CONTRIBUTED

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

TUSCALOOSA – In the city where the University of Alabama would throw a parade to honor the Tide’s recent college football national championship Saturday, James Clemens High School did some celebrating of its own a day earlier.

The Jets defeated county rival Sparkman in both the boys and girls divisions to win the first 16-team North Regional bowling tournament.

Bowling was added to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s roster of sports last season but didn’t hold a post season. The sport will play to a state championship this season with the top eight teams in two regional tournaments advancing to play Thursday and Friday at Oak Mountain Lanes in Pelham.

All 78 schools fielding teams compete in one division.

Bowlers rolled three games on the first day of regional competition. Teams were then seeded and played a single-elimination format.

Daniela Connor had a three-game total of 577 to lead all competitors on the first day to help the Jets girls earn a No. 3 seed in bracket play. Sparkman’s Nicole Gilbert had the second best score at 569, leading the Senators to the top seed.

But after both teams won three dual matches Day 2, the Jets took the championship 677-644.

For the boys, James Clemens took a sixth seed into bracket play with Luca Connor leading all bowlers in pool play with a 652. The Senators were No. 8. The rivals eventually met in the final with the Jets winning 677-641.