LUMBERTON – The Richmond Senior High School Raider boys and girls bowling teams competed in their first Sandhills Athletic Conference team meet of the season in Lumberton Thursday afternoon.
Both the boys and girls teams bowled four games in the Baker format, with their total pin count of the four games affecting what place they came in. Richmond teams were bowling directly against Purnell Swett and Scotland high school. The Raiders placed sixth overall in the meet, and the Lady Raiders team placed seventh.
“Going in we were not sure what the other teams had, but we found out really quick that some of the teams were more experienced than our teams,” said head coach Jeff Ingram. “A few of the other competitors were throwing hook balls and had competed in leagues before. And as of yet we do not have that kind of experience.
“We did win some of the games, but lost on the overall scores combined,” Ingram added. “We just were not throwing the ball straight enough, and that is what we have been working on in practice. They have got to hit the head pin. I think it was just new to all of our players; they had never been in that atmosphere before. The ladies didn’t fare as well as the men, but they were missing two of their starters for them, so that hurt them.”
Both teams will next compete in SAC play on November 28 in Fayetteville, at Lafayette Bowling Lanes and will play against Jack Britt and Lumberton. The meet is set for 4 p.m. The lanes are located at 3313 Raeford Road, Fayetteville.
Jack Britt will be particularly tough, as they were state champions this past season and did not lose many players from last year’s team.