The Beavers led from start to finish as the Beavercreek girls won the sectional bowling championship at Poelking Woodman Lanes on Wednesday.

Beavercreek started strong with a 937 game and never trailed through three regular games and six Baker games.

“Finishing first is great but, even if we finished sixth, we’d be happy because we were moving on,” Beavercreek coach Joe Sumner said. “This is a stepping stone for us.”

The top six teams and individuals advanced to the Southwest District tournament.

Bowling success is nothing new for the Beavercreek girls, who have qualified to the state tournament every year since 2007, most recently placing fourth a year ago. Expectations are high for the Beavers.

“My expectations are way up there,” Sumner said. “Sometimes I have to remind myself that they are kids.”

Those “kids” were at the top of their game Wednesday as junior Colleen Hines rolled a 612 and senior teammate Shane Ewing posted a 597, good for 7th and 13th, respectively, in the individual standings. Beavercreek also shined in Baker play with a tournament-high 232 game.

And while other spirited teams donned sparkly headbands, had painted faces or wore colorful knee-high socks, it was the Beavers’ bowling that made people take notice.

“They just get down to business, nothing fancy,” Sumner said.

And if winning the sectional wasn’t enough motivation, the Beavers had even more incentive as they bowled their Baker games on the same pair of lanes as Greater Western Ohio Conference rival Fairmont.

“Our only loss this season was to them and their only loss was to us,” Sumner said. “If I could have been matched up with any team today, I would have picked Fairmont. They are bowling so well this season.”

Beavercreek and Fairmont were in first and second place, respectively, heading into Baker play. Firebirds senior Molly Crouch posted a team-high 622 on the day.

Beavercreek will feel right at home at the district tournament, which is at Beaver-Vu Bowl next week.

Solo success: Stebbins bowler Sierra Kanemoto came up big Wednesday.

The 4-foot-10 Indians junior posted the high individual score of the day at the girls sectional tournament at Poelking Woodman Lanes with a 675. Kanemoto, who finished second in the state tournament last year, qualified to the district tournament as an individual, as did Xenia sisters Samantha and Nicole Seibel, Rachel Darrow, of Troy, Jessica Sawmiller, Alter, and Greenville’s Shelby Shumaker.

Marian Lanes sectional: Versailles earned the championship in sectional play at Poelking Marian Lanes Wednesday. Sidney, Urbana, Graham, Northwestern and Greenon also advanced to the district tournament.

Greeneview sophomore Hannah McGrew led the field of individual district qualifiers with a 708 series.