Conference Tournament 2012 Results: Varsity

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How you handle defeat says more about you than how you handle victory.  For a team that hasn’t had to experience many losses in recent years, how the Centralia Quiz Bowl team would deal with a low-scoring overtime loss in the first game of the 2012 CCC Tournament was totally unknown. 

But success isn’t always about how you start; more often than not, it’s about how you finish.

In that first game, despite Chelsea’s 14 toss-ups, Centralia fell to Macon 280-283 in overtime.  It was the first time since 2009 that Macon had topped the Panthers and the first time since 2010 that Centralia failed to break 300 points in conference play.

Facing the possibility of not being able to defend their 2011 Tournament championship, the Panthers would have to bounce back against South Shelby, a team whose one-loss 2011 conference season was marred only by Centralia’s achievement of 9-0.  Centralia bounced back in a big way, fighting off a second half surge from the Cardinals to win 380-300. 

After beating Louisiana 370-150, Centralia had earned the second seed in the eight-team afternoon bracket.  They would face off against Palmyra, a team much better than their 1-2 record would indicate.  Centralia trailed 140-150 after Palmyra rattled off a 120-10 run to end the second half.  The third quarter ended with the teams tied at 210, and, after going back and forth, Centralia found itself trailing by 10 with only three questions left.  Finally, Centralia mounted a run and ended the game by outscoring Palmyra 70-10 to win 370-320.

Next up was 2011 Tournament runner-up Clark County, who jumped out to a 70-50 first quarter lead.  From that point on, it was the Chelsea Griffin show as she answered 22 total toss-ups to topple the Indians.  With the game out of reach, Clark County scored the final 50 points for the final score of 350-330.

The championship would end the day as it began: the fifth seeded Tigers of Macon had fought their way through the bracket to take on the Panthers for the tournament title.  This one started out much better for the Panthers, who led 90-30 after one quarter of play. It soon became clear that the Panthers would not be denied.  Every Panther played a crucial role, whether it was Chelsea’s 16 toss-ups, Donna’s eight, Quinton’s two, or Charlie’s work on bonuses. The Panthers showed what they are capable of when they play as a team, winning when it counted, 420-200.

Chelsea made the all-tournament team, leading all scorers. 

The quest for a fourth consecutive CCC title begins on Thursday, as the South Shelby Cardinals come to Centralia.