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September 21, 2018October 21, 2020

Big scores & surprises in the first week of Jones College’s Bobcat Math League competition

ELLISVILLE – The big powerhouse high schools wasted no time in demonstrating they are on the road to the championship again with dominating performances and big scores. Proving they can repeat as champions, the Wayne County War Eagles seized the Heidelberg High School Oilers and didn’t relent with a commanding, 77 to 20 win. As two of the teams in the Engineering Division, Wayne County set the pace in the points column taking the lead in the division. Last year, the Oak Grove Warriors lost in the championship round to the War Eagles so expect the two foes to tangle all season. In their match this week, the Warriors slayed the Quitman Panthers, 70 to 26, giving Oak Grove the second place spot in the division and Quitman ended up in third place.

Returning Wayne County Math Coach, Ashley Phillips was part of the 2008 and 2011 Wayne County Math Bowl Championship teams. While he’s not new to the “competitive spirit” at Wayne County, he is new to the Bobcat Math League format.

“I understand after the first week how the Math League requires our students to earn their position in the finals, just as a football team would earn a spot in the playoffs,” said Phillips. “I am proud of the outcome of our first match and I am proud of all fifteen members that we have representing our school this year. I feel that we will be very competitive this season and have a great shot at being Champions again because that is the goal that we have set for the team.”

Surprises within the Science Division between perennial contenders Northeast Jones, Presbyterian Christian and West Jones High Schools allowed the Mustangs to land on top as Division leaders. The Mustangs trotted their way to the lead over the Raleigh Lions with a convincing, 44 to 29 win. The match between the Bobcats of Presbyterian Christian and the Tigers at Northeast Jones ended in a 40-40 tie. In the final playoffs in 2017, PCS managed to knock off West Jones, to capture the overall third place winners spot, leaving the Mustangs in fourth place. Anticipate a fierce fight in the Science Division over the next five weeks with three top teams each planning to be in the playoffs. With 13-teams participating this season, division rankings are likely to change often with at least one team being “forced” to take a “bye” each week. Laurel High School had this week off and West Jones has the “bye” in week two. These variables have West Jones Math Coach, Courtney Hagan, concerned.

“I am nervous about our team this year because most of my students are new to the team. I have three returning players. I am hopeful we will do pretty well since we only have four matches this year, but I know there is a learning curve for the students when it comes to the advanced STEM questions. I definitely miss the days of just math questions, but sometimes those STEM questions are the ones that help our score. Overall, I am excited to have some younger students that I can rebuild a team with for the next couple of years,” said Hagan.

In the Technology Division, it is not surprising that Sacred Heart dominated competition and is starting the season as division leaders. Fighting on home turf, the Sacred Heart Crusaders cruised to victory over the Wayne Academy Jaguars, 77 to 30. Columbia Academy’s Cougars trounced on the Perry Central Bulldogs, 45 to 5, taking the second place rank in the division with the clear win. Expect the Crusaders to prove they deserved more after going home in the 2017 playoffs in fifth place, tied with Quitman.

A three-way tie exists amongst the top students who accurately answered the most questions. The top Most Outstanding Players with a 70 percent accuracy rate are Matthew Morgan of Presbyterian Christian, Warren Parker of Columbia Academy and Benjamin Dunn of Sacred Heart. Seven “mathletes” tied for fourth place in the individual competition with students scoring a 60 percent accuracy average.

Next week, expect a battle to secure division rankings with Northeast Jones hosting Laurel High School, and Presbyterian Christian enters the lion’s den as they face Raleigh at Jones College. Perry Central hosts division leaders, Sacred Heart and the two academies face off with the match between Columbia Academy and Wayne Academy taking place at Jones College. The Quitman Panthers host its division leader, the Wayne County War Eagles, and Heidelberg hosts the Warriors of Oak Grove.

Results will be posted on the JC Bobcat Math League web page under “Division Standings/Schedules at: http://www.jcjc.edu/bobcatmathleague/ and scores in real time will be posted on the Bobcat Math League Facebook page: Bobcat Math League – Facebook. Weekly results can also be found in local media outlets. For more information about the Bobcat Math League contact Dr. Jessica Bunch (JC Bobcat Math League Commissioner) at 601-477-5422 or email at jessica.bunch@jcjc.edu.

September 18, 2018

Jones College’s Bobcat Math League begins seventh season

ELLISVILLE –Since the inception of the Bobcat Math League, change has been a constant theme. Rules have changed and teams have come and gone and this year is no different. The League has lost three teams, Collins, South Jones and Sylva Bay Academy due to coaches retiring or moving to other schools, or there were not enough students to form a team. Remaining in the hunt to be the Bobcat Math League Champions are the current champions, Wayne County and the runner-up team, Oak Grove. They are both in the Engineering League along with Quitman and Heidelberg High Schools.

“This year, Oak Grove only has two returning members. Eighty-six percent of the team is underclassmen. This will definitely be a rebuilding year but we are looking forward to the matches and competition,” said Oak Grove Math Coach, Whitney Necessary.

Wayne Academy’s Jaguars just missed the championship playoffs last season and could be a threat to Technology Division members, Columbia Academy, Perry Central and Sacred Heart who have done well in the past but struggled some last season. Wayne Academy math coach, Heidi Leggett said her team has the potential to be in the final playoffs this year with seven returning players and several seniors on the team.

“With our returning players and new additions, I believe this is the strongest team we have had at Wayne Academy. All the team members are excited about participating in the program and with this being our fourth year to compete the members have a better understanding of the competition. Our goal each year is to improve in our overall total points from the previous year,” said Wayne Academy Math Coach, Heidi Leggett.

Perennial contenders, the Northeast Jones Tigers have a rich history of success in the JC Bobcat Math League. In 2016, the Tigers landed in fourth place and have tied for fifth place every subsequent year since 2013. However, for the first time since the League was formed in 2012, they missed the cutoff for the 2017 playoffs. This season, the Tiger powerhouse has to overcome some new challenges while contending with the 2013 and 2014 Championship Presbyterian Christian winners, Raleigh, West Jones ( 2nd place in 2016) and Laurel High School in the Science Division. Northeast Jones’ long tradition of being the division winner or earning a wildcard spot has put new Math Coach, Casey Stroo in a difficult spot as he tries to quickly motivate a young team.

“Only five players are returning from last season, and we will be adding a multitude of 9th-grade talent to the team. We definitely will have our work cut out for us this season, being in a strong and competitive division of schools. My goal as a coach is to get my team as close to winning as possible, but I’m also constantly trying to increase their math/STEM knowledge base to prepare them for college and the ACT exam. I look forward to a great season and hope the students enjoy their time participating in this amazing program and opportunity,” said Northeast Jones Math Coach, Casey Stroo.

At the end of the six-week regular season and the final playoffs, the winning top two- teams have the potential to split monetary prizes with their teammates. While winning money and trophies may be a motivating factor for some high school students to become the Jones College Bobcat Math League Champions, ultimately, League Commissioner and JC math instructor, Dr. Jessica Bunch said the League has a bigger purpose which benefits students and their communities.

“Our coaches and teams seem to work harder every year as they strive not only for the title of JC Bobcat Math League Champions but also to improve ACT math scores and high school math subject area grades,” said Bunch. “I think each of this year’s coaches and teams will be just as determined to reach for the goal as they have always been. We enjoy seeing the excitement students have for this competition season after season — we never tire in witnessing their triumphs in success and their comradery and support when a question is missed.”

Mathletes answer STEM-based questions like computational and visual math and history questions related to STEM fields. However, fifty-five percent of the questions will be math-related. Teams face off for the first week of competition September 17, with the regular season ending Tuesday, October 23. The final playoffs and Math “Super Bowl” will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at Jones College.