Manchester Central Takes Down Souhegan High

Can you name the Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox catcher nicknamed Pudge who graduated from New Hampshire's Charlestown High School? That question stumped both Manchester Central and Souhegan High School in the second Granite State Challenge Quarterfinal game.

Manchester Central High had to beat a tough team from Portsmouth Christian Academy and Souhegan High slipped past Fall Mountain Regional High in the final seconds of the game to make it to the Quarterfinals of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE.

Playing for the Manchester Central High Little Green were senior Max Nakos, junior Karishma Manchanda, freshman Kellan Barbee, captain senior Tamsin Weissberg and alternates Jonas Weissberg and Eamonn Ryan. The team was coached by Lorraine Meyette.

The Sabers of Souhegan High were represented by captain junior Alec Reitter, senior Hunter Raudelunas, senior Kate Eastland, senior Patrick Conway and alternates Ian Lewis and Kelly Frasca. The team was coached by Dave Jasinski and Jace Lamarre.

At the end of Round One, only 10 points separated the two teams with Souhegan leading by a score of 80-70. In Round Two, Souhegan extended their lead by 30 points and lead with a score of 260-230.

In the 60-second Round, Manchester Central chose the category "Same Places" and correctly identified the names of nine out of ten places that start an end with the same letter, missing only on the clue - a city in western New York and in Strafford Counry, New Hampshire - Rochester. Souhegan chose the category "Why, Why" and correctly identified seven out of ten words that contained two letter "y's" missing on what kings and queens are - royalty, the Beatles' song where love was an easy game to play, - "Yesterday" and the study of the paranormal - parapsychology. The round ended with Souhegan holding on to the lead by a slim 10 points with a score of 330-320.

In the third round, where an incorrect answer can cost a team 20 points, Manchester played aggressively and with two minutes left in the game lead by a score of 460-430. They hung on to that lead and went on to win the game by a score of 540-470.

Manchester Central now moves on to face Littleton High in the semifinals. The next Quarterfinal game, pitting Exeter High against Plymouth Regional High, airs Saturday, April 13 @ 6 pm on NHPBS.

Oh, and that catcher nicknamed Pudge - it was Carlton Fisk.

Granite State Challenge features New Hampshire's top high school academic quiz teams as they demonstrate remarkable teamwork, quick thinking and smarts to beat the clock and buzz in first on this iconic New Hampshire game show. 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 Hampshire.

You can follow your favorite team, test your own knowledge with GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE online quizzes and more at the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE web page or try your hands at daily brainteasers on the GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Facebook page.

GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is funded by lead sponsor Unitil; with additional funding from NEA New Hampshire, Heinemann Publishing, New Hampshire Lottery, D.F. Richard Energy, HRCU, Measured Progress, The NHHEAF Network Organization, Safety Insurance and Super Sunday partner, Manchester Community College.

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