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Kortez Logan, 11, of Magnolia Elementary in Lanham, led his team to a five-point victory by correctly answering the final question of the game.

Kortez remembered his answer of "vulcanized rubber" from lessons he received in his fifth-grade science class last year.

The Science Bowl is a televised game show for Prince George's County public elementary and middle school students that quizzes contestants in six categories, including topics such as biology, physics, chemistry and entomology. The competition is filmed at the Bonnie F. Johns Educational Media Center in Landover, which students said they were excited to see in real life after watching the competition so many times on television.

"This place looks bigger on YouTube," said Magnolia team alternate Jordan Love, referring to the previous Science Bowl matches he watched online in preparation.

The final score Tuesday afternoon was 265 to 260, allowing Kortez and his teammates, Madison Margalano and Kristen Beauchamp, to advance to the semifinals alongside Berwyn Heights, Northview and Glenarden Woods elementary schools, all of whom previously qualified.

In the first round of the game, University Park's team of Ryan Montesi, Jesse Meintjes and Adam Wasserman were up by more than 50 points, but Magnolia managed a comeback in the second round by correctly answering questions about elements and minerals.

Magnolia teammates said the win was a gift to their coach and teacher, Robert Allen, who celebrated his birthday Tuesday.

"I couldn't have asked for a better gift," Allen said.

Earlier that day, Magnolia beat Accokeek Academy, formerly known as Henry Ferguson Elementary, 330 to 145.

University Park defeated Bowie opponent, Whitehall Elementary, leading the four-time Science Bowl winners to a faceoff with Magnolia Elementary.

The match Tuesday will air on Comcast Cable Channel 96 and Verizon Channel 38 and is available online at www.pgcps.org.

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.