OOZING CONFIDENCE: The victorious members of the Ardenne team. - Ian Allen
By Eugene Pitter,
Staff Reporter
REVEREND Glen Archer, the popular Spelling Bee coach watched on Monday as Ardenne High school which he coaches, defeated Merl Grove 22-15 in the 12th match of round two of the school challenge quiz competition.
Having congratulated Ardenne's team of captain Kemar Walker, 17; Shelly-Ann Taylor,18; Kaytana Morgan,17; and Perry Ann Daley, Rev. Archer told THE STAR, "I am satisfied with the score of my team because I have always told them to be cautious...I taught them (Ardenne) that an ugly win is better than a pretty defeat."
Ironically in 1998 Ardenne defeated Merl Grove 28-9 and went on to win the school challenge competition. And, in 1999 Ardenne scored 63 points in the first match, but didn't top the competition. So according to Rev Archer high or low scores at the start of a competition do not necessarily point to the final outcome of the schools challenge quiz competition.
The defeat was not seen as ugly by the members of the Merl Grove team consisting of captain Le-Anne Roper, 17; Chantell Crooks, 18; Debbie Marriot, 18; Althea White, 17.
According to Roper "The contest was a very good one. At least we didn't get slaughtered. We didn't lack confidence at any point of the contest, but the questions were very tricky."
After the first section Ardenne High and Merl Grove were evenly poised. The teams began with a bang answering the questions with a high level of confidence. The section ended with Ardenne leading eight points to Merl Grove five.
The teams were cautious in the second section and the score at the end of that segment saw Ardenne leading by three, 16-13.
Quick buzzer pressing led to Ardenne gaining some extra points in the final segment. Merl Grove on the other hand were sometimes careless in pressing the buzzer.
Tomorrow's match will see Kingston College against Edwin Allen Comprehensive.
