Yesterday, she knocked down 1,169 pins in six games at Schofield Bowling Center to win the O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship.

Roosevelt junior Jarret Mizo won the boys title with 1,327 pins. Moanalua won the boys team championship and Pearl City took the girls team title.

Saunders, who finished fifth as a freshman, did not get in much lane time this fall because she was a starting outside hitter/defensive specialist for Kapolei's volleyball team. Volleyball season ended two weeks ago.

"I hardly bowled," Saunders said. "But the (bowling) coaches made it easier on me by having practice on the weekend, or sometimes I would have bowling practice after volleyball."

Yesterday, the 5-foot-8 Saunders outscored teammate Shaina Carnate (1,101), two-time defending champion Jodi-Ann Gum (1,079) of Pearl City and defending state champion Samantha Masuda (1,072) of Kapolei.

"I just stayed confident and focused," said Saunders, whose season average was 186. "My team was there for me. If I missed, they would help me concentrate on the next throw."

Mizo, whose season average was 209, said he felt comfortable throughout yesterday's competition.

"It felt like any other day," he said. "It was the same thinking. I just tried my best, and whatever happens, happens."

It happened to be good enough for a championship that eluded Mizo as a freshman and became tougher to reach last year. Mizo took 15th in the OIA two years ago and seventh at the state tournament, but failed to place at either event last season.

"I was changing some stuff," Mizo said.

He added that he did not expect this year to be a championship opportunity, even with two-time champion Bronson Teramoto graduating from Kailua last June.

"There's still a lot of good people out there," Mizo said. "I was just getting the most breaks."

Mizo won by 21 pins over Moanalua's Daniel Toyooka-Kim (1,306). Mililani's Darren Hidani (1,235) took third.

The top 41 bowlers, including the top four from each of the top four boys and girls teams, will advance to the state tournament Nov. 13-14 at Hilo Lanes.

Boys

1, Jarret Mizo (Roosevelt) 1,327
2, Daniel Toyooka-Kim (Moanalua) 1,306
3, Darren Hidani (Mililani) 1,235
4, Kyle Pekelo-Passmore ('Aiea) 1,192
5, Jared Hayashi (Pearl City) 1,176
6, Kyle Jones (Radford) 1,174
7, Bryson Pearson (Mililani) 1,154
8, Cy Hiyane (Moanalua) 1,130
9, Kevin Soriano (Kapolei) 1,129
10, Garrett Lehman (Radford) 1,124
11, Ryan Kiive-Logston (Radford) 1,122
12, Bryson Tabios (Castle) 1,105
13, Nathan McManus (Moanalua) 1,096
14, Shaun Hamamura (Mililani) 1,093
15, Kainoa Butler (Castle) 1,092

Girls

1, Cherish Saunders (Kapolei) 1,169
2, Shaina Carnate (Kapolei) 1,101
3, Jodi-Ann Gum (Pearl City) 1,079
4, Samantha Masuda (Kapolei) 1,072
5, Tara Kumakura-Nishida (Castle) 1,061
6, Christine Kealalio ('Aiea) 1,044
7, Noemi Solano (Pearl City) 1,022
8, Lianne Deeter ('Aiea) 1,021
9, Jennifer Iha (Pearl City) 1,019
10, Nichole Petesch (Radford) 989
11, Christie Johnson (Leilehua) 985
12, Kara Shiraki (Castle) 983
13, Tiffany Tobita (McKinley) 957
14, Shehan Sagucio (Waipahu) 955
15, Shelly Shiira (Roosevelt) 955