Bowling: Knights win Class B crown, but can't catch Raiders

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

Lansingburgh High School boys’ bowling coach Bruce Black went on a scouting mission Sunday at Boulevard Bowl to see how what kind of shot his team could expect in Monday’s Section II Class B Tournament.

What he saw gave him false hope.

“On Sunday, the lanes eventually opened up for the kids bowling in a college tournament there,” Black said. “Today, they either didn’t open up very much or not fast enough for our guys. Most of our bowlers struggled today. We had no outstanding bowlers. I don’t know if it was because the college kids were able to open up the lanes better or what. I really thought we had at least a chance to catch Colonie.”

Although the Knights didn’t put up spectacular numbers, their consistent lineup did knock down enough pins to win the Class B title in a close three-school race. The Knights fired a 5,688 to edge Broadalbin-Perth (5,578) and Schuylerville (5,520). It was Lansingburgh’s seventh Class B title. The Knights prevailed in 1984, 1988 and 1991, as well as from 2006 through 2008. They were sectional champs in both 1986 and 2006.

But Monday, the Knights didn’t even come close to Class A champion Colonie, which recorded a pinfall of 6,485 on Friday.

“We had some trouble in the morning, but in the afternoon, I think the lanes didn’t start out as tight as they did in the morning,” said Black. “But after a couple of games, they got kind of squirrelly again.

“I just told our kids to pay attention to each other and to what was happening on the lanes. I expected more from us, but what can you do.”

Lansingburgh’s junior-dominated lineup included four bowlers who averaged at least 200 during the season: Jim Perniciano (212), Nick Black (204), Kyle Bristol (204) and Josh DesNoyers (200).

No Lansingburgh bowler cracked the 1,200 mark, but Bristol shot a 556 in the morning and a 628 in the afternoon for a 1,184 six-game block. DesNoyers, the only Knight to solve the conditions in the morning, shot a 659 and a 508 for a total of 1,167, while Perniciano ripped a 549 and a 606 for a total of 1,155. Black produced a 552 and a 576 for an 1,128.

Also competing for Lansingburgh were Eric Griffin and Cody Holland.

“I think if I switched my fifth bowlers around, I might have gotten more out of each one of them,” Black said. “One bowler likes the oil more, and I should have put him in during the morning. The other guy likes the drier conditions, and I should have put him in during the afternoon, but I had it the other way around.”

Broadalbin-Perth was the leader after the morning block with a 2,830, followed closely by Scotia-Glenville (2,815) and Lansingburgh (2,814). Lansingburgh made a move with a solid 981 in the fourth game and a big 1,009 in the fifth game.

Matt Baker of LaSalle shot the high game of the day with a 279, while Matt Dawson of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk fired the high triple with a 669. Three bowlers from Class B moved into the top six for the right to compete on the all-section team.

Max Horning of Cobleskill-Richmondville put together a six-game block of 1,296 — second overall to Guilderland’s Ryan Wager (1,306), while Matt Seymour of Schuylerville and Baker took over fourth, each with a 1,253.

The boys’ sectionals conclude today at Boulevard with the Class C-D championship. At stake will be the overall sectional title and the final berths on the all-section team that will compete at the state tournament.

The state tournament will be held March 5 at Strikes & Spares Lanes in Syracuse.

RESULTS

Team scores — Lansingburgh 5,688, Broadalbin-Perth 5,578, Schuylerville 5,520, Johnstown 5,425, Scotia-Glenville 5,425, Hudson Falls 5,400, Glens Falls 5,375, Cobleskill-Richmondville 5,363, Cohoes 5,328, LaSalle 5,257, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 5,214, Catskill 4,931, Cairo-Durham 4,924, Catholic Central 4,913, Schalmont 4,720, Gloversville 4,690, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 4,596, Hudson 4,497, Bishop Maginn 4,473, Ichabod Crane 4,214.

High triples — Matt Dawson (RCS) 669, Josh DesNoyers (Lan) 659, Max Horning (C-R) 657. High singles — Matt Baker (LSI) 279, Kyle McMahon (CCHS) 254, Culby Jordan (Coh) 244, Brandon Boyer (HF) 244, Nick Black (Lan) 244.

All-Section team — Ryan Wager (Guild) 1,306, Max Horning (C-R) 1,296, Connor Adams (CBA) 1,264, Matt Seymour (Schuy) 1,253, Matt Baker (LSI) 1,253, Matt Mullin (Colum) 1,240.