SCHOLARS' BOWL TEAM PLACES 2ND AT STATE!
by Susan Jarnagin
February 21, 2009
The Ashland High School Scholars’ Bowl team is the 2008-2009 1-A State Runner-up, winning second place at the state tournament hosted by Quinter High School on Saturday, February 14, 2009. The Ashland team adds this achievement to firsts at the 2008-2009 SPIAA League and Regional Tournaments.
Competing for Ashland were seniors Grant Gardiner and Adam York, junior Mark Spare, and sophomore Ransom Gardiner. Alternate was senior Matt Elmore. The team is coached by Leanne Pike and Matt Mileski. They received a trophy and medals at the awards ceremony at the end of the tournament.
The 16 teams that qualified for the State tournament by taking first or second place in their Regional tournaments were Ashland, Bird City-Cheylin, Bucklin, Downs-Lakeside, Gossel, Junction City-St. Xavier, Frankfort, Hartford, Rolla, Jetmore, Linn, Lost Springs-Centre, Natoma, Stafford, Tribune-Greeley County, and Wakefield.
In pool play Ashland defeated Cheylin 70-30, Rolla 60-30, St. Xavier 50-40, Natoma 100-20, Centre 90-10, and Linn 60-20. They lost one round to Stafford 40-50.
The three teams advancing to the championship from Pool A were Ashland with one loss, and Rolla and St. Xavier each with two losses. Advancing from Pool B were Tribune, Lakeside, and Frankfort.
In the round robin championship in which each team plays each of the other teams, Ashland defeated St. Xavier 40-15, Tribune 35-25, Frankfort 30-15, and Lakeside 20-5. They lost one round to Rolla 50-60. At the end of the championship rounds, three teams were tied with one loss, Ashland, Tribune, and Rolla. The point-spread method of breaking the tie was used since Ashland won over Tribune, Tribune won over Rolla, and Rolla won over Ashland. Tribune had won over Rolla 70-30, so had the greatest positive point spread and took home the first place trophy, Ashland then took second, and Rolla, third. St. Xavier took fourth place, Frankfort, fifth, and Lakeside, sixth.
