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NSSC 2007 Commentary: Round 5

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Final Round 1, Award Ceremony.

Round 5

We were lucky to have Philp C. Jackson here this morning, the Group Executive-Games at Hasbro. John D. Williams, Jr., introduced him to the students and he received a round of applause before he made congratulatory comments to all the participants. As he was exiting the podium, he said to me, "the future is these kids and I'm so happy to see them all here!"

It is easy to get into a rut and to forget to challenge plays as they go onto the board. And, sometimes, the mechanics of the game, the adding of the scores followed by the turning of the board, etc., encourages players to just keep going. It is refreshing to see students stop and think about the plays as they go down. At table 5 this round, Bridgewater SCRABBLE^® Club Team (NJ) didn't like YEARNIER* palyed by R.D & Euzelle P. Smith Middle Team 2 (NC). They were right to challenge and the play came off.

At table 49, Seneca Middle Team 1 (SC) faced off against Philly ASAP (PA). I see ZOOMS, FOX, and XI played on their board.

At table 41, SURVEYs for 74 started off that game for R.L. Stone Middle (AL) vs. Magnolia 6th Grade Campus (TX).

A melodious moment. As I passed by table 40, Runkle Team 2 (MA) players counted their play aloud in unison. That very play, GEY/EKA* was challenged by the opponents, William H. Lincoln (MA). The four boys ran off to the Zyzzyva machine and raced back quickly with the verdict: take it off!

At table 3, Atlanta Tucker Community Center (GA) played Our Lady of Victory Emerald (MD), and won, 515-367. I see UNDERGO for 73, AVEnGING for 72, BY (creating ORBY/AB on the triple) for 52, and QUIRE through the R for 68 (great score for a non-bingo!). Their opponents, no slouches, got down OXEN for 43, RACIEST for 75, and RENAMeS for 81.

At table 1, Advanced Math & Science Academy (MA) challenged Ridgefield Library Team 1 (CT) for the play of WUD. It came back acceptable and this was not pleasing to the team from Massachusetts. See more of their game in the annotated game section of this live web coverage.

At table 2, press pressure continuing, Bridgewater SCRABBLE^® Club Team (NJ) defeated R.D & Euzelle P. Smith Middle Team 2 (NC), 437-292. The better plays made were ALEURON for 84, sOCAGER for 76, and the aptly played for today JULEP for 44 (I point out that the Kentucky Derby is today: hats and mint juleps galore!). Their opponents, still stunned at the game, made two great plays themselves: WISEN for 31 and ZA/ZA/AG for 65.

A kid that makes me laugh is Brandon Saba of Lakeland Copper Beach Middle (NY). I asked him what he wanted to do when he finished his professional SCRABBLE^® career. He retorted, "I will then embark on a professional videogaming career." His team defeated Foothill Bingo Boys (CA) this round, 392-320, at table 5.

Magnolia Jr. High (TX) played Eastern Greene Elementary/Jr. High (IN), losing, 221-413. I see SLiDING for 71 by the winning team. They said of their opponents, "they played a lot of parallel plays, making for a closed board." The top parallel play was OX/NO/ZAX for 46.

Our Lady of Victory Diamond (MD) is doing paperwork as I walk over to their just finished win, 301-238, against South Side Middle Team 2 (NY). The winners explain that they just made their goal, which is to earn at least 300 points every game. This board was congested and both teams ended up with unplayable tiles on their racks: LI and L. On their board I see, JUT for 20 and SAIL/QuEERS for 30. The South Side team said that at one point they held RESTLSS, but found no E to play through.

At table 28, two teams who had yet to win a game, faced off. It was Lawn (RI) vs. Our Lady of Victory NY Team 2 (NY). In the end, the team from New York pulled out the win, 288-261. They were overheard saying that they were sorry one of them had to win and that they enjoyed the close game. Their coach, Ellen McKenna, came over as I was looking over their game. She told me that this was her last year with School SCRABBLE^® as she was retiring. Just as I was about to express my congratulations and dismay, she said, "Oh, but don't worry, my sister in Utah is going to start up a club." Sure enough, Barbara Ellard in Springdale, Utah, has started a club at her town's library. She is looking forward to preparing these student players for NSSC 2008. We wish her great success.

An unusual and closed game took place this round between Hampton Bays Elementary (NY) and Northshore Christian Academy (WA). The plays drew a straight line from bottom left to top right, and filled out only the bottom right quad. This, of course, meant they ended the game with unplayable full racks and about 12 tiles were left in the bag. End score, 177-218, in Hampton Bay's favor. Worth noting, the teams enchanged at least 11 times during the game. They were clearly trying to make it better.

We break for lunch now for an hour or so while we prepare for round 6 and then the finals. Boards 1 and 2, in round 6, will be played in a separate room and filmed by ESPN for potential inclusion in the show created about this event. Ben Greenwood will officiate in that room and the rest of us will keep going here in the main playing room.

I'm hearing from the students that the warm meal for lunch, lasanga and salad, is really quite good. Real napkins, silverware, and best of all delicious carrot cake for dessert!