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NSSC 2008 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.

Round 5

ESPN cameras were in high use after round 4 wound down and Stefan Fatsis interviewed many teams. Thus, the start of round 5 was delayed a bit. Just as Ben Greenwood took to the microphone, the last filmed piece started. The redheads from Randolph Middle School (NC) were doing a "we'll be right back" shot to be used during telecast in a few months.

At table 27, Joel Sherman caught the opponents high-fiving each other across the table. It appears that a team had just played the first name of a student across the table: JOSH! The teams were R.D. and Euzelle Smith Middle School Team 1 (NC) vs. Solomon Schechter Day School (Newton) Team 3 (MA).

Ruth Keeler Library Team 1 (NY) vs. Our Lady of Victory (MD) Team 3 (MD). I see the later team struggling with the rack REFINE + I. There are no bingos, but it is a fun looking rack to contemplate.

At table 1, Evangelical Christian School Team 1 (TN) vs Atlanta Tucker Community Center (GA) is not going well for the team from Tennessee. Their coach, Ryan Porter, was philosophical about the game and his team's ultimate loss, saying "they have had a run of well-played games and good tiles and they just hit the wall this round. That Atlanta team is something else." I agree!

The games in the front row, table 1-7, were all hotly contested this round. The tension was palpable as the students, all undefeated to that point, faced off. At table 2, Westport SCRABBLE Club (CT) played Hopkinton Middle School Team 2 (MA). The in progess game is 329-328 as I check out the scoresheets. The Hopkinton team played DINNERS for 86 and TOASTiNG from the first T for 60. Westport got down GOALIES for 74, PRONATES from the P to the triple for 83. Both sides were whispering side to side, teammate to teammate, hands over mouths so that none of the possible plays and strategies went across the table. In the engame, Westport made the outplay of RANI, creating AR/TA/EN/IS. Westport won the game and their opponents said "you were definitely a great team to play!"

Table 3 was Hopkinton Middle School Team 1 (MA) vs. Princeton Day School (NJ). Hopkinton opened with JOTAL* for 70. Princeton played STRAYER for 84 and LUNChING through the C for 62. In the endgame, Hopkinton played DESTAIN for 77, and not sure of the play, Princeton challenged and lost a turn. But this good fortune was rewarded with a clearing out of the bag draw of QOS, which, no surprise, turned into a Q-stick game. The Princeton players were both sitting on the same sneakered foot on their chairs, leaning forward, concentrating intently. They made a mistaken outplay that was challenged off. But since there was only an unplayable Q on Hopkinton's rack, the clock reverted to Princeton and they played out, making a proper hook this time and won the game. On the way to the challenge machine, Aaron Green actually put his arm around the shoulders of Benjamin Marrow, congratulating him on a great game. Joe Edley stopped by and discussed power tiles with the players, which 10 qualified: JQXZSSSS??.

On a Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School (NY) vs. Walter C. Young Middle School Team 3 (FL) game, I see TRAILeR later extended to TRAILeRS when ZITS is played down the leftmost triple.

In a Windham Nesmith Library (NH) vs. Bear Branch Elementary School (TX) game, the latter team was left with DIRT on the rack, which is sort of appropriate, since they lost, 260-372.

The Indiana players are all wearing such fun T-shirts today that say "SMITTEN with School SCRABBLE 2008" in a nice royal blue. They were designed by coach Dinah Fuller and sold to raise money for this event.

Out in the foyer, waiting for the lunch buffet to begin, White Brook Middle School (MA) shows their scoresheet to their parents and coach. They just won their first game in round 5, vs. Lexington Montessori School Team 3 (MA). Their best play was a ZA/ZA for 44 and their opponents got down a nice QI play for 22.

I run into a player from Winterhaven Elementary School (OR) who excitedly tells me that she just won her game by 2 points againt Scarsdale SCRABBLE Club (NY). This puts Winterhaven in fourth place and slots them at table 1 for round 6.

Lunch was held in the next door parlor, a spread of hot dogs, hamburgers, mac and cheese, raw veggies, all great kid food. We begin round 6 shortly!