Only late drop-off keeps Knopoff from 300
Brandon Knopoff was so close to finding perfection.
Only 2 pins were left standing in his bid for a 300 game on Tuesday afternoon.
It left the Vernon Hills junior standing at the line, pondering how close he came to a a perfect game.
"I was like 'Oh my God, can I please get a strike?' " said Knopoff, who'd thrown his 12th ball across the head pin, leaving a 3-10 split. "When I saw the pins standing, I was like, 'Maybe next time.'
"It would've been nice to get it, but I think it's still pretty cool to shoot 298."
In addition to his personal-best game, Knopoff rolled a 663 series as Vernon Hills got past Deerfield 2,936-2,725 at Hawthorn lanes in Vernon Hills.
The Cougars won 7 of the 9 points over the Warriors, and New Trier swept past Lake Zurich, getting all 9 points to leave Vernon Hills and New Trier tied with one match remaining for each team in the Northern Illinois Boys Bowling Conference race.
Vernon Hills throws against Lake Zurich at Deer Park Lanes on Thursday, and New Trier goes against Stevenson on Jan. 8 at Classic Bowl.
"It would be great to win our first conference championship," Vernon Hills coach Ron Long said. "It's been a goal of ours since the start of the season. I'd be excited to start with the championship and go into the sectional."
Knopoff had a previous high of 268 in a match last year against Stevenson on the same pair of lanes.
Maybe it was a little luck for Knopoff thinking of getting the perfect game.
"In the eighth frame, reality kicked in and I was like, 'Oh my God, I might shoot a 300,' " Knopoff said, "Then after every shot I was getting nervous. By my last shot I was shaking.
"I should've moved after the 11th, but for some reason I stayed in the same spot. Even coach (Bill Spigner) said I should move. But I was ready for it.
"It takes luck and skill to shoot a game like that. But it's good and lucky at the same time. I had three lucky shots in that game."
Knopoff shot an opening game of 153.
"First game was ridiculous." Knopoff said. "Whenever I hit the pocket and whatever I left, it was hard to pick up."
Knopoff finished with a respectable 212 in his final game.
The Cougars' Erik Hencier (606 series) rolled a 244 in his opening game, which helped Vernon Hills take the opening game 931-866. With Knopoff's big effort in Game 2, the Cougars outshot the Warriors 1,062-879, and in the last game Deerfield bounced back 980-943.
Deerfield was led by Alex Siedband throwing a season-best 692 series with games of 244, 211 and 237.
"We knew that Vernon Hills has a young team and they have a coach who's a Hall of Famer," said Deerfield coach Peter Cullen. "I believe my guys are pretty good. We were headstrong and had confidence coming in."