Tillberg wins annual Bee Final Four Challenge

SANDPOINT — As with most Final Four predictions, there is usually a little luck involved, but make no mistake, Bee Final Four Challenge winner Maureen Tillberg knows a thing or two about basketball as well.

Tillberg, who graduated in the early 70s from Sandpoint High School, beat 60 other entries to win the $75 prize. Her and Ed Brown were the only entries to pick three Final Four teams, and when UNC beat Oregon in the semis, Tillberg secured the win by via tie-breaker.

She admits to being lucky at things, and knows a friend who won’t be surprised at all to hear she won the annual basketball contest.

“I can just hear it, ‘oh my god, you won again,’” joked Tillberg, who plans to use her winnings to take her husband Steve out to a nice dinner. “I felt like I got lucky, but I know my hoops a little.”

Like many in the area, Tillberg was pulling hard for the Zags to beat the Tar Heels on Monday night. Her ties to the school run deep, with her son Keith Shepherd graduating from the Spokane school around the time the Zags started getting really good.

Before her son attended Gonzaga as a college student, he had a chance to meet the greatest Zag of all as a seventh grader.

“When he was younger he met John Stockton at a Gonzaga basketball camp,” recalled Tillberg of her son Keith getting to meet the NBA Hall of Fame point guard. “I have a picture of him and John Stockton.”

Tillberg took an analytical approach to her bracket, sprinkled with some geographic bias. Having lived in Oregon for a few years, she became a Ducks fan and picked the No. 3 seed to join perennial favorites Duke and UNC in her Final Four.

The Zags pick was easy, and not just because her heart wanted it, but because they were absolutely loaded with talent this season.

“I just felt they had a really strong team that could make it at last to the Final Four,” said Tillberg, who was already talking about the prospects of next season and whether freshman Zack Collins will still be around. “I think he needs to beef up a little.”

Thanks to all who took part in the Challenge, and better luck next season.

And go Zags.