By: Sean Moylan
Although it is impossible for a team to lock up a Sectional title after one game, the Bordentown High girls’ bowling squad nearly did just that in Saturday’s South Jersey NJSIAA Group I finals at the SuPerBowl.
"Our girls went out and rolled a 959 first game and had a 180 pin lead after one game," said Bordentown Coach Ron Jones. "Then they coasted the rest of the way. There was no doubt in my mind that they were going to win."
As expected, Bordentown’s Kim Limani bowled incredibly well. She had the second highest series in South Jersey with a 688 score (257,164, 267) and her 267 third game was the best game rolled by anyone in all of South Jersey. Bordentown’s 2,659 overall score was the third best in South Jersey behind Group III powerhouses Brick (2,954) and Tom’s River East (2,855).
Brittany Havens was the Scotties’ second best bowler with a 552 series (197,162,193) while Cathy Jones rolled a 515 series (195,177,143). Melissa Jones, who rolled a 482 series (179,148,155) and Colleen McGonigal, who posted a 432 final score (131,148,155), also scored for Bordentown. The truth is the Scotties are capable of bigger and better things as no Scottie bowler came close to matching her career bests. By winning the Group I South Jersey title, Bordentown qualified as a team for NJSIAA Girls’ Tournament of Champions, which will be held on February 16th at Carolier Lanes (Brunswick Zone).
In regular season action, Bordentown crushed Moorestown 4-0 at the Maple Bowl on Monday afternoon.
"I used all seven of my varsity girls," added Jones.
Limani rolled games of 180 and 182 and then took the rest of the day off. C. Jones had the high game for Bordentown with a 201 game in her 501 series while M. Jones’ 551 high series featured games of 192, 182 and 177. Havens (177,178), McGonigal (161,168) and Taryn Chase (144,145) each rolled a pair of games for the victors while Sam Kelly posted a 157 score in her only game.
On the boys’ side, Bordentown won the first and third games to tie Moorestown 2-2.
"They (the Bordentown boys’ team) have to beat Delran on Wednesday (yesterday) to be Freedom Divsion co-champs with New Egypt," added Jones.
Versus the Quakers, Bordentown’s Rusty Miller had both high series (609) and high game (234) as he bowled his average (a 203). He rolled a 209 third game. Kyle McGonigal also bowled well for Bordentown with a 573 series, which was highlighted by a 223 high game. Dave Cruz was solid with 169,169 and 178 games in his 516 series. Ryan McDonald had 174 high game while Greg Rosen’s best game was a 164.
The Bordentown girls’ record now stands at 18-0-1 and, of course, they wrapped up a Freedom Division title a long time a go. Nowadays their sights are set on a state title. In addition to yesterday’s scheduled match versus Delran, both Bordentown varsity bowling teams are scheduled to compete in the BCSL Open at the Maple Bowl next Wednesday.
NBC
Because it had two of the top four bowlers in the Liberty Division in Shannon Wilkins and Lindsey Webster, the Northern Burlington County Regional High girls’ varsity bowling team was feeling pretty confident that it had a decent chance of advancing out of this past Saturday’s NJSIAA Group III South Jersey Sectional finals at Cherry Hill’s Playdrome.
But as soon as the Greyhounds saw the numbers Brick (2,954) and Tom’s River East (2,855) was putting up, they knew it was not going to happen. Nevertheless, NBC posted a 2,275 score, which placed them 7th in Group III. The only other Liberty Division team to do better was Pemberton, which placed sixth with a 2,344 score.
"That was tough," said NBC head coach Ed Del Russo. "They bowled well."
Wilkins did her job and bowled a fine 559 series with a 215 high game. Webster, meanwhile, recorded a 482 series with a best game of 181. And Priscilla Medenbach rolled a 450 series with a 176 high game.
Wilkins’ 173.33 average is the third best in the Liberty while Webster is right behind her with a 162.39 league average. Medenbach, who joined the varsity team late, has a 148.11 average, which is the 7th best mark in the Liberty.
Last Friday, Wilkins rolled a 621 series to lead NBC to a 4-0 win over Westampton Tech at Thunderbird Lanes. That win gave NBC a 14-5 final record for the season.
Meanwhile on the boys’ side, NBC was able to even its record at 8-8-3 with a 4-0 win over Westampton Tech on Friday. Although neither NBC squad has any more regular season matches, the season is far from over. The NBC boys are scheduled to bowl in the South Jersey Group III Sectionals on Saturday. Then both NBC bowling teams will compete in the BCSL Open next Wednesday.

