The NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 championship was proof positive that if you’re going to poke the bear, it’s best to have a club nearby to knock it out.

“Sometimes great teams respond to the pressure,” said Southern Regional boys bowling coach Tony Salvatore after his Rams dropped a 2-1 decision to Monroe on Feb. 21 at 30 Strikes Lanes in Stratford. “That’s been their M.O. the whole season. They have a weak game somewhere, but they ramp it up for the other two. They bowled two 1,100 games.