BOWLIUM LANES

champs Solomon Salama and Phillip Sauve, surrounded by Kylie Shishima, Matt Zweig, and Patrick Sablan

        Solomon Salama proved once again that it's talent, not age, that wins JBT events, while Phillip Sauve remained white-hot, in exciting JBT Southern California Conference action at Bowlium Lanes in Montclair.

        Kylie Shishima, on a hot streak herself in both our events and the JAT events in So Cal, began her first career scratch division sinals with a 198-176 win over Anthony Cando.  Shishima then pulled off the upset over Harley Sweigart, winning 211-185.  Veteran Matt Zweig then put a stop to Shishima's fine run 214-206 to advance to the title match for the second straight day, having teamed with his sister Leah to win Doubles the day before.

        Top seed Solomon Salama was just about as dominant as you could be, leading all eight rounds and rolling the three highest games of the day.  As competitive bowlers now, that can be a tough spot in its own right, as you essentially have to win the tournament twice in a stepladder format.  The determined Zweig gave him all he could handle, but in the end Salama squeaked out the win, becoming at age 13 one of the youngest scratch division champions in JBT history.

        Dustin Yauney opened up the handicap division stepladder finals with a 209-187 win over Louis Luna.   Timothy Kessler then beat Yauney 223-199.   Sauve then stepped in and halted Kessler 214-176 to move on to his third consecutive title match.

        Top seed Patrick Sablan led six of the eight rounds in his best ever JBT performance, grabbing the top seed en route.   But he ran into a buzzsaw in Phillip, whose run through the fall is closely mimicking Dante Rohe's last season, which spurred him on to Bowler of the Year.  Just like Dante, Sauve proved to be the winner here, defeating Sablan 241-207 for his second title in three events, and fourth career JBT title.

        Shishima's fine day continued in the Girls Scratch side event, as she edged Megan Carpenter 179-168 for the win.    The U17 side event went to Salama, getting by Megan's sister Matt 205-159 in that finale.

        Huge thanks to Al and the team at Bowlium for a fantastic job hosting a busy weekend.  You should be a part of this!  Just check out our schedule and come on down!