By: Sean Moylan
While the Maple Bowl Holiday Tournament didn’t go as well as originally planned, both Bordentown Regional High School varsity bowling teams continued to dominate their regular season matches this past week.
The Scotties boys and girls’ teams each posted a 4-0 win over Holy Cross on Monday. Ryan Branson led the charge on the boys’ side with a 622 series (208,255,159) while Greg Rosen had an excellent day at Papps with a 582 series (200,194,188). Rusty Miller posted a 580 series (234 high game) and Kyle McGonigal had a 537 series with a top game of 203. Lane Hirschfeld rolled just two games for Bordentown, but both were good (194 and 190). Bordentown won the pin count, 2,838-2,345.
On the girls’ side, the Scotties’ Kim Limani worked her magic again with a stellar 596 series (190,213,193). But Melissa Jones proved that she too can put up big numbers as her 521 series (172,161,188) helped the Scotties get over the top. Yet freshman Cathy Jones was nearly as impressive with games of 158 and 163.
"Cathy (Jones) is going to be good. She just needs more experience," said Bordentown coach Ron Jones. Colleen McGonigal had a high game of 131 and Taryn Chase’s best game was a 123.
On Tuesday night Branson recorded a much-needed 649 series (232,194,223), which aided tremendously in Bordentown nipping Rancocas Valley 3-1 on the road.
Jones, who has been very pleased with Branson’s bowling as of late, commented, "He’s coming around. Things are falling into place for him."
When he’s at his best, Branson can dominate nearly any match. Hirschfeld also came through for Bordentown with a solid 581 series (182,213,186). Meanwhile Rosen rolled a 528 series (167,182,179) and McGonigal posted a 516 series, which was highlighted by a 213 second game. According to Jones, Miller had some tough luck but still managed to record a 493 series. After dropping the first game, the Scotties were pleased to come away with the win and keep their perfect record intact.
"It was only a 70 pin (2,767-2,697) difference," Jones added.
The Bordentown girls’ team had a much easier time in clobbering Rancocas Valley 4-0 (2,241-1,864). Limani was vintage Limani with a solid 539 series, which featured a 213 third game. C. Jones came out smoking with games of 179, 155 and 159 for a 493 series. M. Jones also bowled well and chipped in with a 444 series (128,158,158). Meanwhile Chase had a 180 high game and McGonigal’s best game of the evening was a solid 129.
The Scotties girls’ team had gone into last Thursday’s Maple Bowl Holiday Tournament looking to take one of the top spots. However, Bordentown ended up finishing in sixth place as a team. Nonetheless, Limani did have the second best individual game (224) in the tournament.
On Friday the Scotties boys had an off night in the same event. Luckily, they rebounded nicely with a pair of triumphs.
The Bordentown boys are 6-0 on the season while the Scottie girls have a 5-1 record. Next week Bordentown will be on Christmas break, but it will return to action on January 3 with a match at Medford Tech.
NBC
The Northern Burlington County Regional High School varsity bowling teams may not be putting up the huge pin counts they did in past seasons, but both squads are still accomplishing their most important goal they’re winning far more matches than they’re losing.
In fact, on Tuesday night both Greyhound bowling teams trounced Westampton Tech, 4-0.
NBC’s boys squad was able to control its match although it was without the services of one of its best bowlers.
"I didn’t have Brandon Mauer. He was on a school trip," noted NBC coach Bruce Wandling, who did have his star bowler Bill Moore, who rolled a fine 572 series (212,167,193) to spark the Greyhounds’ victory. Adam Wainwright rolled a 537 series (180,147,210) and Rich Mellor rolled a 524 series (195,161,168) for Northern. Frank Capra had a 222 high game in his 502 series and Zach Gandy’s 192 second game was his best of the evening. NBC’s pin count was 2,572.
On the girls’ side, Kylie Crowshaw’s 220 third game was her best of the season and the high game of the day. The NBC senior finished with a splendid 502 series. Even so, Shannon Wilkins was a little bit better with a 505 series (153,197, 155). Lindsey Webster, who posted a 488 series (162,132,194) and Samantha Todd, who had a 452 series (165,146,141), were also at the top of their game. April Savoy had a high game of 131. NBC had a total pin count of 2,304. A day earlier, on Monday, Pemberton handed both Greyhound bowling squads their first losses of the season. Yet neither NBC squad bowled poorly in 4-0 defeats.
"I can’t fault them for the losses," said Wandling. "The boys averaged over 900 pins a game and the girls were close to 750."
Pemberton edged NBC, 2,857-2,754 on the boys’ side. Nevertheless, Moore was spectacular with a 655 series (206,233,216). But Mauer had the high game for NBC with a 256 second game in his 557 series. Mellor rolled games of 199,178 and 193 for a 570 series. Wainwright’s 515 series was highlighted by a 202 first game. Meanwhile Frank Capra’s "wonderful life" featured games of 153 and 176 on Monday.
"I’m very pleased with freshman Frank Capra," added Wandling.
On the girls’ side Wilkins did all she could to keep NBC in the match with her 523 series (153,167,203) and Webster was also very good with a 484 series (165,62,157). Crowshaw, who had a 424 series (132,175,117), Todd, who had compiled a 412 series (170,119,123), and Savoy, who had a series of 374 series (114,123,137), each chipped in but NBC fell short nonetheless.
Both NBC squads placed ninth at last week’s Maple Bowl Holiday Tournament. Both teams had 3-1 records going into yesterday’s (Thursday) scheduled match versus New Egypt.

