Balanced scoring and well-timed buzzes helped the Cairo Bearcats complete an undefeated 7-0 run at the Central Activities Conference tournament Monday, Mar. 23 in Glasgow to win the conference’s scholar bowl title.

Juniors Owen Allred and Blake Gates led the Bearcats in scoring, as Allred made the all-conference team with 22 tossups, while Gates added 21. Captain Bradley Smith says it’s the first conference title in quiz bowl in over a decade, and commended the team’s balance and chemistry.
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Cairo ran into trouble during Round Four against the host Yellowjackets, as they were trailing at the half. Smith recaps how the Bearcats were able to pull off the 230-160 comeback.

Cairo had earlier fended off Sturgeon 220-170 in what turned out to be the deciding game, as the Bulldogs finished second with a 6-1 record. Sophomore Ty Holt of Glasgow led all scorers with 49 tossups.

Glasgow will also host the junior high CAC scholar bowl tournament Wednesday.

2026 Central Activities Conference Scholar Bowl Tournament (HS Division)

Round One
Pilot Grove 250, New Franklin 160
Glasgow 360, Madison 90
Cairo 260, Community 170
Sturgeon 240, Slater 120

Round Two
Cairo 220, Sturgeon 170
Glasgow 240, Community 160
New Franklin 300, Madison 30
Pilot Grove 250, Slater 100

Round Three
Cairo 190, Pilot Grove 100
Sturgeon 210, Community 130
Glasgow 190, New Franklin 160
Slater 160, Madison 80

Round Four
Sturgeon 320, Pilot Grove 160
Community 190, Madison 120
Slater 270, New Franklin 200
Cairo 230, Glasgow 160

Round Five
Cairo 250, Slater 130
New Franklin 250, Community 170
Sturgeon 190, Glasgow 150
Pilot Grove 290, Madison 80

Round Six
Community 210, Slater 160
Pilot Grove 250, Glasgow 160
Cairo 240, New Franklin 180
Sturgeon 310, Madison 110

Round Seven
Pilot Grove 240, Community 140
Glasgow 290, Slater 210
Cairo 240, Madison 130
Sturgeon 280, New Franklin 130

Standings
Cairo 7-0
Sturgeon 6-1
Pilot Grove 5-2
Glasgow 4-3
Community 2-5
New Franklin 2-5
Slater 2-5
Madison 0-7

All-Conference Team
Ty Holt, Glasgow – 70 ppg (points per game)
Zach Rehmer, Pilot Grove – 67.1 ppg
Matthew Utterback, Community – 50 ppg
Cade Breshears, Slater – 40 ppg
Ingram Dessenberger, Sturgeon – 40 ppg
Aspen Gordham, Madison – 38.6 ppg
Mason McGruder, New Franklin – 34.3 ppg
Owen Allred, Cairo – 31.4 ppg