Bracket Challenge winner ...

Ernie Palas of Waukon displays his winning bracket and prizewinnings of $50 in Standard Bucks for topping this year’s field of 285 entries in The Standard’s NCAA Basketball Bracket Challenge. Palas actually tied with Gregg Jones of Waukon with 136 points each at the end of the contest, but Palas’ choice of 161 points in the tie-breaker of total points scored in the championship game was closer to this year’s NCAA Basketball Championship game total of 136 points than Jones’ guess of 184 points, awarding this year’s contest championship to Palas. Palas and Jones were the only entries in the contest to choose North Carolina to beat Gonzaga in this year’s title game. The Standard appreciates all of this year’s entries and sponsors making this year’s contest possible.