Durfee, Braat lead SJB to CHSAA crown

They knew, even before it was over, that they were champions. And after Chris Hall's strike in the 10th frame, the St. John the Baptist bowling team was about to erupt - before glancing over at their still-stoic coach and being reminded to keep their "heads in the game."

Ah, a scream deferred.

But when Kyle Durfee threw the last ball of the CHSAA final, and every pin scattered, this fact was too incredible for any elation to be stifled: The Cougars, in a rematch of last season's championship, dethroned No. 1 Holy Trinity with a 6-3 victory Monday.

"Wow," Brian Braat said, trying to talk over the loud cheers at Farmingdale Lanes. "This is unreal." That's how he felt, but that trophy - SJB's first in three years and fifth overall - and his tournament MVP plaque are very real.

Braat had a 644 series and his 243 in Game 3 helped the Cougars (13-2) pull away.

The teams were split into "A" and "B" squads, with a win for each group earning a point. Holy Trinity's "A" team won the first two games, but No. 2 St. John the Baptist took all the "B" matchups to hold a 3-2 lead in Game 3. Then the Cougars "A" came through with a 605-543 win, which essentially secured it.

"I didn't want them getting overconfident," SJB coach Bob Hamilton said. "I don't show much excitement outwardly, but the kids know when I'm happy. Like now."

SEE PHOTOSCHSAA boys bowling championship

The additional points came from the by-game pin count, which St. John the Baptist won, 2-1. Total pinfall, which would've factored as a tiebreaker, was also in favor of the Cougars, 3,704-3,548.

It was SJB that denied the Titans perfection last year, splitting the season series with the nine-time champions. It happened again this year, except the Cougars took the rubber match in the final.

"Beating them in the regular season gave us more confidence," Braat, a senior said. "It showed us that they weren't unbeatable."

Hall shot a match-high 695 series, Durfee a 580, and Justin Figueroa delivered a 212 in Game 3. Luis Christie led Holy Trinity (11-2) with a 627, and Sal Rivieccio had a 625.

"Once we [the 'A' team] got going," Cyle Yambo said, "we felt we had it in the bag."

The mini-celebration tonight? Chinese buffet. But the real party comes once the season wraps up, when Hamilton will treat the players. "Applebee's," Figueroa said. "And we're ordering everything."