Flip the switch: Thomas, Blue Devils dominate inside to roll past Eagles and into title showdown

QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys basketball team reviewed the film from Thursday’s season-opening victory, Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas offered a critique that struck a nerve with senior forward Keshaun Thomas.

The 6-foot-6 Thomas needed to be more aggressive chasing rebounds.

“It turns a switch on for me,” Thomas said. “I have to work on that. I know I’m supposed to be getting every rebound when I’m on the floor. When I’m out there being lazy and not getting rebounds, it’s disappointing. Hearing it and seeing it turns something on for me.”

The switch was to beast mode.

Thomas hauled in eight rebounds in the first quarter alone Friday night against Dunlap, scoring the Blue Devils’ first two baskets off putbacks and finishing the opening eight minutes with 12 points. His dunk just before time expired gave Quincy a 22-4 lead it never relinquished.

The Blue Devils set up a winner-take-all championship game of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament with their 81-33 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Quincy (2-0) will face Burbank St. Laurence (2-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday after the Vikings beat Chicago Lindblom 66-39 Friday night.

“We want to play for championships,” Thomas said.

The effort once the Blue Devils established their lead epitomized that.

They limited the Eagles to 24-percent shooting from the field and closed the first half on a 10-3 to build a 32-point advantage. It was a stark contrast to Thursday night when a 20-point advantage against Chicago Lindblom disappeared over the middle two quarters.

“That’s not our style, not our style of game at all,” Thomas said. “We made sure that didn’t happen again.”

Not only was the defensive pressure better, so was the Blue Devils’ transition game.

Quincy scored 13 field goals in transition with senior point guard Kamren Wires dishing out eight assists.

“We were really running the floor and seeing our bigs run the floor,” Wires said. “Our bigs really demanded the ball tonight by running hard. When you have a point guard that wants to get out in transition, I’m going to find you. They ran to give me a chance to facilitate and do my job.”

Thomas knew he had an advantage both in quickness and strength over the Dunlap frontcourt and he took advantage. He scored 16 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 27 points to go with 17 rebounds, 11 of which came in the first half.

“He didn’t get the ball on the inside when he should have in the first game and I thought it affected the way he played on both ends,” Douglas said. “He has to be better than that. Tonight, he showed he is better than that and had a big turnaround.

“For Keshaun to not go after offensive rebounds is a disservice to his team. He took it to heart, and he knows that. I’m proud he was able to bounce back and play like the Keshaun we know.”

Thomas wasn’t the only one Douglas challenged during Friday’s film session. He demanded more intensity on the defensive end from senior guard Bradley Longcor III and Dom Clay.

They both delivered from start to finish.

“Foot-on-the-throat mentality,” Douglas said. “It’s barbaric to think of, but it’s what we want our guys to be. I think all great teams have that. What got us to this moment? Well, let’s continue to do that. You have to think that way. You can’t get away from what you do well.”

In the Blue Devils’ case, that’s pressure the basketball and run the floor.

“We had so much energy when we were in there,” Thomas said. “Playing as a team, passing the ball, making shots. We started off strong.”