FABIAN LEDGISTER, Staff Reporter
JUNIOR DOWIE - St. Jago High's Schools' Challenge Quiz team.
THE 28TH MATCH in TVJ's Schools' Challenge Quiz was an exciting and somewhat surprising duel, with a strong show of experience and knowledge base from St. Jago High, as they decimated their rivals, Decarteret College.
Decarteret College did not concede defeat easily though, as they stood head-to-head with the 'top ranked' team, and took a lead with seven points to St. Jago's 3 points, within the first few minutes of the match.
St. Jago High soon regained composure, however, and made a fast comeback to take the lead by the segment's end, earning 10 points against Decarteret's score of nine points.
Decarteret was unable to hold their strong pace, entering a 'dry spell' that would continue throughout their first two minutes in the second (speed) segment. By the third minutes in the round, St. Jago had lengthened their lead, having 20 points, to Decarteret's same score of nine points.
Decarteret College's lack of focus became evident with a relatively simple question to identify the artiste of the popular single Just One Of Those Days. The song, done by Sizzla, was incorrectly identified as 'Warrior King'.
With a zealous effort from team captain, Ishmael Reid, Decarteret College regained their composure in the segment's third minute, gaining five points to end the segment with 14 points.
St. Jago High held their composure throughout, and after a point was deducted from Decarteret College for an English question (judges deemed that the incorrect answer was spoken first), the score stood at 24 points for St. Jago, and Decarteret College at 13 points.
With both teams showing knowledge and discipline, the outcome of the match could not yet be decided, with Decarteret bridging their opponent's lead by a mere 9 points.
Despite their efforts, however, the experience and determination of St. Jago's captain, Jermaine Lewis, guided his team members to an essential lead from the segment, and ultimately the entire match.
The final score saw St. Jago with 40 points, almost doubling their opponent's final score of 25 points.
However, St. Jago's team members were surprisingly disappointed with their performance.
"We're not sad, but we had trained to do better, but we're OK with what we got today, and we give God thanks," said team member, Greig Drummond.
Their team coach was less critical of the team's performance.
"I think they did fairly well ... their answers were well executed and the little errors were mostly due to anxiety, so we'll correct errors with practice," said team coach, Frank Weise.
The team members of Decarteret College could also be commended for their grace in defeat, lauding their opponents performance, while critiquing their own. However, their coach was proud of them nonetheless.
"I am not disappointed in the teams performance, but we see where we lost the match within the first and second minutes of the second section ... These kids are new and in 2-3 years time they will be the best," said Decarteret College's team coach, Ralston West.
St. Jago High team members: Greig Drummond
Shaneka Wallace
Seiyafa Donron
Jermaine Lewis (team captain)
Decarteret College team members: Ishmael Reid (team captain)
Dwayne Samuels
Rohan Wright
Mikhail Johnson
Next match: Rusea's High versus Ardenne High
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