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Buff Elementary OBOB team heading to state tournament

A group of young children wearing blue shirts and medals, standing in front of a large beige backdrop.

Over the weekend, four teams from the Jefferson County School District were in Prineville for the OBOB Grades 3-5 Regional Tournament.  The regional tournament consisted of 21 teams from communities as far north as Maupin and as far east as John Day and Burns. 

Each team was competing for a chance to state. This tournament is the largest regional tournament east of the Cascades.

After four matches in pool play, two Jefferson County schools advanced to the Sweet-16.  The Madras Eagles who earned the #3 seed and the Buff Bears who earned the #7 seed.

In the Sweet-16, Madras defeated John Tuck of the Redmond School District and Buff beat the Harney County Library (Burns) to advance to the Elite 8. In the Elite 8, 509J would face two teams from the Redmond School District. The #6 seeded Mustangs of Tom McCall and the #2 seeded Lions of M.A. Lynch.  Both matchups witnessed 509J victories. With the most competitive regional tournament in history, half of the Final Four would consist of 509J schools. 

In the Final Four, Madras and Buff found themselves on the same side of the bracket. The two teams played each other on February 20th, in the 6th annual Jefferson County Cup. Now a little over two weeks later, they would play again for a berth to the championship and a possible trip to the state tournament in Salem. 

Madras was flowing in and on top early before Buff responded and held the lead late, with the final question determining the match. An incorrect response by the Buff would allow the Eagles a chance to steal and try and force overtime. The Bears would not allow the Eagles that opportunity. Buff iced the match by answering correctly and advanced to the championship.

In the championship Buff would take on the #5 seeded Redsides of South Wasco.  While Madras would play for Bronze against the #1 seeded Mustangs of Crane. In the medal round, the Eagles dream of a Bronze and a podium placement would come up just short, finishing 4th, their best performance in regional tournament history.  

In the championship, Buff once again found themselves down at halftime. The Bears would rally against the Redsides of South Wasco. The only difference, Buff would not need the final question to secure the match.

In winning the regional tournament, the Bears are heading back to the state tournament for the second time in four years. Congratulations to:

  • Nevah Meissel
  • Nolan Hurd
  • Kinsley Feigner
  • Aurora Blyth.

With Buff’s victory, it marked an impressive run for our district in the state's largest reading initiative. 

The inaugural season for the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) took place in 2006-2007. 135 teams were registered that year. Fast forward to this season, nearly 700 teams, 698 to be exact, are registered in 2025-2026. Since emerging from Covid, where the state tournament did not take place for a period of three years, JCSD teams have qualified, in one of the three OBOB divisions, in three of the past four years. Buff in 2023, 3-5 Division. Madras High School in 2025, 9-12 Division. And now Buff again in 2026.  

The White Buffalos of Jefferson County Middle School are competing in the 6-8 regional tournament in Bend this weekend, Saturday March 14. JCMS will be one of the favorites for state berth by recently winning the Redmond Tournament two weeks ago.