TAYLOR – A couple of shots Saturday at Skore Lanes – and how Blissfield sophomore Alex Kudlac capitalized – decided the Division 4 Finals boys singles championship.

In the first game of the total-score two-game set, Detroit Loyola’s Cody Champion left a five count to start the 10^th frame up by a pin, and Kudlac prevailed 195-178.

In the second game, Champion opened in the ninth – and then needed to strike out to catch Kudlac. He threw the first strike but had a split on the second shot to give Kudlac a 378-369 victory and the title.

“I was very nervous these two games,’’ said Kudlac. “Going back, I thought the lanes would play the same. It was the exact opposite. It played so much different on the fresh oil.’’

Kudlac’s victory made it a double for Blissfield, which captured the team title Friday.

“I’m so proud of our team and what we were able to accomplish,’’ said Kudlac. “I made my spares. I’m happy with myself. My first two shots in the Finals came in high, so I had to move two boards. Four of the five of us made the cut for states.’’

Jackson Lumen Christi’s Anthony Wetzle qualified first for Saturday’s match play with a pinfall of 1,325, followed by Champion of Detroit Loyola at 1,296, Brayden Smith of Byron at 1,292 and Collin Retter of Blissfield at 1,275.

Blissfield had three reach the final 16 singles – junior Retter, sophomore Kudlac and senior Matthew Anderson. Plymouth Christian Academy had two qualify in senior Ashton White and senior Graham Gortney.

Wetzle beat Gortney (392-387) in the first round to face New Lothrop’s Dominick Dilts, who won in a nail-biter (436-426) against Brennen Eaton of Burton Atherton to advance to the Quarterfinals.

Kudlac won over Plymouth Christian Academy’s White (484-410) and faced Bruer Gieski of Vandercook Lake, who had eliminated Retter (371-318).

Smith, a freshman at Byron, downed Thailan Raby of St. Louis (516-285). He went up against Le’Veon Greenwade of Taylor Trillium Academy, who had eliminated Matthew Anderson of Blissfield.

Champion took down Hunter Crow of Genessee in the Quarterfinals and faced Josh Millward, who had disposed of Carter Fournier of Hudson. 

Wetzle made it to the Semifinals with a 474-434 victory over Dilts, while Smith eliminated Greenwade (460-403). Champion advanced with a three-pin win over Millward (389-386). 

Kudlac reached the Final by beating Wetzle, the top seed, 471-459. Champion eliminated Smith (366-334) to advance.

Click for full results.