Jackson Memorial High School’s boys bowling team had slipped out of the Shore Conference B Central Division race that it has dominated in recent years with two losses against Freehold Township High School last week, but the Jaguars now appear to be back in it.
The Jaguars fell out of the top spot and into third place in the division last week when they were swept in three games, and then lost two-of-three in their two matches against Freehold Township. In the latter match, senior Chris Nicholson rolled a perfect 300 game and a 706 series.
The Jaguars have bounced back behind Joe Starace and clutch performances by their reserves to win the Winter Classic at Carolier Lanes on Jan. 11 before beating crosstown rival Jackson Liberty High School, 2-1, in a big division matchup on Jan. 13. The wins moved Jackson Memorial into sole possession of second place and four games shy of the league lead, with a rematch against Freehold Township scheduled for Jan. 27. The Jaguars also play Jackson Liberty again that week.
“Maybe everybody felt a little pressure against Freehold,” said Starace, whose 214 average is tied for the division lead. “I didn’t bowl as well as I usually do. We all didn’t bowl as well.”
The Jaguars looked plenty sharp against 50 teams in the Winter Classic when they rolled a 3,148 total wood, as all five bowlers cracked a 600 series. Drew Seich, a senior who stepped into the lineup when Mason Kimball suffered an ankle injury, led the charge with a 258 high game and a 672 series. Starace bowled a 653 series off a 233 high game, Nicholson followed with a 257 high game and 623 series, and senior Jason Gold ripped a 224 high game and 613 series.
“That tournament was very big,” coach Anthony Bilello said. “To come out on top after the week we had, we got back on track.” On Jan. 13, Jackson Memorial beat Jackson Liberty, 3,050-2,854, as Starace smashed a 705 series off a 247 high game. The Jaguars hit a season high of 1,146 in the first game and 1,029 in the second game. They fell short by two pins in the third game to Jackson Liberty, 917-915, which they hope won’t haunt them in these closing three weeks of the season when they try to overtake Freehold Township. Jacob Gardocki led Jackson Liberty with a 279 high game and 708 series.
Freehold Township is 22-5, and Jackson Memorial is 21-9. Jackson Liberty is 18-9.
“I’m a little disappointed in the last game,” Bilello said. “We did pretty good in the first two games, and then we battled hard in the third game after falling behind by 100 pins, but came up short.”
Starace smashed a 234 in that last game, when Jackson Memorial strung strikes in the closing frames before losing. Gold chipped in a 627 series off a 219 high game, and younger brother Steven, a freshman, ripped a 259 high game while filling in for Eric Hansen, who was out for the match.
“We can control our destiny, but we need some help from here,” Bilello said.
“We definitely can catch Freehold. We just have to come back strong,” Starace said.
After that, the Jaguars head into the Shore Conference Tournament, and then the sectional and group state tournaments, where they are three-time defending Group IV champions.
“I know we can do it,” Starace said of trying to win another state title. “If we make our spares, we’ll do well.”
Jackson Memorial will need to crank out more days in the 3,000s. It rolled a 3,189 to finish 11 pins shy of champion and host Brick Township High School in the Brick Tournament on Jan. 4, and it was three pins behind runner-up Southern Regional High School to settle for third place.
“We bowled great, but we came up short,” Bilello said, as freshman Steven Nicholson picked the team up in the third game when he came in to roll a 217.
The Jaguars host a junior varsity tournament at Ocean Lanes on Jan. 18, and they compete in the Lakewood scratch doubles at Ocean Lanes on Jan. 25.