PHILADELPHIA, Miss. – Feb. 16 was a big day for Allie Williams (Seminole Tribe’s Panther Clan). The seventh-grader at Neshoba Central Middle School in Philadelphia, Mississippi helped the Neshoba Central High School’s Lady Rockets win the MHSAA Class II state bowling championship in Jackson.

The Lady Rockets went undefeated in the regular season with a 9-0 record. They also won North Regionals.

What started as another weekend hobby has turned into one of Allie’s favorite sports next to fastpitch softball. Allie was the only middle school student who made the high school team. Also, she is one of the top six bowlers on the 12-person team. Her highest score this season was 206.

During the state championship games, the Lady Rockets finished in second place in the first round. They then went on to bowl a Baker Series out of the top two teams to determine who wins state. On a Baker Series only five girls can bowl toward one total score. They also combine to bowl 10 frames per game. Allie was one of the five girls selected to bowl in the Baker Series. Her teammates called them the clutch players because they always came through when they needed them.

The Lady Rockets played best-of-five games in the Baker Series. In the first game the Lady Rockets won 178-128 over D’Iberville. D’Iberville won game two (190-158) and game three (214-181). In the fourth game the Lady Rockets won by one pin, 182-181.The fifth and final game was a nail biter. Allie (2nd bowler) got two strikes to keep her team in the game. It all came down to the final frame with the Lady Rockets down by a spare and six pins. Allie’s teammate Hailey Copeland, a senior, was the last bowler. She got the spare; then on her last bowl she finished strong with a strike for the state victory.

Allie’s family said they are very proud of Allie and encourage her to continue to be the best she can be.