Vernon-Verona-Sherrill’s boys bowling team made the trip west to Mattydale’s Strike-N-Spare Lanes during Saturday’s Section III tournament. And due to its hard work and perseverance, the Red Devils will get to return in two weeks’ time for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament at that same venue as the newly-crowned sectional champions. Leading most of the way through, VVS, composed of Collin Laguzza, Brad Long, Nathan Desnoyers, Kenny Chang, Tristan Tormey, Zane Hasty and Brendan Thomas, finished with a pinfall of 5,699, holding off Utica-Notre Dame by 76 pins to snare the top overall spot and routing Camden (5,034) for the Class B title. In the morning session, team total pinfall counted. And just like the 2010 tournament, VVS went out in front, posting 2,937, leading Utica Proctor by 95 at the break. Brad Long had the best individual series – a 674, which reflected just how tough the conditions were. A year ago, VVS, in this same position, fell back to second, 53 pins behind Fulton, when the Red Raiders beat them in the “Baker” format (five bowlers in one game) during the afternoon. That would not happen here. As Proctor struggled in this afternoon session, UND made its charge, earning game scores of 267 and 244 as the gap between the Jugglers and Red Devils closed. Not until the 15th and final Baker game could VVS secure the title. Hasty and Laguzza both nailed late-game strikes and, with Tormey’s good count as the anchor, the Red Devils were champions. Even before the sectionals, VVS already had two crowns secured as it earned, on consecutive days, Tri-Valley League regular-season and tournament titles. In the latter event, held last Tuesday at King Pin Lanes in Rome, the Red Devils, with a total of 2,948, beat Whitesboro and six other opponents for the top spot. Tormey and Long took the doubles championship with a combined pinfall of 1,172 – Long with 608, Tormey with 564. Hasty recorded a 693 series. Just before going to tournament play, VVS took care of one more Tri-Valley League match, beating Utica-Notre Dame 9-2 to secure the outright regular-season league title with a 13-1 record. Laguzza led the Red Devils with a three-game total of 656. Tormey had a 644 series, with Desnoyers adding a 639 series. Cody Conley led UND with a 642 series and 255 high game. All this followed the Feb. 13 Section III girls championships at Pin-O-Rama in Utica, where VVS held off Camden for the Class B championship. The Red Devils had a total pinfall of 5,073, just ahead of the Blue Devils, who hit 5,000 on the mark. VVS only led by 27 going into the final game, but with an 828, it pulled away from Camden, who had 782. Becky Talbot had a 243 high game and 663 series, fourth among individuals, while Jessie Hyle posted a 572 series to take 14th place. Amber Bailey had a three-game total of 497 as Ashley Salisbury gained a 442 set.