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Hyattsville Middle School students won the school's fifth consecutive middle school science bowl championship Tuesday after defeating Nicholas Orem Middle School's team, which competed in it first final game.

The game, held at the Bonnie F. Johns Educational Media Center in Landover, was the culmination of the Prince George's County schools-sponsored science bowl tournament. Middle and elementary school teams answer science questions on the quiz show, now in its 23rd year.

Students answered questions in categories such as "Zoo Parade," "Body Systems" and "Green Things." Eighth-graders Helen Lan of University Park, Niko Schultz of Hyattsville and Lydia Carter of Hyattsville, all 13, competed for Hyattsville Middle. Seventh-grader Michel Mouckomey, 12, and eighth-graders Gabriel Dwarika, 14, and Margo Jeanty, 13, all of Hyattsville, competed for Nicholas Orem.

During the first half of the game, the two Hyattsville schools' scores remained close until Hyattsville Middle pulled away after correctly answering "paleontologist" as the scientific term for a fossil-hunter. The first half ended with Hyattsville Middle at 140 points and Nicholas Orem at 85.

Nicholas Orem attempted a comeback after correctly answering "bikini" as the name of the islands the U.S. tested atomic bombs in the 1940s, narrowing Hyattsville's lead by only 40 points. But Hyattsville Middle continued to advance throughout the second half, beating Nicholas Orem 330 -140.

Nicholas Orem's team sponsors Rosa Daniel and Daisy Rayela said this was the first time in eight years the school participated in the Science Bowl.

"It's very surprising. We haven't competed in eight years and I'm very proud," Daniel said. "They have natural talent and just let them have fun. We'll be back. We're just starting."

Although Nicholas Orem students were disappointed with the loss, Margo said "we're just happy we set a new record."

Michel wants to compete again next year. He said this year's game was a valuable experience.

"I learned it's not as easy as it seems," he said.

Hyattsville Middle's team sponsor Staci Henry said her large, 10-member team was an advantage because the students could practice against each other. Students chose the final team.

"They work as a team," she said. "The fact that they all decide who plays makes us very strong as a team."

Niko said the team practiced hard going into the game despite having won four times before.

"We won last year and we were pretty confident, but we didn't want to get too comfortable," she said.

Lydia said her team didn't take Nicholas Orem for granted after that school's semifinal match.

"We were still nervous because they made a comeback," she said.

Before advancing to the finals, Nicholas Orem defeated Bowie's Samuel Ogle Middle School during the semifinal match on Tuesday after trailing throughout the game. Nicholas Orem was down 185-205 until the team answered the final, 25-point question: what does the Saffir-Simpson Scale measure. The buzzer sounded after they answered "hurricanes." Nicholas Orem defeated Samuel Ogle 210 - 205.

Hyattsville beat Landover's Kenmoor Middle School in the second semi-final match on Tuesday. Kenmoor has won the science bowl title seven times.

Kenmoor team captain, seventh-grader Vishnu Rachakonda, 12, of Glenn Dale said the team is motivated to practice harder for the March 14 regional science bowl game.

"I feel like we could have done better," he said. "But it's science bowl; it's all about fun."

The semi-final games will air May 11 to 17 and the final game will air May 25 to June 7.

E-mail Elahe Izadi at eizadi@gazette.net.