LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ -- What was expected to be a smooth first-round victory for Linden High School Varsity Bowling turned into a fierce battle against 12th-seeded Union High School in the NJSIAA Tournament, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 (Feb. 11).
Faced with early adversity, the Tigers showed resilience and determination, rallying behind their captain Damian Nieves to pull off a thrilling comeback and secure their spot in the quarterfinals.
𝗔 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵
The Tigers got off to an uncharacteristically rough start, posting their lowest team score of the season in Game 1 with a 693-703 loss to Union.
According to Linden head coach James Orth, the early struggles created a tense atmosphere, with the team feeling the weight of the moment. But Nieves, a seasoned leader, quickly stepped in to steady his teammates.
“Damian called the team over for a huddle and had a team-only meeting,” said Orth. “He told them to refocus and stop putting so much pressure on themselves.”
The pep talk proved to be the turning point. In Game 2, Linden bounced back, winning 770-663, though they were still working to find their usual rhythm. Jaime Paladi led the way with a 219, while Nieves added a steady 177 to keep the Tigers in contention.
Then came Game 3, where Linden finally found its groove. The Tigers started hot and never looked back, rolling to a dominant 914-730 victory. Paladi delivered a team-high 216, while Nieves came through with a 213. Senior Elijah Moss also stepped up, rolling a strong 193 to help seal the win.
“We finally got going in the third game,” Orth said. “Once they found their rhythm, they looked like the team we’ve seen all season.”
𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝘀. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻
High Set:
Jaime Paladi (Linden) – 588
Samad Alim (Union) – 588
High Game:
Jaime Paladi (Linden) – 219
Samad Alim (Union) – 213
Bowler Averages:
Jaime Paladi (Linden) – 196.00
Samad Alim (Union) – 196.00
𝗨𝗽 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁: 𝗔 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮
With the hard-fought win behind them, the 5th-seeded Tigers now turn their attention to their quarterfinal matchup against 4th-seeded Phillipsburg on Thursday, February 13, at 12 PM in Easton, PA.
“We know Phillipsburg is a strong team,” Orth said. “But if we come out with the right mindset and bowl like we did in the third game against Union, we’re going to be in a great position to win.”
With Nieves leading the charge, Paladi delivering clutch performances, and the entire team locked in, Linden is ready for the next challenge.
Can the Tigers keep rolling? Stay tuned as Linden looks to punch their ticket to the semifinals!