Newspaper sponsoring NCAA men’s tourney contest again

    With the return of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament this season, set to start with first rounds March 19-20, The Imperial Republican is sponsoring its annual contest again, too.
    Participation is free, and contestants are invited to submit a bracket with their picks for individual game winners in the tournament, said Co-Publisher Russ Pankonin.
    One entry per person is allowed.
    Brackets can be downloaded after Selection Sunday this weekend, or printed copies will be available at The Imperial Republican on Monday, March 15, after 2 p.m.
    Brackets must be filled out and returned to the newspaper office by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 17. They can also be emailed to: adrep@jpipa pers.com.
    Individual contestant point standings will be updated in stories each week through the tournament.
    Chamber Bucks will be awarded to the winner(s) with the most correct predictions at the end of the tournament.
    The NCAA tournament was cancelled last year due to COVID-19, so it’s been two years since the newspaper sponsored a contest.
    Pankonin said the contest is possible thanks to a number of sponsors in the area. Those sponsors are listed in an advertisement on the contest in this week’s issue.