Recruiting quizzers for the Romans and James season?
Recruiting quizzers for the Romans and James season?
As things are wrapping up on Wednesday, I wanted to mention where we stand with respect to the Final Four. Right now, only five teams stand a chance to make it. Results through round 17 may be found on Grand Central.
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since we all gathered in Chicago, IL to watch 40 teams compete for the national championship, but the 52nd National Finals begin one week from today.
Prepare to enjoy a new experience from BibleQuiz.com.
Pastor Bernie Elliot, the National A/G Bible Quiz Coordinator, just posted the “Final 40” teams participating at National Finals in Ft. Lauderdale on the TBQ Peoples Facebook group. You can see the list below.
In my years of coaching, I’ve been blessed to work with some remarkable young people. In Bible Quiz, typically the rules limit the lower end of this scale to 11-or 12-year olds. On rare occasions, an opportunity arises to work with a younger quizzer. This year I have been blessed to work with the best young quizzer I have ever seen.
The purpose of this post is to let people know the possible outcomes on Wednesday morning and what it means for the Final Four. At this point, any team with more than 7 losses is mathematically eliminated from contention. Right now the only scenario in which a team with seven losses can make the top bracket would be if they win all the games, James River and Spring lose all four games tomorrow and the second Bothell loses at least two of their games. That creates a tie with seven losses.
There are six teams with less than seven losses. Putting aside the scenario above, I’ll mention the schedules for each of them and how they can make the Final Four.
Currently in sixth place is Bothell’s second team, who beat their first team (a deja vu moment for connoisseurs of Bible Quiz history). They have five losses. Tomorrow they play Owasso, Bethel Park, Spring and Mt. Pocono, which is a tough day. They have to go at least 3-1 for any chance to make it, but even those scenarios require both James River and Spring to pick up a few losses.
Spring is tied for fourth place with three losses. They play White Cloud, Houston, Bothell #2 and Bellevue. With one loss, if James River wins all four games, Owasso goes 3-1, Bellevue and Bothell #1 go 3-1, they can still miss out on the Final Four.
James River is also tied. They play Bridgeville, Toccoa, Owasso and Bethel Park. Again, going 3-1, there is a possibility of not making it.
Next, three teams are tied with two losses. Bellevue plays Toccoa, Owasso, Bethel Park and Spring. Bothell’s first team plays Swedesboro, Bridgeville, Toccoa and Owasso. Each of these teams can absorb one loss and maybe two.
Returning champions Owasso have the toughest schedule, playing both Bothells, James River and Bellevue. They can also absorb a loss or two.
At this point, nothing is certain. All of the teams mentioned can still miss the top 4 if they lose enough games.
One thing that is relatively certain is that Abby Rogers will claim the individual title for a fourth year in a row. It’s not a mathematical certainty, but it would surprise me greatly if she doesn’t.
This is just a quick wrap-up of nationals through Monday night. Results can be found here. Of particular note, is that the two teams I mentioned as “shoe-ins” for the Final Four each have one loss. Right now, James River and Bellevue remain the only undefeated teams.
I saw Bothell’s top team several times in the prelims and they looked quite good. James River had a very good game in my room against Central. Unfortunately, I will not see either Owasso or the top Bothell team in the regular rounds.
Abby leads the top scorer field again, but not by an insurmountable lead.
We tested out streaming for a few matches in my room and it worked just fine, so I can pretty confidently say that we will be streaming the final activities on Wednesday and Thursday. If at all possible, we will stream BOTH semi-final matches, the third and first place games, plus the finals of the individual tournament and the quoting bee as well as parts of the banquet.