West Deptford's Morgan Brown Second in State Bowling Tourney

Morgan Brown walked into the Brunswick Zone Carolier Wednesday morning a girl on a mission: Not only to top her ninth-place finish from last year’s NJSIAA individual bowling championships, but to bring home the title to West Deptford High School.

She left having topped last year, but was denied her ultimate goal, coming agonizingly close in a marathon day of action in North Brunswick.

After a scorching run through the qualifiers, where she posted a 668, and round of sixteen, where she rolled a 648, Brown found herself in the stepladder as the No. 2 seed.

Another series later, after she mowed down Vernon's Giana Loyer, 232-221, it was down to just Brown and Washington Township’s Nicolette Sarin for final bragging rights.

It was a tight battle, but Brown came up just 14 pins shy of the championship, as Sarin took the title, 226-212.

It had to feel like an odd bit of redemption for Sarin who was defeated by a different Morgan Brown, of East Brunswick, in last year’s quarterfinals.

As for the local Morgan Brown, Wednesday’s performance was a big improvement from a week ago, when she finished 10th at the sectionals, helping her team qualify for the state tournament for the second year in a row.

“Unfortunately, this is not a storybook ending,” West Deptford coach Aaron Burr said afterward. “It’s not what she wanted, I’m sure.”

While there was disappointment at missing out on the overall title, Brown’s finish was still the highest ever by a West Deptford bowler.

With Sarin, a senior, set to graduate this spring, Brown very well may be the frontrunner to take home the title this time next year.

“It’s a mixed blessing,” Burr said.

Brown put up the highest average in the Olympic Conference all season, with her 215 topping the next-closest bowler by more than 50 pins.

She also had the single-highest series—a 761—and high game—a 279—in conference.