The Delbarton bowling team advanced to the North II – Group 3 State Semifinals with a 2-0 sweep over Belleville in the Quarterfinals. The Green Wave executed when it mattered most, overcoming early deficits and outlasting a determined Belleville squad to secure their spot in the next round. With final game scores of 897-849 and 973-863, Delbarton's total 1870-1712 pinfall advantage made a strong statement as they continue their postseason push.
 
Game 1: Delbarton 897 - Belleville 849
 
The match opened in back-and-forth fashion, with Delbarton taking a slight early lead after four out of five bowlers closed the first frame. Belleville responded in the third
frame, as all five of their bowlers marked, cutting into Delbarton's advantage. By the fourth frame, Belleville surged ahead for their first lead of the match (298-275) behind a string of strikes from their leadoff bowler.  Delbarton fought back in the sixth frame, stringing together four strikes to retake the lead (476-459). From that point, the Green Wave never looked back, extending the lead to 56 pins in the seventh with a perfect frame, highlighted by Matt Tyrone's fourth consecutive strike.  With a strong closing push, Delbarton put up nine total marks in the 10th frame, sealing the Game 1 win with a 897-849 victory. Belleville fought hard, posting ten marks of their own in the final frame, but the damage from Delbarton's mid-game dominance proved to be too much to overcome.
 
Game 2: Delbarton 973 - Belleville 863
 
Game 2 began as another tight contest, with Delbarton taking an early two-pin lead (48-46) before Belleville stormed back in the second frame to grab a 124-121 lead. The Buccaneers carried that momentum forward, with all five bowlers marking in the third to stretch their narrow lead to seven pins.  By the fifth frame, Belleville continued to apply pressure, throwing another three strikes while nursing their small seven-pin lead. Their bowlers and fans erupted with excitement, sensing a Game 2 victory was within reach. Delbarton had other plans. The Green Wave stayed composed, as Belleville left three open frames in the seventh, Delbarton pounced on the opportunity with their fourth straight clean frame, retaking the lead for the first time since the first frame (607-598).  Delbarton delivered the knockout punch in the eighth frame, where four of five bowlers threw strikes while Belleville left five opens, allowing Delbarton to break the game open with a 37-pin lead.  With both teams going clean in the ninth, Delbarton never let up, rolling a strong 10^th frame to secure a 973-863 win and officially end Belleville's season.
 
Individual Highlights:
• Matt Tyrone led Delbarton with a 448 two-game total, finishing clean in both games and anchoring the team's mid-game surges.
• David Reale stayed locked in under pressure, throwing a 212 game 2 after struggling during game 1.
• Connor Tyrone bowled a nearly clean 205 in game 1 combining with his twin brother for a monster 428.
• Cole Dionyssiou struggled early but found a great line during game two and closed his final seven frames for a 173.
• Steven Corcoran put up a combined 369 going 170 during game one and then finding the pocket for four straight strikes to end game two and help us close out Belleville.
 
Looking Ahead:
 With the quarterfinal win, Delbarton moves on to the North II – Group 3 State Semifinals against Fort Lee on Wednesday, February 19th. The Green Wave has continued to
show poise in pressure moments, and now just one match stands between them and a trip to the Sectional Finals.  The pressure keeps rising like the tide, but the Green Wave keeps rolling.