A top finish in the “medal flight” of the 2018 NHIAA Bowling State Championships whetted the appetite for success of Merrimack High’s Mike Grover.

This time around, on his home lanes Saturday at Merrimack Ten-Pin, Grover is hunting even bigger game.

Grover leads six different Tomahawks into the “Championship Flight,” meaning the top 32 averages in the state as the title of top high school bowler hangs in the balance.

With a sizzling 217.0 average, Grover is the No. 2 seed behind Stevens’ High’s Ian Fitzpatrick, who is at 227.7.

Joining Grover in the top flight are: John Goodwin (184.4), Hunter Mack (180.5), Ethan Hostler (171.7), Ryan Williams (167.3) and Cody Pfeifer (164.7).

Merrimack High will also be represented in the medal flight, which features averages 33-64.

Alex Balonis holds the fifth-best average in that bunch at 158.1, while Keaton Miller is at 147.4.

GIRLS PLAYOFF BOUND

Ready or not, here come the Division I basketball playoffs for the Merrimack High girls.

The Tomahawks qualified despite dropping their last three games, ending the regular season at 9-9.

Sam Page had a dozen in the 51-41 loss to Memorial. The Tomahawks then fell to Salem in a 35-28 defensive struggle to end the regular season.

Pairings for the girls tournament are expected out from the NHIAA on Monday with the postseason opening round on Wednesday.

BOYS NEED TO WIN

After two straight wins in Division I, the Merrimack boys saw their playoff hopes take a major hit with a 62-45 loss on Tuesday night at Salem.

Now 4-11, the Tomahawks will most likely need three wins in the final three games to qualify for the playoffs.

On Monday, Merrimack knocked off Memorial, 42-15, behind 14 points from Jared Dyer and a dozen from Pat Yudkin.

HOCKEY PUSHING HARD

With two games left in the regular seson the Merrimack ice hockey team stands on solid ground at 8-6-2, coming off a 3-3 tie with Lebanon-Stevens-Mt. Royal.

The Tomahawks got a pair of goals by Dylan Sadowski and one by Drew Lemire. Assists went to Zach Stimeling, Matt Warrington, Zach Richard and Andrew

Frothingham.