James Clemens bowling team continues to make school history
2. With a third-place finish at the North Regional Bowling Tournament, the James Clemens girls team, which was undefeated at 14-0 heading into the post-season action, has qualified for the AHSAA State Tournament.
MADISON- The James Clemens bowling team has continued to make school history. By already qualifying both the boys and girls squads for the North Regional for the first time, the Jets have stepped forward with another program first by both qualifying for the AHSAA State Tournament set to be held in Trussville.
“Our squads really came together against some super competition and is a validation these teams will go far at the State Tournament, said Kristin Hartland, fourth-year head coach of the Jets’ program.
Heading into the North Regional, both squads were ranked No. 3 in the Alabama state rankings. Once at the regional competition, along with nearby Sparkman High which also made its way to the regional, the boys seemed to take control early. In the first round, James Clemens (18-1) defeated Brookwood (14-3) 1,500-1,309 while Sparkman (16-3) fell to Tuscaloosa County 1,482-1,439. Advancing to the winner’s bracket, James Clemens (19-1) crushed Mortimer Jordan (14-4) 1,361-1,263. In the regional title match, Southside (25-2) edged the Jets in a heartbreaking loss for the Madison City School 1,441-1,426. Southside wins the No. 1 qualifier spot at the State Tournament.
In the consolation rounds, Sparkman (16-4) defeated Mountain Brook (12-4) 1,414-1,270 and then fell to Mortimer Jordan (15-4) 1,429-1,412, thus not qualifying for the state competition.
Meanwhile in the consolation finals, Tuscaloosa County (27-3) defeated the Jets 1,489-1,297 taking the No. 2 qualifying spot while James Clemens claimed the third sport.
Individual scores for the two-game series, Dalton Robinson of Sparkman was third with a 468 and Parker von Oven from James Clemens was sixth at a 416 score. Single game leaders included Robinson with the sixth best game (236), Sparkman’s Fletcher Cryer in seventh (235), James Clemens’ von Oven (232) and Robinson tied for tenth (232) followed by Caden Montgomery, Sparkman, 231, Britten Leido, James Clemens (230) and von Over, James Clemens, 209.
“Our boys had two difficult matches against two very good teams, but came away with confidence headed into the State Tournament,” said Hartland.
In the girls rounds, James Clemens (15-0) opened the action with a 1,115-907 victory over Paul Bryant and a 1,191-1,039 victory over Hewitt-Trussville (14-9). In the championship match, the Lady Jets (16-1) fell to Southside (20-1) 1,256-1,188 before making its way to the consolation rounds falling to American Christian (20-1) 1,143-1,056.
Headed into the State Tournament, Southside is the No. 1 qualifier followed by American Christian at 2, James Clemens at 3 and Hewitt-Trussville fourth.
In the scores for individual bowlers, Rebekah Wagner of James Clemens rolled the third best series (359) while teammate Ana Quick was eighth (309). High games, Wagner posted two of the best at 180 and 179.
All-Tournament performances featured Wagner (Sr. and team captain), Quick (Sr.) and von Oven (So.).
“Once our squads won that first-round match, each qualified for the State Tournament. We just settled in to see where they would qualify,” said Hartland. “I’m very proud of each of them as several of our bowlers were sick, but came together as a team.”
