SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Bowling in adjacent lanes, Kalani sophomore Jonathan Nakagawa and Mililani senior Raymond Allen were each trying to roll their way to an O'ahu Interscholastic Association individual championship yesterday.

In the end, Nakagawa finished a mere 10 pins ahead after six games to capture his first major title at Schofield Barracks Bowling Center. Nakagawa's pinfall total was 1,291, while Allen took second with 1,281. Kapolei's Devin Perry was third at 1,270.

"This is the first big thing I've won, and it's always been a goal to win the OIA," said Nakagawa, who finished 15th as a freshman last year. "I knew where Ray was, because he was in the lane next to me, but I was just trying to bowl for the team, trying to stay consistent and pick up spares."

Allen rolled a 265 in the fifth game and led with a pinfall total of 1,099, compared to 1,074 for Perry, 1072 for Pearl City's Derek Suefuji and 1,056 for Nakagawa. But Nakagawa rolled a 235 in the final game, while the other three contenders failed to break 200.

"I felt like I was pretty high up there, but I didn't want to pressure myself (in the final game)," Allen said.

Nakagawa rolled a 216 in the first game, 175 in the second, 263 in the third, 236 in the fourth and 166 in the fifth.

"It was an up-and-down day," Nakagawa said. "I had a cramp in my arm and I started feeling dehydrated. I had to drink liquids during the break."

Kalani senior Dara Ajimine had a little more breathing room in winning the girls championship.

She finished with a six-game total of 1,224, comfortably ahead of defending champ Kimie Roller (1,177) of Kapolei and Mililani's Stacey Shigekane (1,147).

"I wasn't really paying attention to the (individual) scores, I was bowling for the team," said Ajimine, the defending state champion who finished third in last year's OIA finals. "It's my senior year, so I was trying to go for everything."

Ajimine's six game scores were 266, 179, 195, 237, 179 and 168.

Mililani swept the boys and girls team titles for the second straight year. Kalani was the Eastern Division champion for both boys and girls.

The OIA boys crown is the Trojans' fifth in the past seven years, and the girls' title is Mililani's second straight after 'Aiea's three-peat from 2004 through 2006.

"Everybody pulled together, especially when it came down to the end," Shigekane said. "I'm a senior, so I had to make it count this year."

The top 41 finishers in each competition (boys and girls) advanced to the state championships Oct. 30 and 31 at Lihu'e Bowling Center on Kaua'i.

OIA BOWLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS BOWLING CENTER

BOYS

1. Jonathan Nakagawa (Kalani), 1,291; 2. Raymond Allen (Mililani), 1,281; 3. Devin Perry (Kapolei), 1,270; 4. Derek Suefuji (Pearl City), 1,257; 5. Austin Patacsil (Kailua), 1,251; 6. Christopher Besas (Waipahu), 1,225; 7. Christopher Lee (Waipahu), 1,219; 8. Justin Kanda (Roosevelt), 1,214; 9. Robert Nakanishi (Pearl City), 1,158; 10. Jordon Ono (Pearl City), 1,131; 11. Kyle Duncan (Campbell), 1,131; 12. Kevin Ornellas (Campbell), 1,100; 13. Tyler Noquez-Epil (Kailua), 1,098; 14. Bryson Lee (Castle), 1,095; 15. Chasen Ardo (Castle), 1,094.

Team final: Mililani 2,693, Pearl City 2,670.

GIRLS

1. Dara Ajimine (Kalani), 1,224; 2. Kimie Roller (Kapolei), 1,177; 3. Stacey Shigekane (Mililani), 1,147; 4. Raelena Mattos (Kapolei), 1,132; 5. Ashley Shoemaker (Pearl City), 1,130; 6. Christalynn Bonifacio (Kapoei), 1,108; 7. Shari Usui (Moanalua), 1,092; 8. Ariel Pang ('Aiea), 1,089; 9. Chayna Okata (Kalani), 1,087; 10. Jaycie Okata (Mililani), 1,082; 11. Nohelani Olpendo (Waialua), 1,072; 12. Leihulunani (Mililani), 1,071; 13. Chelsey Miyake (Kaimuki), 1,070; 14. Alyssa Aguilar (Moanalua), 1,066; 15. Tammi Sakaguchi (Kalaheo), 1,054.

Team final: Mililani 2,598, Kalani 2,493

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com.