Delbarton bowling is the North II – Group 3 Sectional Champions! The Green Wave delivered a 2-0 sweep over Nutley to claim the sectional title, using mid-game dominance and clutch execution in the 10th frame to punch their ticket to the Group Semifinals. With final game scores of 978-790 and 938-909, Delbarton's 1916-1699 total pinfall advantage secured their place in the next round.

Game 1: Delbarton 978 - Nutley 790

The match began evenly, with Delbarton marking in all five frames of the first to take a slim lead (49-46). Nutley stayed close early, but by the fourth frame (390-332), Delbarton's consistent ability to close frames gave them a comfortable lead.  By the sixth frame, Delbarton had extended their lead to 84 pins (487-403), having executed four clean frames while Nutley struggled with open frames. Momentum shifted further in the ninth, as Delbarton put up four strikes as a team, including a double from David Reale, to effectively put the game away.  The 10th frame sealed the Game 1 victory, as Delbarton delivered six total marks, featuring:

• Cole Dionyssiou finishing strong with two strikes, saving a 171 after a slow start.
• Connor Tyrone closing out with a 189, helping extend the final margin.
• David Reale rolling four consecutive strikes to finish with a 221.
• Matt Tyrone staying clean and posting a 215.

Game 2: Delbarton 938 - Nutley 909

Nutley came out fighting for survival, determined to force a third game. Their energy pushed Delbarton early, and after four frames, Nutley had built a somewhat surprising 43-pin lead (286-329).  At one point, Nutley extended their lead to 78 pins, but Delbarton stayed composed, cutting the lead to just 18 pins by the 9th frame. 

A Championship-Winning 10th Frame

With the sectional championship on the line, Delbarton entered the 10th frame knowing that they had what it took to seal the victory. However, just as the final frames were set to begin, an unusual delay occurred—Matt Tyrone's ball became stuck in the back of the lane, halting play for Delbarton. By the time competition resumed, Nutley had already completed their game, meaning Delbarton had the rare advantage of knowing the exact score required to win. Unshaken by the moment, Matt calmly stepped up and converted a crucial spare, then followed it with a clutch strike, keeping Delbarton's hopes alive. With the pressure mounting, Steven Corcoran delivered when it mattered most, throwing two strikes in the 10th—including his seventh straight strike of the game—to put Delbarton in position to take the title.

That left David Reale with the final shots of the game. Needing at least nine pins on his first ball to secure the championship, he delivered a perfect strike, sealing the North II – Group 3 Sectional Championship for Delbarton and punching the team's ticket to the Group Semifinals. Under the brightest lights, the Green Wave delivered their biggest moment of the season.

Individual Highlights:

• David Reale led Delbarton with a 446 series, delivering a clutch match-winning strike in the 10th frame of Game 2.
• Steven Corcoran had a season-high 243, including seven consecutive strikes to help Delbarton close out the championship match.
• Matt Tyrone stayed clean in Game 1, posting a 215 and delivering a crucial strike in the 10th frame of Game 2.

Looking Ahead: The Group Semifinals

With this amazing victory, Delbarton claimed the North II – Group 3 Sectional Championship and advances to the Group Semifinals, where they will face St. Joseph (Metuchen) on Tuesday, February 25th. Delbarton has proven they can thrive under pressure, and now only two matches stand between them and a State Championship.

Coach Kane reflected on the team's historic victory, saying, "This is a major accomplishment for our team and program—our first sectional title in school history. It's a testament to the dedication of these boys and the work they've put in to make this happen. I'm most proud of their grit and determination, especially in the biggest moments. We knew our tough schedule had prepared us, and the team delivered. From Matt Tyrone's clean 215 in game one, Connor Tyrone's three strikes in a row during game one, Cole finding his groove during game one and putting up three strikes of his own down the stretch of game two, Steven refusing to back down with seven consecutive strikes for his best game of the season (243), and David leading the way with back-to-back 220+ games—including the clutch strike to seal the win—everyone played a role. This group was determined to win for each other and to prove that bowling deserves recognition at Delbarton. Hopefully, this victory helps shine a spotlight on the sport. Now, we look forward to whoever we will face in the Group Semis and Finals."

The job is not finished—let's keep rolling, Delbarton!