There was no doubt that Eastern, the No. 8 ranked team in the NJ.com Top 20, was ready as can be coming into the Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl at Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade.
The Vikings had two tournaments already under their belts through the first two weeks of the season, facing off against some of the top teams in the Shore Conference during both the Rule the River Classic and the Roll with the Indians Tournament.
All that early-season tournament experience paid off in a big way for Eastern, who led wire-to-wire to win the tournament with a three-game team total of 2,306.
"I always try to take the girls to as many tournaments as possible, so they can see who are the best in the state and try to compete with them," Eastern head coach Eric Datis said. "They're used to the pressure and know how to push to the end."
Eastern's victory at the tournament ends a two-year run for No. 15 Gloucester Tech, who finished fifth in the team standings.
Senior Paige Paulsen led the way for the Vikings, tallying 598 through her three games (196-202-200) to help Eastern bring home its first championship of the season.
Paulsen put the finishing touches on the victory in style for the Vikings, racking up three strikes in her final frame to propel Eastern (4-0) to over 2,300 for the fourth time this season.
Paulsen is averaging 186 through 12 games during Eastern's four dual matches and has a high series of 636 this season.
Junior Lacey Gish (511) had a good three-game set during the tournament as well to help Eastern bring home the team title.
"It's awesome (winning the tournament)," Datis said. "It was a complete team win. Everyone picked each other up."
The top individual performance on the girls side from the Olympic Conference Holiday Bowl came from Cherry Hill East junior Leanna Lescano.
After a slow start to the tournament, Lescano (182-219-211) picked things up during her second game to record both a high game mark of 219 and a high series of 612.
"I figured out during the second and third games how to play the lanes and that helped me do well," Lescano said.
Lescano has tallied over 600 in a three-game set now four times this season and is averaging 198 through 12 games in dual matches for Cherry Hill East.
Those numbers speak to the improvement Lescano says she has seen in herself on the lanes so far this season.
Last year, Lescano did not record 600 or more for a series during dual matches and averaged 174 per game.
"I've improved quickly this year," Lescano said. "I'm very grateful for the support I have from my family and friends around me. That has definitely helped me out a lot."
Following Lescano and Paulsen in the top individual marks at the tournament were Annabelle Carter of Gloucester Tech and Washington Township's Leah Peltz-Robledo.
Carter tallied a three-game set of 551, while Peltz Robledo (200-168-172) notched 540 in her series.
1-Eastern (2,306); 2-Medford Tech (2,156); 3-Westampton Tech (2,087); 4-Kingsway (2,066); 5-Gloucester Tech (2,046); 6-Bordentown (2,011); 7-Cherry Hill East (1,975); 8-Cinnaminson (1,969); 9-West Deptford (1,918); 10-Cherry Hill West (1,911).
Steven Bassin can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @SBassin_Sports