Comet staff report

Cheers, grimaces, and groans echoed throughout the Delphi Middle School media center on March 20 as the Bacon Bits Battle of the Books paired the best of the best from Carroll and Delphi. The middle school competition matched reading comprehension over the same ten books for each team.

Starting with an early lead, the Carroll team was up by four points, but then the Delphi team started making its move. Slowly, but surely by the end of the contest, the score was 66 for Delphi and 67 for Carroll out of the 80question contest.

But there was a challenge, and it all came down to the accuracy of a slogan from the book "Airborn." The Carroll team, nicknamed the "Geek Squad," had recorded the slogan in full, while the Delphi team recorded just the most important word in the slogan. The extra point for Delphi would have thrown the contest into a tie, and a suddendeath round would have ensued.

However, after a meeting of the judges from both schools, they declared the Carroll team the winner, and in true sportsmanship fashion, the Delphi team applauded their opponents' victory.

Media specialists Kathi Johnson and Becky Lain were in charge of the contest from their respective schools.

"It was a great night," said eighth grade Carroll English teacher Danna Bonfiglio. "It was great that we won, but even more it was great to see students so excited about reading. I look forward to next year's competition."

The Bacon Bits BOB was made possible with support from the Carroll County REMC and the Flora and Delphi public libraries.