March Madness

NCAA March Madness 2018 is in full effect with the Final Four to go down this weekend. It’s been a crazy ride thus far with many having their brackets busted early with some high ranked favorites falling sooner than expected and some Cinderellas coming through.

In The Monticello News’ inaugural foray for the March Madness Basketball Contest, there are 11 participants still in the running to win the $100 value of prizes including $50 cash, an annual subscription to The News, and a t-shirt.

Players were asked to select their choices for the Elite Eight, Final Four, Championship Game and the Champion with four points rewarded for each team chosen correctly of the eight, eight points for each of the four teams, 12 points for each of the final teams, and 16 points for the winner. The player with the most points accumulated after the final basket is played on Monday, April 2 will be named the winner. In case of a tie, straws will be drawn to determine the winner.

Looking at the remaining entries still in the running, two News’ football contest regulars and former winners currently lead the pack—Tom Brazil and Phillips Workman each have 36 points. Mr. Brazil, a retired engineer and Georgia Tech alumnus, has Kansas taking it all while Mr. Workman, a law student at UGA, has Kansas in the final but Virginia taking it all.

Danny Tumlin trails the leaders by four and could possibly come out on top as Villanova is his top pick. It is still anybody’s contest to win with 28 points left to earn. Interestingly enough none of the remaining entries even put this year’s true Cinderella, Loyola of Chicago with Sister Jean, in the mix for the title—which could just turn out to be the biggest fan faux pas of the tournament.

March Madness contest sponsors are Larry’s 4-Way, Bulldog Gym, and the Jasper County Recreation Department.