Schuckman: Douglas clings to Lepper’s words and their friendship while helping Blue Devils fight way to sectional championship victory

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — After what had been a restless night with little to no sleep, Andy Douglas got the phone call he was expecting.

On the other end was Tom Lepper, the voice Douglas needed to hear.

This was only 12 hours or so after the Quincy High School boys basketball team had lost 44-43 to Normal Community in the Class 4A sectional championship game at Pekin a year ago, a game in which a Blue Devils turnover on an inbounds play led to the Ironmen scoring as time expired.

It was as gut-wrenching and heart-breaking as anything Douglas or his players had ever experienced. Lepper, a former QHS all-state forward and long-time assistant coach, knew how to offer some perspective and some solace.

“It was tough,” Douglas said. “The amount of emotion that flowed after that game was a ton. Talking to him brought even more.”

Thinking about Lepper following Friday night’s game elicited more emotion, too.

The Blue Devils gained a measure of retribution for that loss, beating the Ironmen 61-54 in overtime to win the Class 4A Collinsville Sectional at Vergil Fletcher Gym and advance to the elite eight where they will face Lisle Benet Academy at 7:30 p.m. Monday at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus in Normal.

How Lepper would have reacted to Friday’s victory and the things he would have said made Douglas smile, chuckle and tear up all at once.

Lepper’s physical presence was the biggest thing missing from the postgame celebration. He passed away last November after a two-year battle with brain cancer, but his spirit could be felt from beginning to end.

It started with the playing of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” over the public address system during the pregame — it was one of Lepper’s favorite songs — and it ended with the Blue Devils holding his jersey up as they received the sectional championship plaque.

“For us to be able to lift his jersey to know he is here with us amongst a sea full of blue in a purple gymnasium, you realize Quincy is special,” Douglas said. “My dad has always said there’s a lot of magic in those uniforms, and there really is.”

There’s also a sense destiny is on the Blue Devils’ side.

As he sat there soaking everything in and trying to catch his breath after upholding all of his postgame responsibilities, Douglas dabbed at the tear is his eye and looked up at the scoreboard, which still showed the final score.

The Ironmen were held to 54 points. That was Lepper’s number.

“That’s unbelievable,” Douglas said. “Unbelievable.”

And another sign the big fella is part of this journey.

“He’s with us,” Douglas said. “Always.”