Palo Verde bowling coach John Read has two reasons to be optimistic as his girls team heads into the Class 5A state bowling tournament Tuesday.

Not only are the Panthers red hot, but his daughter, Jessica Read, is among the state’s top bowlers.

Read was seeded seventh entering last week’s individual tournament, but she stunned the field by working her way into the championship match, where she lost to Liberty’s Peyton Manning 434-382.

“I think I was just zoning in on the pins, focusing on taking breaths,” the sophomore said. “And hoping for the best.”

Her father said he struggled to sleep throughout the week.

“I was an emotional wreck,” John Read said. “I tried not to show her. But now I just feel pure pride. She just bowled lights out.”

The coach said his daughter was in elementary school when she became interested in the game after tagging along with him to Palo Verde’s bowling tournaments. Now she’s the team leader.

“She’s in the right frame of mind right now,” he said. “It’s going to take all four girls, but she’s going to lead them.”

Read, who defeated defending state champion Calee Berry of Coronado in the first round of the individual tournament, said the disappointment of losing in the finals has passed and she’s focused on leading the Panthers to the state title.

“I think it will affect me for the better,” she said. “It’s going to lift my spirits.”

The fourth-seeded Panthers will play No. 5 Coronado in Tuesday’s 2:30 p.m. quarterfinal match at the Orleans Bowling Center.

Shadow Ridge enters as the top seed and will open against No. 8 Silverado.

Mustangs coach Jeremiah Baron said he likes his team’s chances.

“A lot of teams have one or two really, really good bowlers,” Baron said. “But I think our team has four really strong bowlers. We’re not counting anyone out because it’s going to come down to which teams perform under the bright lights.”

Defending state champion Coronado, which enters as the fifth seed, did not fare well in last week’s individual tournament. But coach Nicholas Elefantis is cautiously optimistic. Though Berry was eliminated in the first round of individual competition, he believes she has the ability to bring the Cougars back.

“Calee has been a significant factor in this team’s success over the last four years,” said Elefantis, who added that his squad’s underdog status might work to Coronado’s advantage by deflecting attention. “She’s been a stabilizing factor, and last year she helped us put it all together. But it’s all going to come down to depth. You know your leaders are going to show up. It’s what the supporting pieces do.”

Liberty enters as the No. 2 seed, and Desert Oasis is seeded third.

Mojave, Boulder City, Doral Academy and Las Vegas opened their 4A tournament Monday as No. 1 seeds in their regions.

Boys and girls competition for 5A and 4A will begin each day this week at 2:30 p.m., with the title matches scheduled for Friday at 2:30 p.m. All matches will be played at the Orleans.

Boys bowling

The boys opened quarterfinal action Monday, with Shadow Ridge seeded at the top spot, followed by Foothill and Palo Verde.

Baron said nearly any team could win.

“The boys division is very tight,” he said. “It’s going to come down to which teams can settle their nerves and bowl to their abilities. It’s going to be a very pressure-packed situation.”

Elefantis agreed that the field is particularly tight.

“There won’t be any easy matchups,” he said. “It could come down to one shot in the last game.”

Cimarron-Memorial, Tech, Sierra Vista and Rancho entered the 4A boys team tournament as the top seeds from their regions Monday.

Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.