By Steve Williams

District 4 champion and the unbeaten Bearden boys bowling team will face some tough opposition in the Region 2 tournament this week, but Coach Jennifer Allen believes her team has what it takes to advance if it performs up to its potential.

The Bulldogs will go against District 3 runner-up Gatlinburg-Pittman in their first-round elimination match Thursday morning at 10 o’clock at the Sevierville Community Center.

“I think both of our teams (boys and girls) have a good chance of advancing,” said Allen. “At this point all the teams are good and it will be just who has a good day.”

Knoxville Catholic, the District 4 runner-up, rolls against Distrct 3 champion Sevier County in the other first-round boys’ match.

In girls’ opening round matches at noon, District 4 champion Bearden faces William Blount and South-Doyle squares off with District 3 champion Sevier County.

“Teams have to win the first match or they are out,” said Coach Allen.

The region title matches for boys and girls will start at 3 p.m. The top two teams advance, with the region champion hosting the sectionals and the runner-up traveling.

Sectional champions advance to the TSSAA state tournament in Smyrna Jan. 17-19.

Four District 4 bowlers have already qualified for the state tourney as individuals based on their regular season averages. They are Bearden senior Corey Ramey (212.23) and Catholic senior Austin Humphreys (204.85) in boys and South-Doyle sophomore Lucy Edwards (168.91) and Bearden junior Kristy Dean (167.07) in girls.