Quarter century of memories: Return of QHS-QND series comes with sophomore guard Shoot-ing down rival

April 17, 2023 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor

Aaron Shoot made three 3-pointers in a critical stretch of the third quarter against Quincy Notre Dame during his sophomore season, guiding the Quincy High School boys basketball team to an eight-point victory in the renewal of the series. | Submitted photo

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:

Dec. 19, 2015 — Quincy 64, Notre Dame 56

QUINCY — Not every ticket was sold, and if you looked hard enough you could find an empty seat here or there throughout the crowd.

But the return of the Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball rivalry in 2015 intrigued the Gem City and created an atmosphere unlike any other at The Pit.

“The electricity is just different,” former QHS forward Parker Bland said after the game. “Everything is more amplified.”

The ebbs and flows of the game feel more like peaks and valleys, too.

“You can’t get too high and you can’t get too low,” former QHS guard Aaron Shoot said. “You really have to be mentally focused on staying in the moment.”

On Dec. 19, 2015, no one seemed more in the moment than Shoot. A sophomore guard coming off the bench for the Quincy squad that season, Shoot made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 minute, 46 seconds remaining in regulation the night before in a 46-40 victory over United Township.

Against QND, he had a more legendary shooting stretch.

Quincy Notre Dame had pulled within 40-37 on Carter Cramsey’s layin with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Raiders opened the second half by scoring on five consecutive possessions and had trimmed the halftime deficit in half.

Shoot answered with a 3-pointer just 15 seconds later, and after the Raiders’ Tanner Stuckman was called for an offensive foul, Shoot hit another trey. After an assist on a Parker Bland bank shot, Shoot finished the magical run with a 3-pointer for a 51-37 lead the Blue Devils never relinquished in a 64-56 victory.

Shoot finished 6 of 6 from the field, scored 17 points and dished out five assists.

“You get in a groove and your shot’s feeling good so just want to keep shooting,” Shoot said. “That’s what happened there. It felt like any shot I put up was going to go in.”

The Raiders didn’t give in and made it a two-possession game late in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils made just enough free throws down the stretch — 6 of 10 to be exact — to hold the Raiders at bay.

It was the first crosstown showdown played since 2008, and it has been played every season since.

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

Summers buries Maroons’ title hopes with last-second shot

Kvitle’s career-best scoring effort carries QHS to regional title

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