Quarter century of memories: Summers buries Maroons’ title hopes with last-second shot

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:

February 4, 2000 — Quincy 53, Moline 52

QUINCY — J.D. Summers made a lasting impression on Frank Dexter.

At least one very significant shot did.

A couple seasons ago, Dexter, the former Moline boys basketball coach, had the opportunity to spend an evening watching the Quincy University men’s basketball team square off against Missouri S&T at Pepsi Arena. Darren Bizarri, a former Moline assistant coach under Dexter, is now an assistant at S&T, so this was the closest they’d get during basketball season to reuniting.

The conversation throughout the evening in the Pepsi Arena stands centered around basketball, mostly Western Big 6 Conference hoops. When the subject rolled around to some of the classic Moline-Quincy matchups Dexter had been a part of, he remembered seemingly every detail.

That includes a shot that determined who won the league title in 2000.

With 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation on Feb. 4, 2000, at Blue Devil Gym, Summers caught a pass from Mike Sams along the right baseline and knocked down a 12-foot jumper to give the Blue Devils a 53-52 victory and sole possession of second place in the WB6 at the time. Quincy eventually won the WB6 title, beating Rock Island in the final regular-season game.

Quincy’s victory over Moline knocked the Maroons out of title contention.

Dexter hadn’t forgotten that shot.

“Right there,” Dexter said. “Right there in the corner.”

What led up to the shot is as memorable as the shot itself.

Moline’s Ryan Scannell hit a short jumper with 12 seconds left to give the Maroons a one-point lead. Quincy immediately inbounded the ball to point guard D.J. Douglas. Double-teamed at midcourt, Douglas tried to dribble through the trap, had the ball knocked loose and fumbled it before pushing a pass forward to Sams.

It appeared Douglas may have traveled.

“To tell you the truth, I think I really did,” Douglas told The Herald-Whig afterward.

Summers agreed.

“I thought D.J. traveled there,” he said.

There was no whistle, so when Sams caught the ball above the free-throw line he turned and found Summers all alone. The wide-open shot found nothing but net, giving the Blue Devils back-to-back seasons in which they beat Moline at Blue Devil Gym on a buzzer-beater.

Tyler Tomlinson hit a 3-pointer from the same baseline the season before for a 57-56 victory.

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

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

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