225 second game) and senior Kyle Mycek (618 for 3 games).
Had the Lions not qualified as a team, Allison would have advanced individually like Deines in 2025 when LTHS was seventh at sectionals after three straight team berths. Bonilla is the only LTHS bowler back from the 2024 state lineup.
“I’m so proud of us,” Allison said. “It’s really good (to qualify) because all four years I’ve been trying to get to state. It’s been a journey. I feel like this year has been my best year.”
The Lions have persevered with a lineup short on varsity experience entering the season. They were the fourth and last advancing team out of the Oak Lawn Regional (6,023) but LTHS coach Gary Morrill helped the team realize that was the strongest feed-in regional and advancing was quite possible.
Entering the sixth game Saturday, the Lions were a comfortable 344 pins ahead of fifth-place Morgan Park (5,604).
“I’m really excited to go back again. I think last year’s team was more talented but this team is more cohesive and they play better together,” Morrill said. “This team really grew from where we started to where we are now. A lot of growth, not just bowling but with personalities. They’re pretty cohesive and support each other, pick each other up.”
Nazareth senior Joey Diaz was 36th (1,140 with 255 high game).
Basketball
After a horrific start, the Riverside Brookfield boys basketball team won its eighth straight Thursday with a 53-46 Upstate Eight Conference East Division victory at Glenbard South.
Cameron Mercer (24 points, 7 rebounds) and Noah VanTholen (12 points, 5 steals, 4 assists) and Liam Enright (11 points) helped the Bulldogs (16-5, 7-1 in UEC East) overcome a 1-for-21 shooting start and 17-5 deficit early in the second quarter. Mercer’s personal 7-0 run to start the second half helped RBHS take the lead.
The Bulldogs play host to first-place Glenbard East (20-2, 8-0), Feb. 3, after losing 70-58, Dec. 19, in Lombard. The teams shared last year’s UEC East title with 11-1 records.
The LTHS boys had a pair of home victories – 65-38 over Oak Park and River Forest in West Suburban Conference Silver Division play and 68-39 against Proviso East Saturday.
Grant Smith (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Tommy Blyth (12 points, 5 rebounds) reached double figures for the Lions (13-6, 5-1 in Silver) against OPRF and Nate Woods had 11 rebounds. Timmy Sloan added seven assists. Smith (15 points), Owen Carroll (10 points), Woods and Sloan (8 points each) and Dylan Holcer (6 steals) fueled Saturday’s victory.
The RBHS girls (6-16, 4-5 in UEC East) will reschedule Senior Night. Friday’s game with Elmwood Park was canceled after school was closed by cold temperatures. The Bulldogs lost to Glenbrook North 74-22 Jan. 17 and West Chicago 52-38 Jan. 16 and Glenbard South 59-35 in UEC East play.
Sophomore Eleanor Kowynia had a personal-best 13 points with three threes against West Chicago. Addie Vaia added 10 points. Ariana Hudson had 12 points against Glenbrook North.
The LTHS girls (15-7, 5-4 in Silver) nearly overcame a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit but lost 53-47 in overtime at Hinsdale Central Saturday.
Gwen Smith (17 points, 6 rebounds), Kennedy Moore (12 points, 8 rebounds), Sydney Munson (11 points) and Evie Riopell (6 rebounds) led LTHS.
Down 36-27 with 6:10 left, the Lions scored 12 unanswered points (5 by Smith, 4 by Moore and Sydney Munson three) to lead 39-36. The Red Devils hit a deep top-of-the-key three with 20.3 seconds left to create OT at 46-46.
Earlier in the week, Anna Bigenwald (ankle) became the third sidelined senior starter, joining fourth-year varsity players Emma O’Brien (knee) and Avery Mezan (hand).
