WATERFORD — Right away Saturday, Tecumseh girls bowling coach Doug McKowen seemed to notice something different about junior Kierra Pinter at the Division 2 Singles Finals.

It certainly wasn’t what he saw the day before during the Team Finals, which was a good thing.

“She struggled (Friday),” McKowen said. “Her shot seemed a little bit different. But she got a good look today and was unstoppable from Game 1. She threw it so good, and her spare shooting was fantastic.”

Pinter was fantastic in just about every area, becoming the first Tecumseh bowler in 10 years to win an individual title with a 403-389 win over Carleton Airport junior Abigail Hill in the championship match. 

“It’s just an amazing feeling right now,” Pinter said as she was wiping tears afterward. “I don’t know what to think.”

Pinter wasn’t at her best during qualifying, but still managed to advance as the No. 11 seed. 

She began her run in the knockout round with a 423-389 win over Pinckney freshman Danielle Martyka, and then defeated St. Clair Shores South Lake sophomore Sara Augustilus in the quarterfinal, 477-344. 

Pinter wasn’t as sharp in the semifinals, but still managed to eke out a 339-333 win over Ada Forest Hills Eastern senior Emilee Nowicki.

Pinter got off to a good start in the final against Hill, bowling a 217 in the first game to take a 19-pin lead. 

Hill actually outshot Pinter in the second game, but the 191-186 score wasn’t enough to overtake her for the match. 

McKowen said proper technique and making spares were the biggest keys for Pinter.

“Just keep your basics,” he said. “We kept working on that pushaway. Work on that pushaway, keep your basics going and we win the war with spares. And we did. Spares was the key today. Kierra was awesome.”

For Pinter, it was easy to pinpoint the turnaround in her play from the qualifying block to the match play portion of the event.

“Definitely people there for me and watching me,” she said. “Me focusing on what mark to hit and follow through.”

While Pinter had a little room to spare qualifying for the match play round, Hill didn’t at all. She was the No. 16 seed coming out of the qualifying block, making the cut by just one pin.

Hill took advantage of her new lease on life, so to speak.

“It just kept me going,” she said.

She first knocked off top-seeded Phoebe Fisk of Cedar Springs in the round of 16, 378-331, and then earned a 368-348 win over Mason senior Avery Beach in the quarterfinals. 

Hill then advanced to the semifinals with a 347-292 win over Goodrich senior Teagyn Tong.

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