By: Sean Moylan
The Bordentown High girls’ bowling team was probably not at its best in last Wednesday’s Maple Bowl Holiday Tournament.
Yet even on an off day, the Scotties’ girls are so good they were able to beat the rest of the field in Burlington County by 85 pins.
"After they rolled a 736 in their first game I said to them, ‘You guys are in big trouble. You’re nowhere near the lead. You have to bowl 830 or better in every game (to win).’ They came back with a 922 in the second game and they vaulted all five teams ahead of them and they never looked back," said Bordentown Coach Ron Jones.
Kim Limani had the high series in the tournament with a 621 (217, 222, 183). Brittany Havens (a 191 high game), Melissa Jones (185) and Cathy Jones (172) all came through with stellar individual games to enable Bordentown to secure the win. The Scotties’ winning pin count was 2,486.
Northern Burlington placed 9th overall in the girls’ tournament with a score of 2,163. The Greyhounds’ Samantha Todd had one of the better series in the tourney with a 519 overall score, which was highlighted by a 191 game.
In the Maple Bowl Holiday tournament for the boys last Thursday, NBC head bowling coach Ed Del Russo was very pleased with a 9th place finish by his Greyhounds’ boys varsity bowling team.
"The boys were phenomenal," said Del Russo, whose Greyhounds posted a 2,706 score. Brandon Mauer had the high series for NBC with a 588, which featured a 210 game. But Adam Wainwright rolled the Greyhounds’ best individual game with a 217. Rich Mellor recorded a 568 series with 194 high game for NBC.
The Scotties’ boys varsity bowling team placed 18th in the tournament with a score of 2,500 (832, 848, 820).
Rusty Miller had a 570 series (184, 182, 194). Kyle McGonigal rolled a 532 series with a 196 high game. Ryan McDonald posted a pair of 182 games for the Scotties.
BRHS
The "Princesses of Papp’s" seemed just a little more regal on Monday evening as the Bordentown High girls’ varsity bowling team posted a 2,786 total score to crush Cinnaminson, 4-0.
"They really threw out some big numbers. This was the best they’ve bowled all year," noted Bordentown Coach Ron Jones.
The Scotties started the night with an almost absurd 998 first game and then followed it up with games of 858 and 930.
Recording games of 235, 205 and 258 in her 698 series, Kim Limani was virtually unstoppable in her best of many great performances this year. Brittany Havens was also incredible with a 643 series, which had games of 256, 169, and 219 in it.
Under normal circumstances Cathy Jones’ 517 series with a 181 high game and Melissa Jones’ 511 series with a 177 high game would be headline material, but on Monday they represented just a small sampling of what the Scotties can do as a team. Colleen McGonigal had a high game of 158.
On the boys’ side, Kyle McGonigal rolled a 691 series (223,224, 244) to lead Bordentown to a 3-1 win over Cinnaminson. Rusty Miller also had his usual solid night with a 209 high game and a 558 series. But Ryan McDonald may have delivered the knockout punch with his 543 series, which was highlighted by a 200 third game.
The Bordentown girls came right back on Tuesday night and pounded Burlington Township 4-0 at Papp’s.
Limani was Bordentown’s top bowler once again with a 653 series (214, 195, 244) and in her last game she gave the people at Papp’s Lanes a special treat. She rolled seven strikes in a row.
Havens also had another big night with a 585 series and 213 high game. C. Jones bowled a 474 series with a 182 high game. M.Jones displayed her great consistency as a bowler with a 163 game and a pair of 158 scores. Bordentown’s total pin count was 2,584.
On the boys’ side, the Scotties lost their first game by 62 pins but rebounded to win the next two games and beat Burlington Township for their seventh 3-1 win of the season without a loss. Bordentown, which won the overall pin count 2,751 to 2,691, won the last game by just 8 pins to pull out the triumph. Miller led the way with a stellar 640 series (180, 234, 226).
"He’s (Miller) just bowling consistently well. He’s enjoying being a captain and bowling anchor," said Jones. After a long absence Greg Rosen finally returned to the Scotties’ lineup and he came through with games of 197 and 204.
Mark Brown (201) and McDonald (200) also rolled solid games for the victors. Both Bordentown teams are now 7-0 and the Scottie girls haven’t lost a single game all season. Bordentown, however, is scheduled to take on a tough New Egypt squad at Thunderbird Lanes.
NBC
Despite the extraordinary efforts of Shannon Wilkins, the Northern Burlington High girls’ varsity bowling team lost its first two regular season matches of the season this past week. On Tuesday night New Egypt nipped the NBC girls’ team 3-1,but Wilkins recorded a 571 score with 195 high game in defeat.
Lindsey Webster posted a fine high game of 173 and Sam Todd had a 156 high game. Although NBC won the second game, it couldn’t quite knock down enough pins to work out a tie.
On the boys’ side NBC posted great games of 920 and 967 but still lost a 3-1 decision to New Egypt. "We lost the second game by just eight pins," added Coach Ed Del Russo. Even so, Rich Mellor rolled a fantastic 603 series with a 231 high game.
"It was great night for Rich (Mellor)," said Del Russo, who also got a 231 game from Frank Capra.
Capra also had bowled fairly well on Monday night versus Rancocas Valley with a 532 series, nonetheless RV was able to defeat NBC, 4-0. Adam Wainwright had a 202 high game in a losing cause.
On the girls’ side, Rancocas Valley defeated NBC, 4-0 . Webster posted the Greyhounds’ best score with a 502 series. Wlikins chipped in with a solid 469 series.
Going into yesterday’s (Wednesday) scheduled match versus Moorestown, NBC girls bowling team was 4-2 while the NBC boys’ team was 2-4. Both teams will then be off until January 4.
