Tom Queen of Marysville, Wash. has stormed to the lead in the Leader Publications UPICKEM College Basketball contest.

Queen has 104 points after the first weekend of games, two points better than Leader Publications sports writer Jason Landstrom, who has 102 points. Landstrom is also on top of the Leader VIP group, 10 points better than runner-up Fred Upton, R. St. Joseph.

Scott Roberts of Niles is in third place and Tony Garritano of Dowagiac is in fourth. Rounding out the top five is Rick Lewis of Berrien Center.

Queen correctly picked 22-of-32 games in round one and got even better in the second round as he connected on 15-of-16 games. He currently is 37-of-48 (77 percent) for 104 points out of a possible 128.

Landstrom picked 23-of-32 winners in the opening round and 14-of-16 in the second round to score 102 points out of a possible 128. He is also 37-of-48 for the tournament so far.

Upton hit on 24-of-32 games in the opening round, but was just 11-of-16 in the second round for 92 points.

He is 35-of-48 (72 percent) for the tournament.

Rounding out the top five in the VIP group are Dowagiac Community Editor John Eby, Coloma Athletic Director Ken Schamltz, along with Niles Community Editor Craig Haupert, Brandywine Superintendent John Jarpe and Leader Publications Sports Editor Scott Novak.