ConVal Regional High takes on defending champion Merrimack High on Thursday, April 17, at 8:30 p.m. on New Hampshire PBS in the third quarterfinal game of “Granite State Challenge.”

Playing for ConVal are team captain and junior Lukas Baker along with senior Owen Beaulieu and juniors Remy Kekuewa-Colon and Ben Michaud. Team alternates are senior Kyle Austin and junior Brian Alonso.

Baker and Michaud each spoke about strategies for the upcoming quarterfinal game.

“We watched a couple of episodes and we feel more confident” Baker stated.

“We had some discussions about our three strikes round and not leaving passes on the board and using them strategically to our advantage,” stated Michaud.

The team is coached by social studies teachers Eric Bowman and Chris Heider.

Playing for defending champions Merrimack High are team captain and senior Erin Murray, along with seniors Maeve LaRock and Liam MacIsaac and junior Avis Clever. Team alternates are senior Hikari McDowell and junior Bridget Clark.

Murray spoke about the previous outcome between ConVal Regional High and Nashua South, which ConVal won on a last-second answer from Michaud.

“I think we’re a little more nervous running into this match,” she stated. “It’s a team that we weren’t expecting to face. We’re a little bit unsure of how they’ll play, but I’m still feeling really good.”

The team is coached by chemistry teacher Sara Campbell and physics teacher Liz Dumais.

“We’ve not played against ConVal before,” Campbell stated. “We got to see their match against Nashua High South and they looked really good. So, we expect another good match.”

The winner of the game moves on to the semifinals, where they will meet the winner of the quarterfinal game between Bedford High and Profile High airing on Thursday, May 8, at 8:30 p.m. on New Hampshire PBS.