Quarter century of memories: Victory No. 2,000 happening at Blue Devil Gym makes perfect sense

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

December 9, 2017 — Quincy 61, Springfield 39

QUINCY — The countdown to 2,000 hit a snag.

Late in the 2016-17 season, as the Quincy High School boys basketball program inched closer to winning the 2,000th game in program history, everyone involved wanted to be certain the numbers were correct. So they asked for verification.

The numbers were calculated and crunched. Over and over and over again. At least 40 times. Probably more.

They added up to a number no one wanted to hear. A discrepancy between the victory tote board that hangs on the north wall of Blue Devil Gym and the actual number of victories was discovered, meaning the Blue Devils had 1,995 victories as the postseason began and the celebration would have to wait for another few months.

When it eventually happened, it turned out to be a celebration no one involved could forget.

A 61-39 victory over Springfield on Dec. 9, 2017, at Blue Devil Gym marked the historic 2,000th victory, making Quincy only the third high school program in Illinois at the time to reach the mark. The Blue Devils opened the game on a 21-2 run, forcing the Senators into turnovers on seven of their first eight possessions and leaving no doubt it was the night history would be made.

Afterward, the entire team ran to the north balcony and changed the tote board to read “2,000.”

Former Quincy Herald-Whig photographer Jake Shane captured the moment in a picture that was splashed across the front page.

“That picture is probably the best memory of that night,” said Aaron Shoot, a senior and starting point guard on the 2017-18 team. “Everybody ran up there. That team was so close. We were all such good friends from top to bottom. That picture has everybody’s face and we’re all just smiling. What a cool moment.”

Having it happen at home made it perfect.

“You couldn’t ask for a better scenario for a milestone moment,” QHS coach Andy Douglas said. “The history behind that number, all the great players and coaches and fans who made it possible. You get emotional thinking about it because you’re part of that history forever. That was such a cool moment.”

The timing couldn’t have been better.

Quincy didn’t play another home game that season until January 12.

“To celebrate that moment in Blue Devil Gym with our fans and this community, that’s priceless,” Douglas said.

No one involved will ever forget that night, especially since all 13 players on the varsity roster played in the game and 11 of them scored. They all had a hand in history, just like every player who has ever worn the Blue Devil jersey.

“It’s hard to see if you can wrap your head around what you’re a part of when you’re that young,” Shoot said. “Looking back on it now, a few years removed and seeing how fast everything goes and seeing how many teams come and go and how rich the program’s history is, that’s what really makes me appreciate it.

“I was part of something that is going to be engraved in stone forever in this program’s history. It’s cool to be a part of a moment you know is going to be cemented forever.”