Boys Bowling: Brother Martin, Shaw, Jesuit, Salmen advance from regional

KENNER – The two-season, 30-match winning streak for Brother Martin’s bowling team means little right now. Once the single-elimination playoffs begin, your season can end with one bad performance.

Even though the Crusaders began defense of their state title Monday with a 24-3 victory over Archbishop Rummel in the New Orleans-area regional at Bowlmor AMF All-Star Lanes, head coach Bruce Himbert was far from pleased.

“We missed 36 spares in three games,” Himbert said. “That’s uncalled for. If we miss 36 spares next week (in the bi-regional), we might be coming home.”

Brother Martin (13-0), which had a 3,621 team series, wrapped up the match in two games, building an insurmountable 14-2 lead.

Max Oertling led the Crusaders with a 697 series, while Kyle Schneider fired a 677. Steven Cardwell led Rummel (3-9) with a 530 series.

The Crusaders will be joined by Archbishop Shaw, Jesuit and Salmen in the bi-regional March 29 at All-Star Lanes in Baton Rouge.

Shaw (12-1), the No. 2 seed, used its depth to post a 24-3 victory over Holy Rosary. Shaw’s Matthew Collins had a 759 series, the highest by any prep bowler in the New Orleans area this year, and the Eagles had a season-best 3,516 series.

Alex Dupuy, who led the area with a 216 average in the regular season, had a 719 series to lead Holy Rosary (4-8). Dupuy topped the list of seven bowlers from non-advancing teams who will compete in the bi-regional as individuals.

Jesuit pulled a mild upset in the matchup of the regional’s Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, defeating Chalmette 20-7.

Adam Francis led the Blue Jays (8-4) with a 613 series, and Peyton Hidalgo had a 587, including a 244 game. Sebastian Maher paced Chalmette (7-4) with a 581.

In the day’s closest match, No. 3 seed and first-year program Salmen pulled away in the final game for an 18-9 victory over Holy Cross.

The Spartans’ Erick Trevino had a career-best 699 series, including games of 256, 212 and 231. Terrence Jenkins added a 590 as Salmen (8-3), the only school in the area to field a co-ed team, turned in a season-high 3,283 team series.

Bryan Arena led Holy Cross (4-7) with a 552 set.

In a play-in match earlier Monday, Rummel advanced with a 19½-7½ victory over Bonnabel. The Bruins finished 2-9.