Boys Bowling: Brother Martin sets state record in win over Jesuit

KENNER – Thursday’s showdown of boys bowling unbeatens Brother Martin and Jesuit looked more like a match in April than in January.

The quality of shot-making on both sides was that good as the Crusaders rolled a state-record 4,012 team series en route to a 20-7 victory over the Blue Jays at AMF All Star Lanes.

Junior Drew Gardner led Brother Martin with a 743 series on games of 267-267-209 while Carson Sheehan fired a 725 from the No. 1 position and Brennan Brouillette had a 701 set from the No. 2 spot.

“I thought it was going to be high scoring,” said Brother Martin coach Bruce Himbert, “but not this high scoring. We had two guys step up on the low side and Drew … threw one bad shot in 35 shots.”

Said Gardner, who already holds the state high school record for individual three-game series with 815: “It was just a team effort. It was nice seeing the low side get a couple of games going; it pushed me to bowl (well).”

Jesuit turned in a school-record performance with a 3,777 series, as Luke Wood led the Blue Jays with a 734 series and Ben Hunn had a 708.

“Hat’s off to Brother Martin; they bowled excellent,” said Jesuit coach Todd Bourgeois. “We were way over our normal average. (Brother Martin’s series) is what we aspire to do. We’ll continue to work and try to catch up.”

Brother Martin took a 5-3 lead after a 1,371 opening game, led by Gardner’s first 267. Hunn had a 279 first game for Jesuit.

The Crusaders stretched the lead to 11-5 in the second game, firing a 1,305 with Gardner and Brouillette (243) leading the way. Brother Martin then closed it out in the third game with a 1,336 as Sheehan (256), Brouillette (253) and Ricky Carmona (246) delivered.

Brother Martin broke Archbishop Rummel’s 7-year-old record of 3,973. The Crusaders have threatened to break the record multiple times over the last three years, but finally got over the top Thursday.

With the victory, Brother Martin (5-0) extended its three-year winning streak to 39 matches. Jesuit is 3-1.

Both teams return to action Monday, with Brother Martin hosting Kenner Discovery at Colonial Lanes and Jesuit meeting Patrick Taylor at AMF.

Patrick Taylor 18 1/2, Holy Cross 8 1/2: At AMF, Patrick Taylor rallied from an early deficit by winning 12 of 16 points in the final two games to capture the battle of Tigers.

Jake McInnis had a 645 series, including games of 210 and 244, to lead Patrick Taylor (2-3). Tyler Tran had a 209 game and Preston Jones a 201 for the winners.

Adam Popich opened with a 259 and finished with a 633 series, while Pierceson Carter fired a 205 game for Holy Cross (3-2).

Archbishop Rummel 23, Kenner Discovery 4: Also at AMF, the Raiders clinched the match after two games in defeating the Swamp Owls.

Josh Bares had a 209 and Matthew Fletcher a 204 in the opening game as Rummel jumped to a 7-1 lead, and Andrew Gennarro’s 191 paced the Raiders in the middle game.

Fletcher led Rummel (3-1) with a 536 series. Dominic Orlando’s 545 set paced Kenner Discovery (2-2).

Bonnabel 25, Crescent City Christian 2: In a matchup of co-ed teams at AMF, the Bruins remained unbeaten.

Alahna DeGruy had a 683 series, including games of 239 and 255, to lead Bonnabel (4-0).

Gregory Storms led the Pioneers (1-4) with a 486 series.

Archbishop Shaw 21, St. Therese 6: At Westside Lanes, the Eagles jumped to an insurmountable 15-1 lead after two games and remained unbeaten by defeating the Phoenix.

Ryan Artus had games of 205 and 219 to lead Shaw (4-0). Christian Ruiz paced St. Therese (0-4) with a 193 opening game.

East Jefferson 19, Chalmette 8: Also at Westside, the Warriors won their first match of the season.

Adam Atkins led East Jefferson (1-3) with a 532 series. Tristen Lambert paced Chalmette (0-3) with a 469.