Houghton, Buckner win Russo tourney

Krystal Houghton and Steve Buckner won the 15th Annual Mac Russo Mixed Doubles Memorial Tournament Sunday at Charlie’s Lanes.
The duo defeated Lynette Dejean and Terry Dejean, 475-423, in the finals to win the event, which was conducted by the Morgan City U.S. Bowling Congress Bowling Association, along with Charlie’s Lanes.
The tournament featured two squads and the top five teams bowled in a step-ladder finals format. The final two matches, between Houghton/Buckner and Dejean/Dejean and Joyce Gaudet/Chandler Delaune and Dejean/Dejean, will be aired on KWBJ TV 22 Dec. 6 at noon, Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 11 p.m.
Fifty-five teams participated — 26 teams in the first squad and 29 teams in the second squad. The total is one of the largest team entries ever recorded.
After qualifications, the top five bowlers to advance to the step-ladder finals were Houghton/Buckner with a 1,519, Dejean/Dejean with a 1,447; Russell Veillion/Michele LaCombe, 1435; Letty Parker/Harold Lopez, 1424; and Gaudet/ Delaune, 1,423.
In the first match in the step-ladder finals, Gaudet/Delaune defeated Parker/Lopez, 440-379.
Gaudet/Delaune then faced Veillion/LaCombe and again was victorious, 444-390.
Gaudet/Delaune’s run ended, however, when they fell to Dejean/Dejean, 410-384.
With the victory, Dejean/Dejean advanced to the finals against Houghton/Buckner.
The finals’ match was close until the final frames when Houghton/Buckner pulled away for a 475-423 victory.
The MCUSBCBA thanks those involved with or who supported the tournament.