Colorado Springs defeats Bothell in playoff for championship, takes all-time lead in titles
By ROBERT CARTER
It could have been just a little closer. But not by much.
The teams from Church at Briargate in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Cedar Park Assembly in Bothell, Washington had battled throughout the 19-game round-robin competition, losing only two games each and with Briargate defeating Cedar Park in their head-to-head matchup. So it was only fitting that a single playoff match between the teams would decide the 2007 Teen Bible Quiz National Championship at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona.
And the battle continued in the playoff game, as the two top squads went neck and neck. After 17 questions and a quiz-out by Bothell's Jenna-Jo Duffy, the score was tied at 135-all. On question 18, Jenna-Jo's brother Brandon interupted and missed on a 20-pointer, and Briargate's Andrew Kelley picked up the rebound; the miss also knocked Brandon out on a strikeout.
On the 19th question, Kelley missed on an interrupted 10-pointer, and Heather Karnes got the rebound to narrow the margin to 15 points. On the last question, Karnes - now the only quizzer at the table for Cedar Park - interrupted and missed, and Kelley converted the rebound for the apparent win. But Cedar Park contested, with coach Dr. Kari Brodin arguing that quizmaster Bryan Turner inproperly emphasized the wrong syllable of the question. The contested was accepted and question voided, giving Bothell one last shot.
But on the substitute question, Kelley was quicker on the buzzer and nailed the correct answer. Briargate won 170-135 to win their second title in a row and their fourth since the turn of the century. The four titles now gives Church at Briargate the lead in all-time championships, besting Orange Hills Assembly of Orange, California and Evangel Temple Assembly of Decatur, Georgia with three each.
The championship is the second for Kelley and teammate Michael Rose, and the fifth in coach Greg House's career.
James River Assembly of Ozark, Misouri finished in third place, three games behind the playoff teams. First Assembly of Lafayette, Indiana won fourth place, breaking a four-way tie on head-to-head resuls. Lafayette had defeated all three of the other teams in round-robin play.
In the Challenger Division, First Assembly of Binghamton, New York won the division title, with Grace Assembly of God, Syracuse, New York finishing second.
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
| Team name | Wins | Losses | Points | ||
| 1 | Church at Briargate, Colorado Springs CO #1* | 17 | 2 | 3150 | |
| 2 | Cedar Park Assembly of God, Bothell WA | 17 | 2 | 3960 | |
| 3 | James River Assembly of God, Ozark MO | 14 | 5 | 3070 | |
| 4 | First Assembly of God , Lafayette IN #1** | 12 | 7 | 2500 | |
| 5 | Faith Assembly of God, Orlando FL | 12 | 7 | 2630 | |
| 6 | Journey Fellowship Church, Slidell LA | 12 | 7 | 2400 | |
| 7 | Calvary Assembly of God, Toledo OH | 12 | 7 | 2220 | |
| 8 | The Oaks Fellowship, Red Oak TX | 11 | 8 | 2095 | |
| 9 | Tacoma Life Center, Tacoma WA | 10 | 9 | 2455 | |
| 10 | Manassas Assembly of God, Manassas (Bristow) VA | 9 | 10 | 2345 | |
| 11 | Christian Temple, Houston TX | 9 | 10 | 1735 | |
| 12 | Victory Assembly of God, Carrollton TX | 8 | 11 | 2045 | |
| 13 | First Assembly of God, Lexington KY | 8 | 11 | 1930 | |
| 14 | Orange Hills Assembly of God, Orange CA | 8 | 11 | 1550 | |
| 15 | First Assembly of God, Owasso OK | 6 | 13 | 2280 | |
| 16 | Praise Assembly of God, Garfield NJ | 6 | 13 | 1990 | |
| 17 | Meridian Assembly of God, Meridian ID | 6 | 13 | 1715 | |
| 18 | Dayspring Assembly of God, Bowling Green OH | 6 | 13 | 1675 | |
| 19 | Orange County Worship Center, Santa Ana CA | 4 | 15 | 1640 | |
| 20 | South Hills Assembly of God, Bethel Park PA | 3 | 16 | 1490 | |
| *Won playoff, 170-135 | |||||
| **Won fourth place on head-to-head (defeated all other teams in four-way tie) | |||||
| Team name | Wins | Losses | Points | |
| 1 | First Assembly of God, Binghamton NY | 17 | 2 | 3295 |
| 2 | Grace Assembly of God, Syracuse NY | 16 | 3 | 2310 |
| 3 | Overland Park Assembly of God, Overland Park KS | 15 | 4 | 2270 |
| 4 | Kuna Life Church, Kuna ID | 14 | 5 | 2130 |
| 5 | Hosanna Family Worship Center, Shreveport LA | 14 | 5 | 2065 |
| 6 | Nyssa Christian Fellowship, Nyssa OR | 14 | 5 | 1950 |
| 7 | Church at Briargate, Colorado Springs CO #2 | 13 | 6 | 1980 |
| 8 | Paradise Hills Assembly of God, Phoenix AZ | 11 | 8 | 1680 |
| 9 | Hope Assembly of God, Fayetteville TN | 10 | 9 | 1810 |
| 10 | Faith Assembly of God, West Plains MO | 10 | 9 | 1395 |
| 11 | Suncoast Cathedral, St. Petersburg FL | 9 | 10 | 1745 |
| 12 | Fox Valley Christian Fellowship, Kimberly WI | 9 | 10 | 1290 |
| 13 | First Assembly of God, Lafayette IN #2 | 8 | 11 | 1385 |
| 14 | Corydon Assembly of God, Corydon IA | 8 | 11 | 1240 |
| 15 | First Assembly of God, Rockford IL | 5 | 14 | 930 |
| 16 | Albert Lea Assembly of God, Albert Lea MN | 4 | 15 | 830 |
| 17 | Evangel Community Church, Snellville GA | 4 | 15 | 750 |
| 18 | First Assembly of God, Augusta GA | 4 | 15 | 380 |
| 19 | New Life Assembly of God, Sparta WI | 3 | 16 | 820 |
| 20 | Calvary Church, Greensboro NC | 2 | 17 | 230 |