Lakeland Hills Elementary School's magnificent seven pulled one out in triple overtime Tuesday.

Pressed to come up with the right answer to a third tie-breaking question, the Lakeland Hills Wildcats responded to outlast Black Diamond Elementary of Enumclaw and capture the South Regional title in the King County Library System’s ninth annual Global Reading Challenge at the Algona-Pacific Library.

The decisive true-or-false question in the quiz bowl? Pablo Picasso was the peaceful man who led India to independence in 1947.

Answer: False.

For their efforts, the Lakeland Hills readers, comprised of fourth- and fifth-graders, will represent the Auburn School District and the South Region in next Friday's Grand Challenge showdown at Issaquah.

Grand Challenge winners will take back to their school a trophy and a gold medal neck drape for each team member. The winners also will have an opportunity to meet the author of one of the books, Anjali Banergi, who wrote "Looking for Bapu."

"The students worked so hard to get to this final round," said Debbie Howard, librarian for the Algona-Pacific Library who helped orchestrate the event. "It was a pleasure to see the team work together so well."

The winning group from Lakeland Hills was comprised of Andriezl Juangco, Rachel Guisinger, Jake Morgan, Raelene Samuelson, Madison Foster, Margaret Baker and Tommy Broch.

Teams representing each school district competed regionally. Teams were asked questions based on 10 books given to the school by the youth librarians from the King County Library System.

The growing Global Reading Challenge program is modeled after the popular “Battle of the Books.” In 2001, the first Global Challenge in King County was initiated with two schools and 42 students. This year the program involved nine districts, 58 schools and more than 1,300 students, and has generated enthusiasm and support from parents, peers and teachers.

The event is sponsored by the King County Library System and the King County Library System Foundation.

Contact Auburn Reporter Regional Editor Mark Klaas at mklaas@auburn-reporter.com or 1-253-833-0218 (ext 5050).

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