With the University of Connecticut cutting down the nets after defeating Butler Monday night in the men's NCAA basketball championship game it also meant the conclusion to the Times Journal's bracket contest, which was won by Payton Bunch with a total score of 94.

Bunch, a 13-year-old student at Russell County Middle School, correctly picked Kentucky and Connecticut in the Final Four and picked UConn to defeat UK and then win the NCAA title, therefore earning her the top spot.

Bunch is the winner of the houseboat weekend on Lake Cumberland courtesy of Indian Hills Resort/Alligator II Marina, a $2,000 value. The Times Journal received a total of 205 brackets for this year's contest

Bunch said that while she is a basketball fan she picked UConn to win based purely on the fact that her mother, Peggy, had mentioned she had liked them in the past.

“Whenever I filled the bracket out I never though I would actually win,” Bunch said. “I was so surprised when my mom called me ant told me I had won. I couldn’t believe it.”

Payton’s mother, Peggy, joined her as they met at Alligator II on Monday to claim her prize and learn when they could take their houseboat weekend as they met with the dock’s manager James Flatt.

“We want to thank the Times Journal and Alligator II for making this happen,” Peggy said.

The second place finisher, Ben Lawless, also picked Connecticut to win the title and finished with 91 total points. In third place was Matthew Thomas with 85 points. Thomas also picked UConn to win the title.

There were four fourth place finishers with Pat Hopper finishing with 83 total points and Tonya Luttrell, Woody Gosser and Joseph Luttrell each finishing with 80 total points.

The runner-up prizes in the free contest  included four oil changes from Franklin Motors, a $30 value for each change, a $25 gift certificate from The Porch in Russell Springs and a University of Kentucky plaid tote from Sarah's Cards and Gifts, a $21 value.

The sponsors for this year's Times Journal bracket contest are Indian Hills Resort/Alligator II Marina, Laker Country 104.9 fm WJRS/ESPN Radio 1060 am, Franklin Motors, The Porch Restaurant and Sarah's Cards and Gifts.