LAS VEGAS — Coronado boys bowling coach Nicholas Elefantis admitted he had doubts about his team after losing several seniors from last year’s squad. Those doubts vanished Friday when the Cougars captured the 5A state championship with a 7-2 victory over Shadow Ridge at the Orleans Bowling Center.

The final score, 2,382-2,376, came down to the last frame. With Shadow Ridge leaving a pin standing in its half of the 10th, Coronado senior Michael Sims needed only to knock down one pin to win. He took down six.

“Today I just fell back on all the work I had put in,” Sims said. “I knew I could do it no matter what.”

Coronado, the No. 6 seed, defeated Palo Verde and Foothill in earlier rounds to reach the final. Elefantis credited the team’s turnaround to a stretch after winter break when the Cougars started stringing wins together.

“We lost some seniors after last year,” Elefantis said. “So I actually had doubts until we came back after winter break. We started stringing wins together and bowling together as a team. This group dug down deep and found something inside themselves.”

Shadow Ridge, the No. 3 seed, kept it close throughout. “When it comes down to six pins, that’s anybody’s match,” Elefantis added.

In the girls 5A final, top-seeded Shadow Ridge dominated Desert Oasis 9-0 (2,097-1,852). Jordynn Hernandez, Katrell Cloud-Mixon, Jaiyla Higgins and Tia Breeden led the Mustangs. Coach Jeremiah Baron praised Hernandez for rebounding from a rough first round.

“She just thought she had to do it all,” Baron said. “We talked, and we got her to relax and just bowl. Today she kicked butt.”

Shadow Ridge had lost in the finals each of the past three years. “We’ve been really close the last three years,” Baron said. “We were up in the finals by 84 pins three years ago, but let it slip sway.”

In 4A boys, top-seeded Rancho beat Bishop Gorman 9-0 (2,503-2,266). In 4A girls, Mojave defeated The Meadows 9-0 (1,837-1,704).