Lady Jags capture MHSAA Class III state bowling crown

Photo credit: Randy J. Williams, MHSAA

Key Points

• DeSoto Central claimed the Class III girls’ state bowling title with a total pinfall of 3,096.
• The Lady Jags overcame a narrow margin, defeating runner-up Ocean Springs by 42 pins.
• Lewisburg finished the championship tournament in sixth place with a final score of 2,594.

BRANDON, Miss. — In a display of precision and late-game composure, the DeSoto Central Lady Jaguars secured the MHSAA Class III girls’ state bowling championship on Tuesday at Fannin Lanes. The Lady Jags finished with a total score of 3,096 pins, fending off a fierce challenge from Ocean Springs to take home the top prize.

The victory was anchored by a dominant third game, where DeSoto Central posted a staggering 820—the highest single-game team score of the day. That surge proved to be the deciding factor, allowing them to finish 42 pins ahead of the Ocean Springs Lady Greyhounds, who took the runner-up spot with a total of 3,054.

Madison Central rounded out the podium in third place with 2,683 pins, while D’Iberville and Clinton followed in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Local Competitors Show Grit

While the Jaguars celebrated at the top of the leaderboard, other local programs also made their mark on the state stage. The Lewisburg Lady Patriots finished in sixth place, tallying 2,594 pins. Lewisburg remained competitive throughout the afternoon, highlighted by a 688 in their third game.

The tournament field was rounded out by Gulfport in seventh and St. Martin in eighth.

Tournament Standings

School	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Total Pins	Final Place
DeSoto Central	756	736	820	784	3,096	1
Ocean Springs	734	836	763	721	3,054	2
Madison Central	631	700	654	698	2,683	3
D’Iberville	732	622	633	644	2,631	4
Clinton	617	664	669	651	2,601	5
Lewisburg	675	579	688	652	2,594	6
Gulfport	585	604	588	625	2,402	7
St. Martin	580	614	537	595	2,326	8

DeSoto Central

• Jaida Harris: Captured the individual state title with a stellar 748 series, including a high game of 234 in Game 3.
• Brooklyn Gaines: Secured the silver medal with a 712 series, highlighted by three games over 170.
• Team Contribution: Game 3 (820 team total) featured four of five bowlers rolling games of 160 or higher.

Lewisburg

• Bailee Shields: Finished as the top individual for Lewisburg, placing in the Top 15 overall with a series total of 624. Her 192 in the third game was the highest individual frame for the Lady Patriots.
• Team Effort: Lewisburg’s consistency was key; despite not having a medalist in the top three, their average spread between bowlers was among the lowest in the tournament, helping them edge out Gulfport and St. Martin.