Rams bowlers get off to slow start, see their generational run end in Group I semifinals
NJSIAA GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Semifinals
Kinnelon 2, Salem 0
Middlesex 2, Rutherford 0
Championship
Middlesex 2, Kinnelon 0
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Salem boys bowling team was making history every time it stepped on the lanes, a “generational run” is what they called it, but a different kind of history caught them in the end.
The Oil Crisis hit the U.S. in the 80s, but that’s what did in the Rams Friday in the NJSIAA Group I Final Four. They struggled to find the right oil line in the first game of their semifinal match at the Lucky Strike Bowling Center, fell behind and were swept out by top-seeded Kinnelon 2-0.
Kinnelon bowled undefeated Middlesex for the Group 1 state championship.
“It definitely was a rough day,” Rams coach Kenny Buck said. “The boys came into it thinking they had a really good chance
“We were probably thrown off by one or two things. I think maybe two bowlers might have gotten caught up in the moment; I know they didn’t adjust well. They were unfamiliar with the oil pattern. None of my bowlers were able to throw the ball the way they normally throw it. They were constantly adjusting and my better bowlers were able to adjust quicker.”
The South Jersey-champion Rams dropped Game One 748-710 under the weight of 23 open frames. They adjusted to the oil pattern in Game Two, but lost that game, 860-837. Kinnelon had 20 open frames in Game One, too, but threw 10 strikes and picked up 17 spares. The Rams rolled 12 strikes in the first game, but converted only 13 spares.
The oil pattern was such a challenge AJ Carlson, the Rams’ hottest bowler in the playoffs, opened the match with four empty balls and JD Puni went the entire game without a mark.
“I heard everyone had trouble with it, but definitely my guys; it was rough” Buck said. “A lot of people were having a hard time finding the pocket.
“I knew it was going to be tight. I told my boys they would have to bowl their best game. When we threw those two blanks I said that’s not going to be recoverable. We were still in the game, but they just couldn’t find their setting.”
The Rams did get up to speed in Game Two, but just didn’t have enough to overtake the Colts.
Leadoff man Rudy Perez, a left-hander, had the best of it for the Rams. He bowled the two highest games of the match (211-207) and had high series (418). He had runs of four straight strikes in frames 4 through 7 in both games. He was the only Ram to bowl above his average.
Captain Trou Carey and Carlson were the only other Rams with consecutive strikes in the match, and they were only able to bag two in a row once each.
“He was definitely locked in,” Buck said of Perez.
The loss brought a sad end to an otherwise historic season for the Rams. They set a school-record for wins, won the Tri-County Classic Division, won their first South Jersey sectional title and bowled in the Final Four for the first time. Their year-end starting five all had average of 154 or better.
“All things considered it was amazing,” Buck said. “The boys created this great bond, all of us did, we started referring to ourselves as a family and that was just amazing. We played for each other.
“We have so many games where we won just because we were so resilient and we stayed positive and we fought for each other. It was just a beautiful thing to watch. I’m sad that it ended in this way, but all great things must come to an end.”
| SALEM (12-4) | G1 | G2 | TOTAL |
| Rudy Perez | 211 | 207 | 418 |
| AJ Carlson | 93 | 154 | 247 |
| JD Puni | 74 | 149 | 223 |
| Semaj Carey | 173 | 153 | 326 |
| Troy Carey | 159 | 174 | 333 |
| TOTAL | 710 | 837 | 1547 |
| KINNELON (18-4) | G1 | G2 | TOTAL |
| Joseph Canariato | 155 | 142 | 297 |
| Preston Jones | 115 | 206 | 321 |
| Michael Sprague | 140 | 151 | 291 |
| John Sprague | 187 | 201 | 388 |
| Zak Kessler | 151 | 160 | 311 |
| TOTAL | 748 | 860 | 1608 |
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