Let me set you the scene. Beacuse of the previous week performance, Spring City had moved up to 5th place, and we were only 65 points behind 4th place Timberline 1. All of a sudden, we were back in the picture for getting in 4th place, which we need for a seeding in both tournaments. So it was a motivation for studying extra hard for these 2 upcoming match, especially considering 5th place Spring City was quizzing against 4th place Timberline 1. With every practice match we had, we seemed to get better. On our last practice match, after 15 questions, we had not a single error! We were ready.
We got to Hinkletown at a reasonable time. So when we finally got everyone rounded up and found a secluded place, we went through questions one more time. The room we used was the room we would have our first quizmatch in. Ed White, from Slate Hill, guest starred as our timekeeper as Dave asked questions. It was loads of fun. When the time came, we went up to worship, listened to the announcements, and then we were off to our quizzing matches.
But we weren't quizzing immediately. Our match was 2nd, so we had to wait a match. So the team stayed in the sanctuary for Hinkletown 1 vs. Bowmansville 2. Bowmansville 2 was quizzing the same two opponents we were, so we watched both of the matches. It was good scouting for our future match against Hinkletown 1. It seemed like it was going to be an easy match for us in the beginning, as we saw Hinkletown give up a few errors, even though Bowmansville didn't pick up the bonuses. They wish they had, as before you knew it, Hinkletown starting taking off, going from fast buzzing to smart buzzing, earning team bonus and quiz outs. Despite getting 5 errors and losing points, they still won, scoring in the triple digits.
Now it was time for the long awaited match between 5th place Spring City vs. 4th place Timberline 1. It started out good for me, Spring City's best quizzer. I quizzed out by question 5 with 3 buzz-ins. For Timberline's top quizzer, things didn't go as well. He had 2 errors without any question right. Those 2 bonuses he gave, plus a correct buzz in, gave Tim a quiz out by question 11. Robert got a buzz in correct, but while attempting a second one, a situation question, he got it wrong. Robert heard "Are you willing..." when it really was "Are you really..."and he couldn't get off of that. Mike joined in the fun by getting 2 right, and his one buzz-in got us team bonus. We were really hoping he could get a quiz out for 15 more points, but he was stuck. Nonetheless, it delivered the win we needed. Winning 120 points to 55 points, it would be well on our way to 4th place.
We had to wait a match before our next match. I was going to watch Zion 2 vs Timberline 2 in the same room we had been in there. But with the room being so hot and stuffy, I decided it was best to go to the sanctuary and await our next match there. Besides, it was good to get an idea of the acoustix sounding. The match seemed the same as the other Hinkletown vs. Bowmansville in the sanctuary. Hinkletown started off with errors going to Bowmansville, but then got their act together and won the match big time, with team bonus and the whole what not.
Now it was Spring City's turn to face Hinkletown 1 in their home sanctuary. I had quizzed many matches on that stage, and was ready for another. I sat in seat 2, across from Hinkletown 1's top quizzer. Our coaches decided to start Chelsea instead of Robert. Early in the match, Hinkletown 1 began as they usually do: with a couple errors. Chelsea had some oppurtunities to get some points, but alas no. Spring City continue to press on. Tim and I continued to quiz out. Robert also continued to get in. We were just short Mike, Chelsesa or Alyssa for team bonus. All of them tried, but none of them could get it. Spring City won 80-40. We would have liked more points, but we were glad with what we had.
We knew had to come down to our 190 total points outscoring Timberline's points by at least 65. So we watched Timberline quiz against Bowmansville 2. My whole team gathered to see that match, to see what our fate would be. It was quite the scene. Mike and Tim took front row to cheer for Bowmansville 2, in their typical loudness. I joined them in loudness, just a few seats back. Now this would seem quite awkward, knowing that Mike and I, who are both 20, and Tim, who is 19, were sometimes loudly cheering for 2 girls somewhere between 13 and 14 years old. But it also was funny, too. When we quizzed Bowmansville 2, Mike said it was his goal to make the small top 50 quizzer cry. He wasn't too successful on that. He should've made his goal to make him laugh, because every time Mike cheered for him scoring, he would burst out laughing. Bowmansville 2 didn't win, but they kept Timberline 1 to only 75 points.
Let me tell you where were at now. Our goal for that night was a success. Spring City scored 200 points, and Timberline scored 130 points. If you do the math, we passed Timberline by 5 points. So it's a tiny lead. Still, Spring City is 4th place. Now in our League, League A, the 2 season playoff teams have already been decided as Slate Hill 1 and Petra 2. They have clinched the top 2 spots because there is no way any other team can catch up to them. Their positions, however, can change. Slate Hill 1 has a lead of 60 points. If Petra 2 can score 60 more points than Slate Hill 1 scores, they will get top spot. But it gets interesting where it comes to 3rd and 4th place. Why are those two spots so important? The top 4 teams from each league get a good seeding in both tournaments. This means that for the ACC Tournament and Invitational, they will be in a group where they will statistically be the highest team. Let's take a look at it. (Each team in our league has quizzed 17 matches, leaving only 1 left.) Currently in 3rd place is Grace Point 1, with 1720 points. In 4th place is Spring City, with 1670 points, 50 points behind 3rd place. 5th place is currently occupied by Timberline 1, with 1665 points. This puts them 5 points behind 4th place, 55 points behind 3rd place. 6th place E-Town 1 has 1640 points, which is 30 points behind 4th place and 80 points behind 3rd place. Now keep in mind every team has 1 more match left. So to achieve their decision position, each team has to score than many points MORE than the team(s) ahead of them earn. As for Spring City, we're just trying to hold onto our 4th place, and we do that by scoring more than Timberline, whatever their score may be. It's going to be hard, considering we quiz before them. But there is a small possibility we could even surpass to 3rd, if we can outscore Grace Point 1 by 50 points. It is a tight, exciting race between place 3rd through 6th in League A.
Now onto me personally. I quizzed out twice on Sunday, giving me 16 quizouts and 580 points for the sesason. I have now tied my all-time career quiz out high (which, by the way, I figured out that the 12 quiz out streak I was on this year is a career long streak, too). But enough about the quiz outs, let's focus on points because it is by points the individual rankings are based on. Now they didn't post the individual standings this week, but through statistics of previous year, I can tell you that my 580 points have clinched me as 1 of the Top 20 Bible Quizzers. This means for my 4th consecutive year I have finished as 1 of the Top 20 Quizzers. Now let's set the scenario. If I quiz out for one last time, I will have earned a career high quizouts (17), scored a career high points (615), but most importantly, clinch me as 1 of the Top 5 Bible Quizzers. While this is my aim and goal, there can still be hope if I don't quiz out. If I can at least score 20 points, I will have tied my quizout career record (16), tied my career high quizzing score (600), and clinch a spot as 1 of the Top 10 Quizzers for the 2nd consecutive year.
After figuring out all the statistics, you're probably wondering who we have to quiz against this last match to get what we need. Well, it's none other than Petra 2, who is in 2nd place with an average of 117 points per match! You think this sounds bad, do you know how much we were freaking out last week when we saw we might have to face another 1st place team?! Well, even though they are back to 2nd place, I realize that they have the power to be a 1st place team. I've seen the way they quiz, and they can get crazy. 3/4 the way through the season, they have 2 Top 60 Quizzers, plus another 1 makes 3 in the Top 100 Quizzers. This match isn't going to be easy for us, but we'll make sure it isn't easy for them either. We'll study our hardest, quiz our best, and ask for God's favor.
Lord, here I am, 2 months and 1 day in my Nazarite vow. Remember the dedication I have put forward to your word, and bless me for it.
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