Hands on buzzers, the Scholars Bowl team from Bob Jones High School topped their 11 challengers in district competition.

Bob Jones won first place in the district, finishing 5-0. “This is the first time we’ve gone undefeated at district since I started sponsoring the team in 2005,” Jeremy Raper said.

The Alabama Scholastic Competition Association sponsors the Alabama Scholastic Challenge, usually called the Scholars Bowl. Bob Jones has had a team since in 1996.

Local teams competing included Buckhorn, Columbia, Grissom, Hazel Green, Huntsville and Lee high schools and Randolph School.

Senior Paul Barrett is team captain with seniors Patrick Bradley and Chris Elegante, juniors James Wilson and Paul Yi and sophomore Brendan Romanczuk.

“Scholars Bowl is like a team ‘Jeopardy,'” Raper said, referring to the popular TV trivia game. Moderators ask two four-member teams a series of general questions.

“The individual that knows the answer first will buzz in with a handheld buzzer,” Raper said. If the individual answers correctly, that team can answer two more questions, which the other team can’t steal.

If they miss these “bounce-back” questions, the other team can try. Teams earn points for correct answers but aren’t penalized for incorrect ones. In another section, six members maximum can collaborate on any topic for a worksheet of 20 questions.

“Questions can be worded strangely, hiding the answer as long as possible,” Raper said. Math questions are most difficult, involving many calculations in little time. “The most confusing are related to short stories, books or poems.”

Raper gave one sample question: A scorpion bites Kino’s son, Coyotito. The local doctor refuses to treat Coyotito because the family can’t pay. Angry, Kino dives to find the title object to pay for Coyotito’s treatment. Name the novella by John Steinbeck.

Answer: “The Pearl”

Raper teaches engineering and physics at Bob Jones. “So I’m definitely not qualified to help them with the medieval literature questions,” he said jokingly.

The regional competition will be held on March 3 at Albertville Middle School.