NBC advances to finals
By:Sean Moylan
Billy Ferenc has had some good moments for the Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity bowling team this year. But nothing has even come close to approaching what he did in Saturday’s NJSIAA Sectional Tournament held at the Maple Bowl.
Ferenc rolled a career best 696 series, the 6th best series of the day, and his 279 first game won him a silver medal. More importantly, with a 1101 third game and a team score of 3091, NBC grabbed fourth place to advance into Saturday’s finals at Carolier Lanes in New Brunswick.
"I knew they could do it," said a happy NBC head coach, Judy Nuskey, who thought her boy’s team might need a 1,300 in the final game to qualify.
However, some of the better teams slipped considerably in the final round. NBC senior Mike Nuskey, who has bowled great throughout his career, won the bronze with 268 third game. His 678 series (217, 193, 268) was 11th best at the competition. Both Ferenc and Nuskey also qualified for the States as individuals.
However, if Mat Pingitor, a 607 series (212, 207, 188), Adam Reidenbach, a 582 series (190, 163, 229) and Adam Knighten, a 528 series (194, 141, 193), didn’t all come through, NBC wouldn’t have qualified as a team.
"We just heard our number (3,091) and we all went aah!!," said Coach Nuskey on how her squad found out it qualified.
If NBC hadn’t gotten into the State tournament, Adam Knighten’s leagues best 765 series in NBC’s 4-0 win over New Egypt on Tuesday would have been the big story of the week and maybe the entire year. Knighten also bowled a league best 277 single game score. He posted a 321 first game and 257 third game.
"Our boys decided to break some records today (Tuesday)," noted Coach Nuskey, whose team’s 3007 series versus New Egypt also a league best score. Billy Ferenc continued the torrid pace he set at Sectionals with a 663 series (207, 253, 203). But for the first time in 6 matches, Mike Nuskey rolled under a 600 series. However, his 559 series (187, 200, 175) was still very good.
Adam Reidenbach, a 528 series (152, 192, 184) and Matt Pingitor, a 492 series (165, 184, 143) also helped NBC’s record the win.
Unfortunately, the Greyhounds lost their unblemished record when they tied at Holy Cross last Thursday 2-2. Nevertheless, Mike Nuskey helped NBC avoid posting its first loss of the season by rolling a 646 series.
Holy Cross actually bowled its best series of the year just to earn a tie. Even so, the 16-0-1 Greyhounds are still Liberty Division Champs and they should do well in the States on Saturday.
Before that, however, they have a big match scheduled at Papp’s versus Bordentown. Then on Tuesday, NBC is scheduled to bowl in the county open at the Maple Bowl. This is easily the most important week of the year for NBC.