Wasatch rallies for national finals spot

 

A brilliantly played fourth period sent Wasatch Junior High School’s Academic Games team to the National Academic League championship match. Trailing by 12 points and the end of three quarters, Wasatch outscored the Arizona state champions, Stapley Junior High School,  by 24 points to capture a 60-48 victory on April 25. The championship match is expected to be played during the week of May 7, according to Darryl Thomas, Granite’s Academic Games commissioner. This is the first time Wasatch has represented Utah and Granite School District in the tournament.

 

Wasatch trailed by only two points after the first period, but fell behind 26-15 in the second. The presentation teams were virtually even in their discussions of the pros and cons of biofuels, with Stapley receiving 22 points from the judges, Wasatch 21.

 

But in the final period the Arizona team answered only two questions correctly and lost four points to incorrect answers. Wasatch misfired on just two questions, capably beating the buzzer for correct answers to questions on a variety of topics. A Wasatch victory in final round would make it three straight national titles for Granite District schools.