Quarter century of memories: Kvitle’s career-best scoring effort carries QHS to regional title

Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman began covering the Quincy High School boys basketball program during the 1998-99 season, and since he recently wrapped up his 25th season following the Blue Devils, he put together a list of his 25 most memorable games. Here is today’s installment:

March 4, 2005 — Quincy 48, Jacksonville 43

QUINCY — Blessed to have coached numerous players throughout his Hall of Fame coaching career who shared that refuse-to-lose mentality, Sean Taylor could make a laundry list of moments where a player almost single-handedly won a game.

Heck, Brock Harding’s efforts carried the Moline boys basketball team to the Class 4A state championship this past winter.

In Taylor’s second of 11 seasons on the bench at Quincy High School, one of those magical postseason moments occurred.

And after reconnecting with Jason Kvitle when the Maroons played at Blue Devil Gym in January and reminiscing a little, Taylor made sure to point out what is arguably the best single-game performance of Kvitle’s career.

“You remember that regional, right?” Taylor said.

It was an unforgettable night.

Facing Jacksonville in the historic Jacksonville Bowl for a Class AA regional championship on March 4, 2005, Kvitle scored a career-high 29 points in guiding the Blue Devils to a 48-43 victory in overtime. He went 8 of 11 from the field, 9 of 13 from the free-throw line and 4 of 4 from 3-point range while adding five rebounds and three steals.

At the time, Taylor called it “the best performance by a player I’ve coached in a regional championship by far.”

Those words still ring true today.

“To do that on that stage, it was incredible,” Taylor said.

Kvitle was his toughest when the Blue Devils needed it most.

Jacksonville overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, tying the game on Brian Anderson’s layin with 6.2 seconds to play. In overtime, Kvitle gave the Blue Devils the lead by knocking down 4 of 6 free throws, but it was his rebound of Anderson’s missed front end of a 1-and-1 with 1:30 that enabled Quincy to put the game away.

“We didn’t need to run any plays. Just let Jason take over,” former QHS point guard Jeremy Osborne told The Herald-Whig following the game. “He was having one of those nights where everything fell. He played huge, just huge.”

To check out previous stories in this series, click on the links below:

Dade’s half-court heave banks in for Thanksgiving tourney title

Summers puts hip pain aside to leave Alleman hurting

Riled up Blue Devils run former assistant coach’s team out of gym

Medsker’s willingness to play despite days battling flu leads to epic performance

Jobe’s 3-point barrage puts in him record books

After assistant coach suffers heart attack, Blue Devils ‘had to do it for Coach Q’

Wires’ buzzer-beater sinks Kahoks in sectional semifinal

Rupert’s 3-point barrage brings QHS sideline to life

Shoot, Blue Devils rekindle Blue Devil Gym magic in comeback against Webster Groves

Douglas’ debut as QHS head coach is ‘special, truly special’

Watson’s triple-double, Bush’s all-around effort carry Blue Devils to regional championship

Forbes ties 3-point record, sets career scoring high in Blue Devil Gym

Victory No. 2,000 happening at Blue Devil Gym makes perfect sense

Fairley’s buzzer-beater results in wild ride out of Blue Devil Gym

Technicals, ejections lead to Douglas getting one-night audition as head coach

Blue Devils’ Anders teaches Panthers to show respect by going on two-minute scoring binge