Bishop Guertin Edges Salem 430-405 On Granite State Challenge

DURHAM, NH — Bishop Guertin High School narrowly defeated Salem High School, 430-405, in the latest game of Granite State Challenge on NH PBS.

Bishop Guertin, a two-time former champion, took the lead in the final round and held it to the end over Salem, a three-time former champion.

Captain Mohid Khan, a 12th-grader, led the Bishop Guertin Cardinals. The team included 12th-graders Declan Pyles, Teddy Bond and Aidan Coffey, with alternates Grant Leonardi, a 10th-grader, and Carter Rick, a 12th-grader. The team was coached by English teachers Katie Graham and Jeannette Riendeau. Salem was captained by 12th-grader Megan Sneed. Its team included 10th-grader Ross Tremblay, 11th-grader Gabe Bradley and 10th-grader Sam Feuer, with 9th-grader Bernie Campbell as alternate. Salem coach Bernie Campbell is a social studies teacher.

The opening round went back and forth, with Salem holding a 135-120 lead after one round. In round two, Bishop Guertin managed 40 points after what Khan described as a missed chance to pass on a question before the team's three strikes ended the round. Salem scored 80 points in that round and extended its advantage.

“There was one question in the second round where we knew, but we forgot to pass it,” Khan said.

Salem continued to build its lead in round three, getting 9 out of 10 correct in the quickfire round. Bishop Guertin answered 8 out of 10, but Salem still led 305-250 heading into the final round. Sneed said the team stayed connected throughout the match.

“Even though we lost, we worked really well as a team, and we felt very cohesive,” she said. “We were able to share our ideas when we really needed it. I was very proud of my team. I feel like they did so amazing.”

Bishop Guertin turned the game early in round four by controlling the buzzer. By the fifth question of the round, the Cardinals had taken the lead, and Salem did not get it back. Khan said the team focused on cutting into the deficit.

“I think really it was just that drive to tighten the score as much as we could, and eventually we took the lead,” Khan said. “We were just driven by that.”

Riendeau called the ending tense.

“It was truly a nail-biter in the end,” she laughed.

Campbell said, “We’ll just keep doing what we do.”

New Hampshire PBS said the next game of Granite State Challenge will air at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 on NHPBS and will also stream on the PBS App, the NHPBS YouTube channel and online at nhpbs.org/gsc.