ABERDEEN — The Richmond Senior High School girls’ bowling team posted several season-highs during Thursday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference bowling meet.
In their first match against conference-leading Scotland High School, the Lady Raiders earned a 3-2 win.
Despite falling in the final pin total 456-479, Richmond used three strong individual game scores to hand the Lady Scots their first loss of the season. Game scores were 87-155, 110-109, 145-118, 114-97.
The third game score of 145 pins made that the Lady Raiders’ season-best score in any of their 10 matches. Their 456 pin total and game average of 114 pins were also season-highs.
“We were sitting in fourth place going into the night, and Scotland had only lost half a point all year,” head coach Ralph Butler said. “We ended up beating them and that was big for the girls in terms of their confidence being boosted, but it also shows they’re getting better.
“I was really pleased with how all of the girls bowled, especially with the importance of the match against Scotland. The girls do a good job of cheering for one another and that helped them tonight.”
The Lady Raiders also rolled a season-high 7 strikes in the win over Scotland, using three from freshman Ava Thompson, who also added a spare. Knocking down one strike apiece were juniors Rylie Bohman, Ashlyn Bouldin, Molly Erwin and Cadence Thompson.
Collecting two spares in the win was Cadence Thompson, as Erwin, Bouldin and junior Addison Massey also had one spare.
Richmond’s second match was against Southern Lee High School, which didn’t field a team this season. For the purpose of the season’s final pin total count, the Lady Raiders bowled four games and earned the fifth point by winning 416-0.
The Lady Raiders registered scores of 117, 118, 95 and 86 for an average of 104 pins per game. Both Thompsons and Bouldin had one strike apiece, while Ava Thompson accounted for three of the team’s eight spares.
“The girls did well last week, beating Pinecrest and with two wins and 8 points tonight, they’re right in the mix of things,” Butler said. “If they can finish the season strong, they have a real chance to get into the No. 2 spot.
The Lady Raiders (7-3) will return to action next Thursday against SAC foes Lee County and Union Pines high schools. Individual matches will begin at 4 p.m. in Laurinburg.
