SOUTHERN PINES — Following nearly two weeks between meets, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ bowling team put up some of its best numbers of the season Tuesday.
In their first of two conference matches this week, the Raiders faced West Johnston High School and bowled a bye match.
Richmond lost to the Wildcats 4-1 but picked up five points in the standings with their bye. The pin total of the bye match will count toward the season’s final standings.
Between the two matches, the Raiders rolled their best combined closing percentage of the season. They closed 49-of-88 frames (55.7%).
Against West Johnston, Richmond notched season-bests in total pins (613), average game score (153.3) and individual match closing percentage (63.6%).
Close scores not enough against West Johnston
In their opening match, the Raiders came up short to the Wildcats 4-1. Game scores were 144-197, 150-175, 164-168 and 155-145. West Johnston added the extra point with a higher pin total of 685-613.
In addition to their season-bests in total pins, average game score and individual match closing percentage, the Raiders knocked down a single-match season-high 16 spares.
Leading the charge was senior Owen Hancock who rolled five strikes and five spares, which was the second time this season he’s recorded those numbers in each category in a single contest.
Starting as the No. 4 bowler, Hancock switched to the anchor spot of the lineup the last two games. His season-best performance ended by closing 10-of-11 frames (91%) and he just missed closing out his final frame by two pins.
Richmond’s other four bowlers – seniors Tate Craven, Azariah Daniel and Carter Visingard, along with sophomore Mason Taylor – each finished 50% or better in their frames.
Craven was next on the stat sheet, closing 5-of-8 frames (63%) with two strikes and three spares. Daniel, who started in the anchor position, had a .560 closing percentage (5-of-9) and bowled one strike and four helpers.
Both Taylor and Visingard finished the match 4-for-8 (50%). They each had two strikes and two spares apiece.
Raiders pick up five points in bye match
Not having another team sharing lanes with them in their second match, the Raiders bowled four games and tried to rack up as many pins as possible to help them out later in the season.
Using the same six bowlers as the first match, with the addition of senior Robert Monroe, Richmond tallied game scores of 122, 110, 128 and 167 for a pin total of 527.
The team averaged a game score of 131.8 pins and closed 21-of-44 frames (47.7%) with seven strikes and 14 spares.
Hancock was again the leading man, bowling two strikes and four spares to close 6-of-8 frames (75%). He finished the meet with a season-best .842 closing percentage (16-of-19).
Daniel (6-for-12) and Visingard (4-for-8) were both at 50%, rolling three strikes and three spares, and one strike and three spares, respectively.
Craven added three spares across his eight frames (38%) and Taylor had one strike and one spare in his six attempts (33%). Monroe didn’t close either of his two frames but added to the final pin count.
Through three meets (six matches) this season, the Raiders have 15 points.
Richmond (3-3) will bowl again Thursday, this time at Laurinburg Lanes. The Raiders will face Pinecrest and Scotland high schools starting at 4 p.m.
