TIE-BREAKER DECIDES MATCH BETWEEN MERRIMACK HIGH AND THE ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE AND DESIGN

(DURHAM, March 25, 2017) - In a game that came down to a tie-breaker, Merrimack High School topped the Academy for Science and Design (ASD) by a score of 380 to 360. ASD held a slight lead for most of the game and went into the final 20-point round ahead by a score of 360 to 260. Neither team could answer the first six questions, but Merrimack tightened the score in the final minute, and was down by just twenty points with only seconds left in the game. They correctly identified Connecticut as the southern most New England state, tying the game by a score of 360-360. The game then came down to a sudden-death tie-breaker question - how many counties are there in New Hampshire - Merrimack quickly buzzed in with the correct answer - 10 - giving them the win and advancing the team to the quarterfinals.The Merrimack Tomahawks were represented by captain Zev Sernik, Pooja Agrawal, Sean Sylvester, Nick Pittman, and alternates Alex Jobin and Scott Peyton, The team was coached by Sara Campbell. The Academy for Science and Design was represented by captain Bryce Stack, Joseph Chinnici, Jonah Rivers, Ethan Towsley and alternate Timothy Averill , the team was coached by Douglass Belley. Watch this and all the matches online - http://video.nhptv.org/show/granite-state-challenge/Merrimack High School now advances to the second round of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. Hosted by Jim Jeannotte, the popular quiz contest began the season with 16 Granite State high school teams battling toward the coveted SUPERCHALLENGE title. Also, for a fifth year, there will be a Granite State vs. Bay State Governor's Cup match between the winners of the GRANITE STATE SUPERCHALLENGE and the WGBH Boston High School Quiz Show. New Hampshire's top high school academic teams demonstrate remarkable teamwork, quick thinking and smarts as they play GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. The game emphasizes quick recall of math, science, social studies, language arts and fine arts facts—along with questions about current events, entertainment, sports, and New England. Watch GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Saturdays at 6 PM on NHPTV PRIME, with multiple airdates on NHPTV PRIME and NHPTV EXPLORE. All games are available to watch online at video.nhptv.org. Online GSC quizzes keep students and audiences involved in the fun. www.nhptv.org/gscGRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England; additional funding is provided by NEA-New Hampshire, Heinemann Publishing, D.F. Richard Energy, Measured Progress, Pax World Donor Advised Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the NHHEAF Network Organizations, New Hampshire Magazine, and our Super Sunday partner, Manchester Community College.

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