Cedar Park Assembly in Bothell, WA "Fast and Furious" has won the 2005 Assemblies of God Teen Bible Quiz National Championship in the tightest "Final 40" in years. Bothell defeated First Assembly of Lexington, KY by a score of 210-95 in a playoff game, after both teams finished round-robin play with identical 17-2 won-lost records. James River Assembly's "Salt" team from Ozark, MO finished third at 16-3.
Bothell came into Thursday's final two rounds tied for first place with Lexington, after suffering an upset loss to Cedar Park's second team, nicknamed "Furious," in Wednesday's last match of the day. All three of the top teams won all their Thursday games, leading to the one-game showdown with Lexington. In that playoff, Bothell went out to an early lead, held firm as the Kentuckians staged a mid-game rally, then pulled away in the final questions for a convincing victory.
In the Challenger Division, Grace A/G of Spring City, PA (17-2) won by two games over Orange County Worship Center of Santa Ana, CA (15-4). James River's "Light" team was third with a 14-5 mark.
Individual scoring honors went to Jon Galliers of Lexington, who tallied 1,860 points over 19 rounds of play. Brandon Duffy of Bothell "Fast and Furious" was second with 1,645 points, and C.J. Barna of Crossway Church in Valencia, PA was third with 1,585. In the Challenger Division, Patti Sunseri of Spring City won by a wide margin, scoring 2,275 points. Her closest pursuer, Amy Semple of Grace Assembly in Syracuse, NY, was 850 behind Sunseri.
The team from Lexington, KY First Assembly may have lost the national title in a playoff game. But at next year's "Final 40," they'll have a distinct advantage - they'll play on their home court, so to speak.
The 2006 Teen Bible Quiz National Finals will be held at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington, a four-star property featuring a championship golf course that has hosted Senior PGA Tour events, a spa, tennis and volleyball courts, six different restaurants (including one housed in a Classic Kentucky antebellum mansion on the grounds), and gorgeous Bluegrass surroundings. If you love horses, you'll be in horse heaven. The Lexington area is home to dozens of Thoroughbred horse farms, including many of the world's most famous. The Kentucky Horse Park is a state park just north of the city that is devoted to horses, horses and more horses, playng host to many national and international competitions each year. And of course, Lexington is home to one of the most storied college basketball dynasties of all at the University of Kentucky. On a less-touristy note, Kexington is also home to a real old-fashioned drive-in restaurant (as opposed to the modern reproductions known as your local Sonic Drive-In), and a curious local soft drink called Ale-8-1. But we'll save that for when you arrive in the Bluegrass.
The dates are July 2-7, 2006.