Boys Bowling: Brother Martin advances to state semifinals

Defending state champion Brother Martin made an early statement in Tuesday’s bi-regional bowling tournament at All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge.

The top-seeded Crusaders defeated Jesuit 23-4 and Archbishop Shaw 20-7 to extend their two-season winning streak to 32 games and advance to the state semifinals April 8, also in Baton Rouge.

Brother Martin (15-0) started its match against Jesuit with a 1,460 team game – believed to be the highest team single-game score in Louisiana prep bowling history – and followed that up with a 1,300 second game.

Kyle Schneider led the Crusaders in the two victories, posting a 720 series against Jesuit on games of 263-244-213 and following up with a 659 series against Shaw.

Brother Martin was one of four boys teams to get a first-round bye. Jesuit earned the right to face the Crusaders after defeating Salmen 18-9 in the opening round. Peyton Hidalgo paced the Blue Jays in the opening round with a 677 series.

The only other metro area team to reach the bi-regional, St. Paul’s, was eliminated 23-4 by St. Amant in the opening round. St. Paul’s and Salmen were both first-year programs.

The most dramatic match of the day was Shaw’s 14-13 second-round victory over Dutchtown. The Eagles prevailed in a match that came down to the final shot.

The bottom of the Shaw lineup – Dylan Chesterman (221), Matthew Collins (207) and Cadence Chesterman (222) – stepped up in the second game as the Eagles took a 9-7 lead and a triple-digit margin in total pins heading into the final game.

The Eagles needed two points in the last game and to maintain the total pins lead, and did just that, winning the total – and the three bonus points – by 12 pins.

Catholic was the second boys team to advance from the bi-regional. The second-seeded Bears defeated No. 6 seed Central 21-6 in the quarterfinals to move on to next week. Central knocked off previously unbeaten Albany in the second round, while Catholic defeated St. Amant.

Brother Martin will face Lafayette and Catholic will meet Vandebilt Catholic in the semifinal matches next week. In addition to the Crusaders, Hidalgo and Collins advanced to compete in the singles competition.

Boys/Coed Bowling
Bi-Regional
At All Star Lanes, Baton Rouge
First Round
St. Amant 23, St. Paul’s 4
Central 26, Madison Prep 1
Dutchtown 26, Denham Springs 1
Jesuit 18, Salmen 9

Second Round
Catholic 19, St. Amant 9
Central 22, Albany 5
Archbishop Shaw 14, Dutchtown 13
Brother Martin 23, Jesuit 4

Quarterfinals
Brother Martin 20, Shaw 7
Catholic 21, Central 6