JBQ team takes first at state

DECATUR — Students on the Decatur Assembly of God’s Junior Bible Quiz team won first place in the silver division at the state championship on Saturday.

JBQ teams learn Bible facts and then compete in game show-style quizzing matches. A total of 42 teams in the kindergarten through second,third and fourth, and fifth and sixth grade age divisions, competed in the state championship in Russellville. Teams qualified for the state tournament by ranking first or second in their region.

Winners were divided into the gold, silver and bronze division so the last stage of the competition was on a level playing field.

Decatur placed first in the silver division, or fifth overall in the tournament. This is the third year Decatur’s team has made it to the state tournament, according to coach Sandy Duncan.

“I am proud of these kids. This is our fourth year and we’ve made it to state three years in a row,” she said.

Decatur’s team competed in the third and fourth grade age division, but four of the team members were actually younger - in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade. Only three of the team members were in third and fourth grade, Duncan said.

In a match, four team members quiz at one time, so the younger students served as alternates. According to match rules, students can advance to a higher age level but can’t go backwards and play at a lower age level, Duncan explained.

Deegan Brooks, the youngest member of the team, scored 60 points in the competition.

“I was proud of Deegan. He was playing against third and fourth grade kids and he’s inpre-kindergarten,” Duncan said.

The team began preparing for the match in late summer, and studied together several nights a week in addition to thework they did at home.

“It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of hours,” Duncan said.

According to tournament results posted on www.jbq. org/arkansas, Decatur won eight of their 10 matches on Saturday and scored a total of 2,210 points.

Amanda Duncan also placed fifth individually in the third and fourth grade level, scoring a total of 1,050 points for her team.

“Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) was created and designed to help children develop a love for the Bible and an understanding that its truth can guide their lives daily. Junior Bible Quiz offers a fun, exciting way to motivate children to understand the all-important truths in God’s Word,” the organization’s Web site, www.nationaljbq.org states.