By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Winning the South Jersey Group I girls bowling championship is nothing new for Alaura Jones, but it was extra special this season.
”This was one more sentimental because it’s my senior year and a lot of people didn’t think we’d have a chance,” said the Bordentown Regional High School senior. “Jess (Gareis) and I are the only two high averaging bowlers on our team.”
The Scotties, even with an inexperienced lineup, delivered their fifth straight sectional crown when they knocked down 2,236 pins to runner-up Gloucester City’s 2,134 on Saturday. New Egypt was third in the 10-team sectional with 2,092.
”I was very, very pleased with how they bowled all year,” said Bordentown head coach Ron Jones. “It’s been good.”
The Scotties are 13-2-1 overall, but they appeared vulnerable going into sectionals after suffering both of their losses in the two weeks leading into the states. And even when the season began, there were murmurs about how the graduation of standout Britanny Havens, now bowling at Monmouth University, would affect them.
”There was definitely some doubt,” Alaura Jones said. “The first couple articles put forth some doubt. No one expected us to be that good.”
Said her coach: “We started off the year really good. And then over the last two weeks, we had a whole week off because of final exams and snowstorms and it affected the kids and they weren’t bowling that well in the last week and a half. We got down there and the girls stepped up.”
He would expect that of a veteran team, but the Scotties hardly qualify. After seniors Jones and Gareis, there is youth and inexperience.
”Of the first two bowlers, Nicole Weaver is freshman and Lizzy Alexander is sophomore who didn’t bowl varsity last year,” Ron Jones said. “Alaura and Jess are really the only two that have experience out of any of the bowlers I have.”
Sophie Perrakis and Becky Coker are seniors, too, that rotated in, but haven’t had much experience in previous seasons.
”With as good as the team was over the last four or five years,” Ron Jones said, “most of them were JV bowlers. It’s not a shot at them. They just couldn’t crack the varsity lineup.”
The Scotties looked like a young, nervous team to open the sectionals, but they fell back into their good habits as the day went on.
”The first game was not all that good,” Jones said. “It was a 702, which is low for them. Then, they came back with 760 in the second game and 774 in the third game. Gloucester City, they were two pins behind. They were right next to us. The girls could see their score. They went at it head to head the last two frames and my two seniors stepped up and did what they needed to do.”
Alaura Jones led the way with a 201-530 while Gareis delivered a 193-489 to pace the Scotties. Weaver came back from a low first game with 168 in the second game and a 160 in the third game.
”The key was definitely confidence,” Alaura Jones said. “After the first game, the team bowled like crap, but we were still sitting in the second spot. Jess got hurt that morning. She had an off day. On her off day, I had a good day. The key is staying together.”
The Bordentown boys will bowl Saturday for their sectional championship. The Scotties boys are 14-1-1 and went unbeaten in the Freedom Division.
The girls’ sectional win gave Bordentown momentum heading into the Burlington County Scholastic League tournament that was scheduled for Tuesday. The Scotties tied Holy Cross for the Freedom Division title of the BCSL. They hope that tournament gives them more to build on as they prepare for the Tournament of Champions in East Brunswick on Monday.
”It’s routine for me,” Alaura Jones said. “I’ve been there every year. It’s very exciting to go and it’s an experience for some of the other girls.”
As the Scotties advance deeper into the state tournament, the pressure will mount. That’s when they will lean more heavily on their top bowlers, who have felt the pressure all year to carry the younger bowlers.
”Alaura Jones, she’s got the most experience,” said Ron Jones. “She started as a freshman. Jess Gareis was a late developer. Alaura has been consistent over the years. She’s never broken out with the big average, but she’s always been a steady 160. She’s been a steady, steady, steady influence. That’s what’s working best for her.
”She and Jess share the captaincy this year. Most teams try to have a single captain. With the two of them being seniors, we went with them. The boys, they’re in the same boat. The three that have been varsity bowlers for four years, we made them tri-captains.”
Jones showed some mental toughness this year as she has bowled hurt all year. She is coming off knee surgery in June, and a bulging disc in her back makes it tough to bowl comfortably.
”Bowling through that has been a lot,” she said. “It’s been tough.”But it paid off in the end as she could celebrate another sectional title. With it, they answered every early doubts.
Said Alaura Jones: “We proved a lot of people wrong.”
