UConn defeated San Diego State 76-59 in Monday night’s national title game. More importantly for our purposes, however, was the 17-point margin that decided our Final Four contest.

Mr. Santasiere won in impressive fashion, predicting 77-61 and missing the margin of victory by just one and the total points by only three. He wins the $20 first prize gift card.

We then had a number of students in the running, and they were also rewarded. Our gift cards, which will be distributed through English classes, come from Gansett and Dunkin’.

The results are as follows:

1.  Mr. Santasiere 16 ($20 – grand champion)
2.  Asher Heumann 15 ($20 – top student)
3.  Lindsay Doherty 14 ($15)
4.  Esther Bowersett 13 ($10)
5. (tie at 12) Kelly Szegda ($5) and Jay Kopek ($5)

Note: Kelly was a random winner in the Super Bowl contest.

Thanks for playing. Remember to consider writing about your club or team for our online publication. Plenty of help is available, and it looks great that you participated in a writing club on those college applications. Please see Mr. Kennedy in Room 219 or email [email protected]

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Hold on though: It’s not the simple. One entry selected San Diego State to win the title. Consequently, if San Diego State wins Monday night those five points will make that entry stand above all others. Picking a semifinal correctly only earns two points with a possibility of four total. If you do not think San Diego State can win, then research North Carolina State’s 54-52 win over Houston in 1981 or Villanova’s 66-64 win over Georgetown in 1983. Those games were a long time ago, but games such as this with a perceived heavy favorite in the title game are not all that common. Each of those games were low scoring affairs.

Interestingly, 16 entries projected UConn and Florida Atlantic in the title game, so that last shot made by Lamont Butler that gave San Diego State the win is what decided which group of entries were still in the running. That is truly March Madness!

Winners will be posted by Wednesday with a hope of having all gift cards out by the break.

Thanks for playing our contest. We are more than two contests, however, so make sure you surf  The Panther Press for some of the newest stories just posted. Consider writing about your club or team or just submitting photos for a photo gallery. See Mr. Kennedy in Room 219 if you are interested.

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Since the UConn men are in the Final Four, we will run another contest just like our Super Bowl contest.

Here is your chance to pick the National Champion in men’s college basketball. Simply check out the semifinals, pick the survivors of those games and then the final score of the title game. Choosing a semifinal correctly earns a contestant two points and picking the national champion correctly earns the contestant five points. Margin of victory will be the first tiebreaker and total points the second. We will start with a first prize of a $20 gift card, a second prize of $15 and a third of $10.

One entry per person. Contest open to the E.O. Smith school community. Entries are free; prizes donated by The Panther Press.

The semifinals feature Florida Atlantic against San Diego State in the first game, and UConn versus Miami in the second game. Pick one winner from each game to advance to the title game, then select the final result. Updating from first post – you only need to pick the championship game, since picking that game will show who you have winning in the semifinals – but pick the semifinals if you are feeling bold.

You entry should look as follows with your national championship game pitting a winner from each game. Put the winner first.

Sample Entry

Florida Atlantic 60, Miami 50

Margin of Victory 10

Total Points 110.

Use the comment box to enter. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Also make sure you surf  The Panther Press for some of the newest stories just posted. Consider writing about your club or team or just submitting photos for a photo gallery. See Mr. Kennedy in Room 219 if you are interested.