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Students from Brandywine and Whitehall elementary schools competed Tuesday in the Science Bowl's quarterfinal elimination rounds, answering questions about the elbow, bacteria in yogurt and stem cell research.

With a final score of 180-220, Brandywine Elementary lost to Whitehall Elementary, the first time the Bowie school has competed in the bowl.

Whitehall then faced Laurel Elementary; Whitehall's two alternates participated in this round, one of them answering the game's final question, winning the game 185-180.

Whitehall will compete Feb. 9 in the semifinals against Hyattsville's University Park Elementary.

The Science Bowl, hosted by Dave Zahren, is a televised quiz bowl for Prince George's County public elementary and middle school students. Students compete in two teams of three to test their science knowledge, from current science news to planetary facts and medical conditions.

Brandywine's team is made up of fifth-graders Monet Key-Passmore, Asia Harrison, Seriah Wyatt and alternates Joseph Brooks, Keila Scott and Raeven Sallaway. The team's Science Bowl coach is fifth-grade teacher Gina Losey.

Losey said all fifth-graders were given a science-related quiz, and the highest-scoring students were selected for the team. The team prepared by reading through old Science Bowl episode questions, studying science trivia and science current events every day at lunch and once a week after school for nearly two hours.

After the competition, Monet, Asia and Seriah all said, in unison, that the competition was "fun."

"It's not about winning or losing, it's for fun," Asia said.

Losey said they did so well because they kept going.

"They never gave up," she said.

Whitehall's team is composed of fifth-graders Austin King, Cindy King, Ryan Westbrook and alternates Evan Hansen and John Lewis. Whitehall's Science Bowl coordinator and fifth grade science teacher is Andrew Karnes.

Karnes said the team has met for one hour once every two weeks since October. The team prepared for Tuesday's competition by watching previous Science Bowl episodes, studying Zahren's style of asking questions and current science events, among other things.

"They're pumped up, they're jacked," Karnes said before the competition.

After the team's win over Laurel Elementary, Karnes said he is simply proud.

"Their hard work and teamwork paid off," Karnes said.

For the final question, Zahren asked students this question: Benjamin Franklin, who in addition to inventing the bifocals and stove, invented what tube that draws liquid out of the body? The answer was "the catheter."

Alternate Evan Hansen said he knew the answer to the final question after reading about the invention only a couple of days before Tuesday's competition.

Team captain Austin King said he was proud of himself and of Evan.

"He gave me the last answer," Austin said.

Tuesday's Science Bowl will air Jan. 11 to 18 on Comcast Cable Channel 96 and Verizon Channel 38.

The February semifinal elimination round match between Whitehall and Hyattsville's University Park Elementary School will air March 1 to 7 on the same channels.

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.