Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
January 25, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Abbey Schreacke’s reaction said everything. This one meant something. An all-state junior guard on the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, Schreacke caught the ball on the left block as time ticked away in the final 15 seconds of last Thursday’s state-ranked showdown with Illini West and the game tied at 38.…
Read Full Article January 25, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
PALMYRA, Mo. — Nariah Clay’s clutch free-throw shooting and consistent play throughout the week carried the second-seeded Canton girls basketball team to the championship of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational. That included going 8 of 9 from the line and scoring 14 points in a 68-54 victory over top-seeded Palmyra in last Saturday’s championship…
Read Full Article January 25, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Mendon, Ill. Brown County 63, Unity 52: Cole Behymer scored 22 points as the Hornets controlled the game in the second half. Colby Wort added 17 points for Brown County. Gavin Koenig led the Mustangs with 12 points, while Nick Maynard and Melvin McMillen scored 10 points apiece. Girls basketball At Rushville,…
Read Full Article January 23, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy Shootout St. Louis University High 49, Quincy High School 40. Click here for the story and photos. Liberty 62, Dixon 48. Click here for the story and photos. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Tournament Monroe City 73, Hannibal 60. Click here for the story and photos. Palmyra…
Read Full Article January 23, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Stylish, bold, eye-catching and colorful. And it’s all about sole. During the fourth Quincy Shootout, which took place Friday and Saturday at Blue Devil Gym and Friday night at the Pit, the shoe game of some of the top prep basketball players in the state and in the nation was on display. A handful of…
Read Full Article January 23, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The son of a Blue Devil legend did all he could to keep a current Quincy High School boys basketball standout carving his own legacy from adding a Quincy Shootout victory to his resume. By doing so, Nick Kramer made the trip down memory lane unforgettable. Kramer, the St. Louis University High senior…
Read Full Article January 23, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The initial reaction was what Greg Altmix expected. Thursday afternoon, the Liberty boys basketball coach informed his players they had added a game to the schedule with an appearance in the fourth Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. “(The organizers) giving us a chance to come and play in this event really got…
Read Full Article January 23, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Modesto Christian boys basketball team’s 2,000-mile trip from California seemed like a worthwhile adventure when the Crusaders had a 45-40 halftime lead over CBC out of St. Louis. The Crusaders must have forgotten to pack their offense for the second half. The Cadets scored 44 points in the second half, while limiting…
Read Full Article January 22, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy Shootout Quincy High School 55, United Township 45. Click here for the story and photos. At the Pit, Quincy Quincy Shootout Confluence Prep 66, Quincy Notre Dame 65. Click here for the story and photos. At Griggsville, Ill. Liberty 52, Griggsville-Perry 20: The Eagles raced out to…
Read Full Article January 22, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III nodded at the suggestion it had been a week filled with low-energy practices for the Quincy High School boys basketball team. “It wasn’t the best,” the freshman guard admitted. Junior guard Reid O’Brien was a little more blunt. “We didn’t have any good practices all week long,” O’Brien said. So…
Read Full Article January 22, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — When the Chicago St. Rita boys basketball team needed someone to spark a rally, the state’s top-ranked sophomore prospect obliged. James Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward, scored 11 of the Mustangs’ 25 fourth-quarter points as they erased a 12-point deficit and narrowly escaped Blue Devil Gym with a 76-75 victory over Huntington (W. Va.)…
Read Full Article January 22, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — One of the nation’s most talented and most talked about prep school lineups found itself facing a halftime deficit Friday night. That’s when Link Academy showed why it is receiving so much attention. Tarris Reed Jr., playing in the Quincy Shootout for the second time in his career, powered his way to eight…
Read Full Article January 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — A five-point lead at the end of the first quarter was extended to 13 by halftime as Berkmar, Ga., systemically pulled away from the iSchool of Lewisville, Texas, for a 70-45 victory in the opening game of the fourth Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Malique Ewin, a 6-foot-10 Ole Miss signee, led…
Read Full Article January 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Invitational Hannibal 73, Highland 40: A 13-point halftime cushion turned into a rout as the Pirates’ 3-point barrage carried them into Saturday night’s championship game against top-seeded Monroe City. Hannibal made four 3-pointers in the third quarter and 11 treys overall. Aaris Stolte finished with 24 points, making…
Read Full Article January 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CARTHAGE, Ill. — The difference between the two best Class 2A girls basketball teams in the west-central part of the state is subtle, yet simple. One has Abbey Schreacke. The other does not. With the outcome of Thursday night’s battle of state-ranked teams, Quincy Notre Dame was going to win, lose or draw with the…
Read Full Article January 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — It’s cold outside. Like really cold. Like your truck doesn’t want to start and whines when you do start it kind of cold. That’s OK. It’s warm in Blue Devil Gym and the Pit and a myriad of high school venues around the area where some of the best basketball is taking place…
Read Full Article January 20, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth Quincy Shootout takes place this weekend with games being played Friday night at Quincy High School’s Blue Devil Gym and Quincy Notre Dame’s The Pit. Saturday, all eight games will be played at Blue Devil Gym. Here is a look at the teams and top players who will be worth the price of…
Read Full Article January 20, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Payson, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 59, Payson Seymour 55. Click here for the story and video interview. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Invitational Monroe City 42, Palmyra 23: The tempo favored fourth-seeded Palmyra until top-seeded Monroe City got stingy and Joshua Talton got rolling. Monroe City, which led the semifinal matchup 17-13…
Read Full Article January 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The physical aspect of Wednesday night’s Mid-West Athletic Conference game negated the natural rhythm and flow John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt relishes. So while he was encouraged by the outcome, Hoyt was disappointed with the style. “I was expecting a little better basketball,” Hoyt said after the Trail Blazers…
Read Full Article January 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The Prairie State Profile will appear each week to highlight an Illinois area student-athlete. CARTHAGE, Ill. — Technology has changed the method of delivery, but the messages are similar to what they were three decades ago. The intent is the same, too. It’s to give Caydee Kirkham all the knowledge she needs to succeed at…
Read Full Article January 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Girls basketball At the Pit, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 57, Quincy High School 35. Click here for the story and photos. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Tournament Canton 45, Monroe City 37: The Tigers held the Panthers to four points in the fourth quarter to advance to the semifinals. Nariah Clay led Canton with 17…
Read Full Article January 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team didn’t score off the opening tip Tuesday night like it so often does. The Raiders didn’t convert on their opening possession either, which negated their ability to jump into a full-court press and create havoc for Quincy High School’s backcourt. It took 52 seconds for all…
Read Full Article January 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The raucous, creative and comical Quincy High School students who packed the bleachers behind the girls basketball team’s bench Tuesday night need to check their schedules. Their presence is requested at future games. “Tell them to come out there and get me fired up,” Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Blair Eftink said with…
Read Full Article January 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Bloomington, Ill. Bloomington Central Catholic Shootout Quincy Notre Dame 57, Farmington 43. Quincy Notre Dame 55, Williamsville 39. Click here for the story about both games. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Tournament Palmyra 76, Canton 53: Mason Roberts scored 11 points in the third quarter as the fourth-seeded Panthers outscored the fifth-seeded…
Read Full Article January 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Deflated. There is no better word to describe the atmosphere surrounding the Quincy University men’s basketball program after Monday night’s 90-84 overtime loss to Missouri S&T in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Pepsi Arena. Gut-punched would work, too. The Hawks had a nine-point lead with 4:18 remaining in regulation, but got outscored…
Read Full Article January 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The glimmer in Nick Kramer’s eye shined when he began talking about the situation he will be walking into this weeked. He’s entering his father’s old neighborhood. With that comes the understanding of history, tradition and legacy. Jack Kramer is part of all three when it comes to the Quincy High School boys basketball program,…
Read Full Article January 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team needs to work on its closing kick, too. The Hawks trailed Missouri S&T by one point heading to the fourth quarter Monday in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Pepsi Arena, but the Miners scored the first 10 points of the final stanza and led 58-47 with…
Read Full Article January 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer said the Raiders “defended like crazy” during a sweep of two games Monday at the Bloomington Central Catholic Shootout. It took a collective effort to be that good. “The guys were connected,” Meyer said. “All five guys were moving as one.” It made it…
Read Full Article January 16, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Boys basketball At Roy S. Anderson Gym, Lincoln, Ill. Quincy High School 45, Lincoln 25. Click here for the story. At Winchester, Ill. Winchester Invitational Tournament Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central 44, Liberty 42: The Bluejays’ Gavin Artholony made 9 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off the Eagles in the championship game.…
Read Full Article January 15, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
LINCOLN, Ill. — Jeremiah Talton could tell during pregame warmups Saturday night the right ankle he had tweaked 24 hours prior wasn’t going to be an issue. “It’s actually feeling pretty good,” the Quincy High School senior swingman said. “As soon as I got out there, I wasn’t feeling anything.” He also knew he had…
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