RAYMOND, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Keene High Blackbird bowling team traveled to Raymond for the final meet of the regular season, facing host Merrimack along with Souhegan, Hollis Brookline, Holy Family and Hillsborough-Deering. Co-captain Izaac LaClair led the pregame cheer with the words, “Every pin counts!”

The varsity and junior varsity squads posted their highest point totals of the season, easily earning the No. 1 seed in both divisions. Fellow co-captain and senior Dustin Whitney led the varsity team with a high game of 259 and a 231 average. Jacob Earl paced the JV team with a high game of 218 and a 203 average.

Varsity earned a bye in the six-team bracket, while the JV squad advanced to the semifinals of its four-team group to face Holy Family. Keene won handily, 126-85 and 137-104, earning a spot in the final against Hollis Brookline. The Blackbirds continued their dominant performance, clinching the title in two straight sets, 168-121 and 151-111.

While varsity waited for its semifinal opponent to be determined, Hollis Brookline emerged as the No. 4 seed and took on the Blackbirds. Keene’s starters won the first game 189-121, but after three substitutes joined two starters for the second game, they fell 178-146. Returning to a mostly starting lineup for the decisive third game, the Blackbirds edged out a 157-149 victory, anchored by a strong finish from Whitney.

Next up was Merrimack, and the Blackbirds dropped the opening game 162-159. Keene’s coaches adjusted the lineup for the second game, resulting in a 176-157 win. That set up a final showdown to determine if the Blackbirds would enter the team tournament as the state’s top-ranked squad.

A mixed lineup secured the victory, 180-172, fueled by a two-strike finish from senior Brody Baldwin and a spare and strike from fellow senior Ethan Affeldt.