Blue Devils navigate first road trip with no issues, start WB6 play with lopsided victory

GENESEO, Ill. — Although he has a veteran starting lineup, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas understood the first road trip for a new varsity roster could present some challenges.

“The schedule is just different and you don’t know how guys will react,” Douglas said.

The Blue Devils handled it like pros.

Quincy scored on its first nine possessions, went on a 16-0 run in the first quarter and never worried in a 71-34 victory over Geneseo in the Western Big 6 Conference opener. The Blue Devils, ranked fourth in the Associated Press Class 4A state poll, led by 20 points at the end of the first quarter and played the entire bench in the second half.

“We did our jobs,” Douglas said. “We took care of business.”

While the outcome went as expected, so did the manner in which it played out.

The Blue Devils forced nine turnovers in the first quarter and more than 25 turnovers overall. They scored more than half of their points in transition.

“Our defense was really good,” Douglas said. “The guys were engaged.”

Senior guard Bradley Longcor III led the Blue Devils with 21 points, while senior forward Keshaun Thomas finished with 12 points.

The Blue Devils (4-0) immediately turn their focus to playing host to Deerfield on Saturday night. The Warriors (3-2) suffered a 61-43 loss to Winnetka New Trier on Friday night, but bring a sizable lineup to Blue Devil Gym that features a pair of 6-foot-8 forward, including swingman Jake Pollack who is receiving NCAA Division I recruiting interest.

“We haven’t faced size like that this season,” Douglas said. “It presents a new challenge for us.”

This will be the first meeting between the programs in more than 40 years. The Blue Devils and Warriors last met in the season opener in 1983 with Quincy winning 73-41.

The Blue Devils are 3-0 all-time against the Warriors, having won 74-59 in the opening game of the Pontiac Tournament in 1976 and 95-36 in the Pontiac Tournament lidlifter in 1981.

Deerfield won three of its first four games, losing 67-58 to Gurnee Warren, which is the No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A. Three Warriors — guard Sam Hanus, guard Evan Nagler and Pollack — were named to the all-tournament team following the Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament.