The Explorers did just that. In fact, they performed so well at the regional tournament at West Park Bowl in Columbia that they finished second overall in the team standings and grabbed one of the four team spots in this Saturday's Alton Sectional Tournament, set for Bowl Haven.

"For a bunch of boys who haven't bowled very much before this, they've picked it up really well," Jones said. "It's exciting watching them."

Indeed. The Explorers pushed eventual team champion Belleville East at the regional. The Lancers finished with 6123 pins, to Marquette's 5875 and narrowly edged third-place Civic Memorial, which finished with 5835. Bellevillle West grabbed the final sectional team berth with a fourth-place total of 5830 pins.

The top four team finishers at the regional level advance to the sectional. That meant fifth-place Alton finished just out of the running with 5722 pins. Columbia was sixth at 5561, followed by Dupo at 5459, Roxana 4868, Belleville Althoff 4715, East Alton-Wood River 4238 and Granite City 3450.

The lanes at West Park Bowl are synthetic, while the lanes at Bowl Haven are wood. While it took some adjustment to get used to thye lanes at West park, Jones said it didn't affect results.

"You could practice beforehand to get used to it, but we didn't," he said. "It didn't take that much adjustment. Most lanes are made of wood right now, but eventually, most will probably be synthetic, as a cost-saving measure.

Jones said that while his Explorers were excited about earning the team sectional berth, there is more work ahead.

"To get out of the sectional and advance to state, it will probably take about an 1150 a man," Jones said. "That's something our  guys can do, though."

At the regional, Marquette was led by Shayden Herman's 1356 and Adam Vowels' 1213. Nicholas Trefny bowled an 1124, Michael Allen an 1112 and Max Cogan a 1070.

"Sherman stepped up," Jones said. "I knew if he got going from the get-go, he should be a solid 200 average all day. I wasn't expecting almost 230."

Vowels, the lone Marquette senior among the five regional bowlers, also earned praise from his coach.

"Adam stepped up even bigger than I expected," Jones said. "I was a really strong effort from him and from the team."

At the Alton Sectional on Saturday, the Explorers will be vying for a top-six team spot for advancement to the IHSA Boys State Bowling Tournament, which is set for Jan. 28-29 at St. Clair Bowl in O'Fallon. Also, the top seven individual bowlers who aren't on one of the state-qualifying teams will advance to state as individuals.

Other teams which advanced the Alton Sectional include Salem, Jersey, Centralia and Taylorville from the Danville Regional; Waterloo, Carterville, Herrin and Mount Vernon from the Carbondale Regional and O'Fallon, Collinsville, Mascoutah and Highland from the Triad Regional.

"The scores get higher when you step up to the next level," Jones said. "There will be some outstanding teams at the sectional."