Schuckman: Underwood’s appearance, Wentura’s birthday, Stratman’s effort make Quincy Shootout memorable

QUINCY — The Quincy High School administration obliged. So did Brad Underwood.

That turned the Quincy Shootout into a memorable moment for a vast number of fans.

At some point early Saturday afternoon, Quincy boys basketball coach Andy Douglas learned Underwood, the head coach of the University of Illinois men’s basketball program, and Illini assistant coach Geoff Alexander were flying into Quincy for a first-hand look at some Illinois recruiting targets.

All the coaches needed was a spot in the stands to watch from.

QHS athletic director Kristina Klingele had the perfect seat in mind. Underwood and Alexander sat in a reserved section behind the scorer’s table for two games, watching Shawnee Mission (Kan.) Northwest senior swingman Keaton Wagler, who has already signed with the Illini, and Wasatch Academy junior guard Katrelle Harmon, who holds an offer from the Illini.

At halftime of Shawnee Mission Northwest’s game against Link Academy and between games, Underwood went to the railing at the back of the section and signed autographs for fans. He also climbed over the railing and posed for pictures.

Late Saturday night, social media sites lit up with pictures of Underwood with young fans.

“It’s not very often you get a coach like that to come into our gym,” Douglas said. “That’s a special moment for this event, for our program and for our fans.”

Happy birthday in a happy place

Dick Wentura declined a dinner invitation for last Saturday night.

“A pretty good one, too,” he said.

He wasn’t going to miss the chance to celebrate his 85th birthday with 3,500 people he considers family.

His Blue Devil family.

Wentura, who has been the clock operator on the scorer’s table for Quincy High School boys basketball games longer than most fans have been alive, worked all nine games of Saturday’s slate of the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym on the day he turned 85.

A Quincy High School graduate who has been inducted into both the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and QHS Halls of Fame, Wentura never considered missing the Shootout, and more specifically, the Blue Devils’ game against Bishop O’Connell of Arlington, Va.

“There’s no place I’d rather be,” Wentura said.

Leave ’em talking about you

Sunrise Christian forward Noah Hill, a 6-foot-7 junior, had fans talking about his dunk more than 24 hours after it happened.

During Friday’s game against Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton, Hill attacked the lane from the top of the key, planted his feet in the lane on the edge of the “WB6” logo and went up and over the Trailblazers’ Blake Pingeton for what many considered the best dunk of the Quincy Shootout.

It was one of only two combined field goals Hill had in the Buffaloes’ two games, but it made a definite impression and was arguably the best dunk of the event.

Kudos to Stratman and QHS staff

Eric Stratman will deflect any credit thrown his direction, but it needs to continue to be tossed his way. Same goes for the QHS athletic administration.

Pulling off a 17-game event — 13 games were played at Blue Devil Gym over two days, while four games were played at The Pit at Quincy Notre Dame on Friday — with all of the logistical challenges it presents is an impressive feat. More so, turning this into a destination event is highly impressive.

Fans trekked from as far as Atlanta — yes, the one in Georgia, not the one in Missouri — to soak in the atmosphere. Coaches and players from at least seven area schools were spotted in the stands, and a vast number of college assistant and head coaches made appearances.

It all goes back to the year-round work Stratman does as the event director and coordinator. He is in constant communication with coaches from around the country and has developed a rapport and a connection with athletic directors and school administrators.

It’s how a weekend of basketball nirvana is created.

QHS athletic director Kristina Klingele, her staff, the custodial crews and everyone else involved from the school district made sure the venue is as close to perfect as can be and made sure it was an enjoyable experience for the fans and the teams.

All in all, it’s an event that needs to be on the calendar for 2026 and many years to come.