Oiler Gold tops Bethalto JV in Tight Trap Showdown

COTTAGE HILLS, Ill. — East Alton-Wood River’s Oiler Gold trap squad edged Bethalto JV in a tightly contested matchup Thursday evening, taking the overall victory 106–101 in the first round and 99–96 in the second under clear, calm conditions.

Bentley Mayer set the tone for Oiler Gold at the top of the lineup, posting rounds of 23 and 20 to lead all shooters for the team. Mayer’s 23 in the opening round helped establish early separation in a session where every target proved critical to the final margin. His steady 20 in the second round helped East Alton-Wood River maintain a narrow advantage as Bethalto JV pushed late.

Backing Mayer, Colton Kramer turned in one of the most consistent performances of the day with identical 20s paired with a strong 22 in the opener. Kramer’s 22 in the first round provided key scoring depth behind Mayer, contributing to the 106–101 first-round cushion. In the second round he matched Mayer’s 20, keeping Oiler Gold in control despite Bethalto JV tightening the gap to three targets.

Adam Prickett added important mid-squad scoring with rounds of 21 and 19. Prickett’s 21 helped round out a balanced first-round total for the Oilers, while his 19 in the second round kept the team’s aggregate on pace during one of the more competitive stretches of the match. With Bethalto JV making a late push, those targets helped preserve the slim edge on the scoreboard.

Rounding out the highlighted scores, Dayton Bowling delivered one of the steadiest lines of the event with back-to-back 20s. Bowling’s consistency anchored the lower half of the Oiler Gold rotation, ensuring that any missed opportunities at the top of the order were offset by reliable scoring in the latter posts. His matching 20s were especially important in the second round as Bethalto JV closed to within a single squad of the lead.

The calm, clear 73-degree evening minimized weather variables and put the focus squarely on execution. East Alton-Wood River responded with balanced production across its lineup in both rounds, building enough separation early and then managing the match as Bethalto JV challenged late.

With the dual-round win, Oiler Gold demonstrated the depth and stability of its squad, led by Mayer’s high totals and reinforced by strong rounds from Kramer, Prickett and Bowling. The performance provides a solid springboard for upcoming competitions as the Oilers look to build on their early-season form.