Three Newton schools are participating in this year's Mass. Mock Trial tournament, which is sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association. Here is an update on the recent Newton matches:

Newton North High School

Newton North defeated Newton Country Day in its first match of the season 93-87 on Jan. 24. However, Newton North fell to Belmont Hill last Thursday (Feb. 2) 86-84, according to teacher Coach David Hawkins.

Newton South High School

Newton South defeated Belmont High School 84-82 on Jan. 25. The team also won a Jan. 31 match against BC High, 100-91, according to the Mass. Bar Association. 

Newton Country Day School

In its first trial of the 2012 tournament, Newton Country Day School won the verdict in a trial against Newton North High School, but lost the overall match 93-87.

The story was similar in last week's match against Beaver Country Day School, where the team won the verdict but narrowly lost the overall match 83-81.

In the team's third and final match of the tournament, they tied BC High 68-68, but eventually came out with their first win after the judge awarded Newton Country Day the tiebreaker point. 

From teacher Coach Carrie-Anne DeDeo:

The girls made a strong case for the defense (their first time representing that side) in last week's trial against Beaver Country Day School (on Thursday, February 2). Though they had not had the benefit of a practice trial or scrimmage for that side, as they had with the plaintiff's side of the case, they showed incredible growth over the previous week's performance--making objections, thinking on their feet, and not giving the other team an inch. Our attorney-coach Jim Marano and I really thought that they had won, but mock trial judging is a subjective process, and they lost by the narrowest of margins, 83 Beaver-81 Newton (although, once again, we did win the verdict).

Immediately after the case, the girls, Mr. Marano, and I all reconvened in a classroom here at school for an hour-long strategy session about our next trial, only four days later (on Monday, February 6). All the girls, both lawyers and witnesses, went home with plans for preparing for the next trial, and despite a very busy weekend schedule (with both the school semi-formal and the Super Bowl), it was clear to me today that they put in a lot of time and dedication getting ready for today's trial against BC High.

This afternoon, our all-female team (representing the defense) faced off against the all-male BC High mock trial team (representing the plaintiff). Both teams gave it all they had--making objection after objection, delivering persuasive and impassioned opening and closing statements, and grilling witnesses with newfound intensity. That the teams were evenly matched displayed itself in the score--a tie of 68 to 68, which the judge broke in NCDS's favor, awarding us a tie-breaker point for arguing a more persuasive case on its merits, making this the team's first official mock trial victory.

The girls are thrilled and already making plans to win all three of our trials next season. "I think we can do it," one of them said to me on the drive back to school. "We just needed a little experience." 

Do you have updates or photos from Newton mock trial teams? We want to hear from you! Upload your photos by pressing the "upload photos" button above and email info to Melanie.Graham@patch.com.