PORTSMOUTH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY TOPS BOW HIGH SCHOOL IN GSC

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(DURHAM, February 25, 2013) – In a close match, Portsmouth Christian Academy eeked out a win over Bow High School last night on GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. Portsmouth Christian took the lead early in the game and held tight to it in spite of Bow's steady attempt at a comeback during rounds two and three. The Portsmouth Christian Eagles won by a score of 255 - 230, in the highest-scoring match thus far in the season. Team members from both schools come from families where siblings had participated in past Granite State Challenge competitions, and they were excited to continue this family tradition. The Eagles were represented by captain Niko Townsend, Byrnese Knapp, John Sipp and Jonah Abraham, and led by coaches Donna Capern and Dr. Raymond Gamble. The Bow Falcons were represented by captain Julia Gunnison, Jack Sheffer, Kevin McCully, Megan Fraser, and were coached by Michelle Hlavaz. Watch the match online here. Portsmouth Christian Academy secured an early lead, and though Bow High School caught up significantly with some geography questions in rounds two and three, ultimately PCA was able to hold on in the timed final round. The team will now advance to the second round of GSC; this match and all GSC matches are available online to watch anytime. The popular quiz contest began the season with 16 Granite State high school teams battling toward the coveted SuperChallenge title and brainy bragging rights. Look for exciting new angles to the games this season, including a Granite State vs. Bay State Governors' Cup grand finale match in May. It takes a winning combination of knowledge, teamwork, grace under pressure, and a quick buzzer reflex to play Granite State Challenge. The show brings New Hampshire's top high school academic teams head-to-head in lively competition. The game emphasizes quick recall of factual material in all major disciplines - math, science, social studies, language and fine arts - along with a mix of questions about current events, entertainment, sports, and regional topics. Host Jim Jeannotte poses the Challenge questions to the teams; Lori Warriner interviews team members. Each of the four team members and the alternates of the winning Granite State SuperChallenge team will receive a $1,000 award from the NHHEAF Network/ I Am College Bound.org program. The winning school also receives $1,000 and a trophy, and the runner-up school receives $500. Watch Granite State Challenge Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on NHPTV PRIME, and at other times on NHPTV PRIME and NHPTV EXPLORE; watch online anytime. Granite State Challenge is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil Corporation, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England. Additional funding is provided by the NHHEAF Network Organizations, DF Richard, Markem-Imaje, Pax World Funds, Heinemann and Measured Progress.