Cookie Bandits strike again!

The Cookie Bandits celebrate their golden, cookie-devouring moment of victory. The annual event kicks off Girl Scout cookie pre-sales in Vernon County. More photos on Page 3A, and at www.nevadadailymail.com. --Photos by Lynn A. Wade/Herald-Tribune

A crowd of Girl Scouts, friends, leaders, neighbors and families gathered to watch the tasty spectacle of the annual Girl Scout Cookie Crunch-Off Friday night.

As time for the event neared, anticipation was growing among participants. All the teams said they were ready for the competition and declared themselves the best pick to win the event.

The Herald-Tribune caught up with each team before the competition to get a feel for the game. Pregame sentiment was charged with optimism and hunger.

"We like to think we're always in training for eating," said Tim Bullard of the Smoke Eaters (Nevada Fire Department) Referring to the two newest team members, Bullard said, "We're counting on our two young soldiers," to come through in the crunch.

Members of the Green Mean Cookie Machine (Truman Elementary) said they were ready to win as well, and they've trained steadily. "I eat cookies every day," said team member Becky Lowery.

The Cookie Bandits cheer on their final cruncher, Caleb Julian, as he closes in on the finish during the annual Girl Scout Cookie Crunch-Off Friday night at the City/County Community Center in Nevada. The Cookie Bandits took away first-place honors for the second year in a row, finishing a full cookie ahead of the Smoke Eaters from the Nevada Fire Department. Cookie Bandits, from Wal-Mart Supercenter, are Julian, Steve Stinson, Tim Shepard, Justin Luther and Matthew Deboutez. --Photos by Lynn A. Wade/Herald-Tribune

The Cookie Bandits (Wal-Mart) were anxious to take the title a second time, and they were sure they could. They have a secret weapon -- the fact that they were all raised in Girl-Scout cookie-eating families. "It's in our blood," a member said.

The Cookie Crushers (Girl Scout leaders) said they've been in training for a year, but last-minute substitutions would prove disastrous for their chances at a win.

Behind the scenes, veterans gave last-minute tips to inexperienced crunchers, then the games began.

The Cookie Bandits took an early lead, with the Smoke Eaters not far behind. Smoke Eaters pulled ahead, and it looked briefly as if the Green Mean Cookie Machines were closing the gap as the crowd chanted an enthusiastic, "Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch."

Milk and Kool-Aid dribbled. Cookies crumbled. Still the crowd chanted. The Green Mean Cookie Machines closed the gap even farther, but the Cookie Bandit's final competitor crunched his way past the competition to devour the last morsel faster than all the teams, leaving them in their crumbs. Second place went to the Smoke Eaters. Third place went to the Mean Green Cookie Machine and the Cookie Crushers finished a leisurely fourth, having lost all hope of a win.

Kaitlynn Vincent participates in a ring-toss game during a carnival leading up to the annual Cookie Crunch-Off.

Cookie Bandits: Caleb Julian, Steve Stinson, Tim Shepard, Justin Luther and Matthew Deboutez.

Smoke Eaters: Dan Lukasik, Jeremy Merrick, John McGraw, Tim Bullard and Kelly Wingert.

Green Mean Cookie Machine: John Smith, David Stevens, Marcy Pritchett, Becky Lowery and Shelby Brandt.

Cookie Crushers: Leonette Hammontree, Joelle Mason, Tabitha Somers, Kristal Wingert and Kari Vincent.