KENNEWICK - When coach Billy Bryce took his team to Kennewick Thursday to take part in post-season play, he said he hoped to win the match to 'bookend' the season to send the Chiefs to state.

Mission accomplished, as Moses Lake rolled past Wenatchee, Chiawana and Eisenhower to claim the 4A District 5/6 Bowling Tournament championship.

"We are very excited to be going back to the state tournament," Bryce said. "Seven girls bowled as a team and every one of them contributed to the win."

Moses Lake went to the big show last year, but was bounced out in the first round.

Juniors Zhane Serrano and Courtney Ingram were the high rollers for the Chiefs Thursday with a 527 pin total. The two were co-second place medalist with a 175 individual average for the tournament.

A roll-off to break the tie between Serrano and Ingram was suggested, but the girls would have none of that.

"We've been best friends since grade school," Serrano said. "So we'd rather tie than have one of us win."

Ingram's pin total included her first ever 200-plus point game, as she rolled a 206.

"I really wasn't aware of my score going into the 10th frame," Ingram said. "I was just trying to get through it and when I looked up at the scoreboard, I was wondering who rolled a 206? It was me, and I was really surprised."

The tournament boiled down to a contest between Moses Lake (2,585) and Eisenhower (2,423) as the teams were separated by 162 pins going into the Baker frames. The Cadets rolled a 163 in the first game and the Chiefs, a 162. But the second game really separated the two and that turned out to be the difference in the tournament.

"When we bowled a 231 and they rolled a 153 in the second Baker game I knew we had a chance to win it," Bryce said. "There was this eerie kind of calm to the girls as they held their composure and didn't fold under the pressure. They took care of business and brought home the district championship."

Moses Lake finished the tournament with a 3,639 pin total to claim the victory. Eisenhower finished with a total of 3,522 pins.

The two-day state tournament gets under way Friday at Narrows Plaza Bowl in Tacoma.

Bryce said he likes the Chiefs chances of bowling deep into the competition.

"The girls are peaking at the right time," he said. "We started the season slow, but they have gained a lot of confidence and really believe in themselves. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised now if we won the whole thing after what happened at districts."