The Marshalltown boys’ bowling team tried to rally from a first-round deficit but fell short against defending Iowa Alliance Conference North Division champion Waterloo East in Tuesday’s season-opening dual meet at Wayward Social, 3,015-2,928.

The Bobcats trailed the Trojans by 224 points following individual play but came charging back during the Baker rounds, highlighted by a 289 game that was one pin short of perfection. Marshalltown couldn’t maintain the momentum from that near-perfect game but still outscored East by 137 pins over five Baker games.

Marshalltown was led in the opener by Jayden Beichley, who rolled 221-212–433 for the team’s high game and series. Carter McCready contributed a 206-176–382, and Cayden Slifer was just behind with a 177-201–378.

Porter Niedermann (343) and Gage Grieves (341) rounded out the Bobcats’ counting individual scores. Max Boylan-Burleson had the non-counting score of 269.

Waterloo East’s Alex Huntley led all players with a 255-258–513 series.

On the girls’ side, Marshalltown rallied from a 10-pin deficit to defeat Waterloo East by eight — 1,800-1,792 — in their season opener.

The host Bobcats trailed by just three pins after individual play, but closed the five Baker games with their best to win the dual. A finishing 136 Baker game was the difference for MHS, countering East’s best round of 122 to turn a six-point deficit into an eight-pin win.

Camillya Thomas was the high-scoring bowler in the dual, leading MHS with a 126-191–317 series, while Aubrey Webber rolled a 109-157–266. Ariana Villagomez (112-127–239), Bailey Damman (96-124–220) and Ray Massa (83-72–155) completed the Bobcats’ scoring.

Webber’s 157 game and 266 series were both career-highs for the Marshalltown junior.

The Bobcats are back in action Monday with another Alliance North contest at Fort Dodge.