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Monroe City Tournament opens with trio of lopsided victories

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MONROE CITY, Mo. — The opening night of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament featured a pair of lopsided victories in the girls bracket and only of the four games played being decided in the fourth quarter. The third-seeded Louisiana boys outlasted sixth-seeded Mark Twain 60-54 behind 15 points from Jack Logan. Josh Brothers led […]

Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: QHS wrestler Owen Uppinghouse

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QUINCY — Owen Uppinghouse isn’t taking long to assert his dominance. The Quincy High School 160-pound senior wrestler went 6-0 last week with only two of his four matches stretching beyond the first period. Last Thursday at home, Uppinghouse pinned Fort Madison’s Emmett Kruse in 3 minutes, 37 seconds. He was even better at the […]

Queen of the charts: Schreacke breaks QND career scoring record

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The phone rings or the text message notification sounds on a Sunday night and Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball Eric Orne knows what it is. Abbey Schreacke wants in the gym. “Of course, I scoot down there to let her in,” Orne said. Had the 6-foot senior guard not had the desire […]

Top-ranked Raiders suffer first loss of season in playoff-like atmosphere against Bruins

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Almost everything about the way Sunday played out — from the two-hour road trip to playing on a college-sized court — had the hallmark of a classic postseason matchup. All except the end result for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team. Tied at 45 with four minutes to play in regulation, […]

Photo gallery: QND girls basketball team plays in Sophie Cunningham Classic

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The final game of a three-day event showcasing high school girls basketball ended up being a thrilling conclusion for the organizers, sponsors and fans of the inaugural Sophie Cunningham Classic at Columbia College’s Southwell Complex. However, it didn’t end quite the way the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team would have liked. […]

Liberty, Pittsfield seventh grade girls basketball teams to play for state championships

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The Liberty seventh grade girls basketball team will play for a state championship. So will the Pittsfield seventh graders. The Brown County and Quincy Junior High School eighth grade teams may, too. Liberty reached the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 2A title game by beating Altamont 31-19 in the quarterfinals and Nokomis 36-19 in the […]

Buehler? Buehler? Buehler? Yes, Buehler hits clutch free throws as QND rallies past Unity

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QUINCY — The moment required Ari Buehler to ignore, focus and follow through. Not an easy task on any front. Fouled with 14.4 seconds remaining in regulation and the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team clinging to a two-point lead, the freshman guard first had to become oblivious to the chatter from the Unity players […]

Halftime discussion enables QND boys basketball team to alter tide in victory over Macomb

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QUINCY — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coaching staff met in the office adjacent to the locker room at halftime Saturday night, the Raiders were engaging in their own discussion. The theme of both conversations seemed to be the same. What is the Raiders’ identity going to be? The second half — particularly […]

Blue Devils put depth, length on display to lead WB6 opener from start to finish

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EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Sent to the sideline with two fouls in the first quarter of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball opener, Quincy High School sophomore guard Bradley Longcor III tried to talk his way back into the game. “He kept saying, ‘I’m not gonna foul. I’m not gonna foul,’” Quincy coach […]

Raiders to learn from loss to top-ranked Cyclones and QU signee Hamilton

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players and coaches likely won’t watch the film of Friday night’s 66-35 loss to No. 1-ranked Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at Belz Gymnasium until Monday or Tuesday. That’s when the Raiders will delve into how to fix what the Cyclones exploited. Before then, though, comes a better-be-ready-for-this […]

Palmyra girls breathe life into second-half rally, use third-quarter surge to power past Canton

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CANTON, Mo. — Never underestimate the power of a deep breath. Palmyra girls basketball coach Tim Southers said his primary goal at halftime Friday night was to simply try and get his club’s emotions under control. “I just told the girls to breathe and relax,” he said. They listened. And then they responded. The end […]

Palmyra boys show maturity with strong finish to put away Canton for third straight victory

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CANTON, Mo. — What a difference a year makes. At least for the Palmyra boys basketball team. “A year ago, I’m not sure we would have won a game like this,” Palmyra coach Brian Rea said. Rea was assessing Friday night’s 64-52 victory over Canton, a game that saw the Panthers pull away down the […]

The Rundown: Stephens scores 49 points, Illini West wins county showdown, Hannibal girls finish strong week

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QUINCY — The first full regular-season Friday night of the prep basketball season gave us a glimpse of what to expect from now until March. That’s epic individual performances, down-to-the-wire games and teams coming of age. Here’s a look at what happened … • The Southeastern boys basketball team raced to an 18-1 lead in […]

Prairie Stars shoot down Hawks with blistering effort from 3-point range

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Mama said there’d be days like this. Riding the high of back-to-back victories over two of the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s top three preseason favorites, the Quincy University men’s basketball team saw its momentum stifled Thursday night by another upstart crew. Illinois-Springfield, picked to finish ninth in the 13-team league, shot down […]

Strong closing kick carries QU women’s basketball team to GLVC road victory

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team found itself in a precarious position once again. A one-point game with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation. In five of the seven games prior to Thursday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference showdown with Illinois-Springfield, the Hawks were within four points heading to the closing […]

The Rundown: QND, Unity girls win ahead of showdown, Central wrestling sweeps, QHS girls capture first WB6 victory

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QUINCY —  A busy Thursday night on both the courts and the mats led to some sterling efforts. Here is a look at what transpired … • The Central wrestling team won a pair of duals, beating Beardstown 40-36 and Illini West 60-18. The Panthers’ Hunter Bolton earned a pair of pins at 160 pounds, […]

Boeing’s pin in final match vaults Blue Devils to victory over Bloodhounds in home opener

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QUINCY — Wyatt Boeing saved the best for last. The Quincy High School wrestling team went into the final match of its dual with Fort Madison (Iowa) on Thursday night trailing by a point in the team score. It made the math simple — the winner of the match won the dual for his respective […]

Southeastern sits No. 1 in initial Class 1A state poll, Quincy High School is No. 8 in Class 4A

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QUINCY — Having the best small-school player in the state leading the charge has put the Southeastern boys basketball team in the crosshairs. Having an abundance of talented underclassmen has done the same for Quincy High School. The initial Associated Press state basketball rankings prove that. The Suns checked in at No. 1 in Class […]

Defending state champion QND opens as No. 1 team in Class 2A, Unity starts No. 3 in Class 1A

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QUINCY — The initial Associated Press state basketball rankings set up an intriguing showdown in just two days. The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team — the defending Class 2A state champion — opens the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the state. The Raiders are 5-0 going into Thursday’s game at West Hancock […]

Schwagmeyer, Fischer, Dorsey to be inducted into IBCA Hall of Fame

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QUINCY — A Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year who played professional basketball overseas, an all-state forward who later played at Culver-Stockton College, and a distinctive radio voice are part of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Central’s Ali Schwagmeyer, Pittsfield’s Tim Fischer and Quincy’s Jeff Dorsey will […]

QU’s Norris, Knoblauch receive honorable mention All-American after historic campaign

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QUINCY — For the first time in program history, the Quincy University women’s volleyball team has two players mentioned on the All-American lists. Senior outside hitter Mattison Norris and graduate student setter Makayla Knoblauch received honorable mention on the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II All-American squad after leading the Hawks to their finest season […]

Photo gallery: Palmyra boys, girls basketball teams sweep twinbill from Mark Twain

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CENTER, Mo. — The Palmyra girls basketball team is showing what it takes to win convincingly. The Palmyra boys are showcasing what it takes to win tough. Tuesday night, that combination led to a doubleheader sweep. The Palmyra girls blitzed to a 23-7 lead over Mark Twain at the end of the first quarter and […]

QU linebacker earns sprint football league’s top defensive honor

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QUINCY — The inaugural season for the Quincy University sprint football team produced encouraging results, including one of the Midwest Sprint Football League’s top postseason individual honors. Sophomore linebacker Ray Lingard was named the MSFL’s Defensive Player of the Year and was one of 11 Hawks recognized on the all-league teams. Lingard led the Hawks […]

Hawks’ Wilson, Bulldogs’ Griffith earn first-team All-GLVC football honors

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QUINCY — An Achilles tendon injury kept Quincy University left tackle B.J. Wilson from completing a remarkable feat to end his collegiate career. It did nothing to diminish the impact he had. The Great Lakes Valley Conference football coaches were well aware of that. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Wilson missed the Hawks’ regular-season finale against William […]

GLVC to add Upper Iowa as league’s 14th institution beginning in 2023-24

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QUINCY — The Great Lakes Valley Conference continues to shift its geographic footprint. The NCAA Division II league announced Tuesday its Council of Presidents approved admitting the University of Upper Iowa, making it the conference’s 14th member. The Peacocks will join the GLVC for the 2023-24 academic year and be immediately eligible to participate in […]

‘You live for moments like that’: Richardson hits game-winning shot as Hawks ground Flyers

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Video courtesy of Steve Looten QUINCY — For the first 39 minutes, 39 seconds of Monday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup, the Lewis men’s basketball team never wavered from playing tenacious man-to-man defense. “I think it had been that way the entire year, too,” Quincy University coach Steve Hawkins said. So after calling timeout […]

Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: Southeastern’s Danny Stephens

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BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The number of 50-point games fashioned by an area boys basketball player can be counted on both hands. Southeastern’s Danny Stephens moved the number closer to having to go to the toes to keep track. In the championship game of the sixth Beardstown Tiger Classic, the 6-foot-7 Stephens scored 52 points in […]

The Rundown: QND girls stay undefeated, Brown County girls and boys with statement victories

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The Thanksgiving turkey hangover has passed, and area boys and girls basketball teams are looking to find a rhythm to their seasons. Monday night revealed what is possible when teams find their groove. Here are some of the highlights … • The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team improved to 5-0 with a 73-29 victory […]

Inability to sustain energy, effort leads to another single-digit loss for QU women’s basketball team

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QUINCY — Kaci Bailey’s exasperation resulted in a complete overhaul of the Quincy University women’s basketball team’s lineup midway through the third quarter Monday night. “I said put five new ones in,” the second-year Hawks coach said. “I didn’t even know who was in.” All Bailey was certain of was her starters weren’t providing the […]

Photo gallery: QU men, women split GLVC basketball doubleheader with Lewis

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QUINCY — A clutch shot and a search for energy. That’s the most poignant way to describe opposite ends of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader for the Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball teams. Zion Richardson banked in a shot with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation to life the QU men to a 71-69 […]

Crim: Upset shows Hawks displaying toughness, physicality needed to win in GLVC

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QUINCY — Entering the season, it appeared the Great Lakes Valley Conference did the Quincy University men’s basketball team no favors by scheduling it to open league play against Indianapolis and Lewis, opponents projected to finish first and third, respectively. The one caveat was that both games would be in Pepsi Arena, and the Hawks […]

QU women’s basketball team gives itself chance, falls short of beating Indianapolis in GLVC opener

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QUINCY — Night in and night out, the Quincy University women’s basketball team is putting itself in position to challenge for the lead at the end of regulation. Figuring out how to win nip-and-tuck games is the next step. Saturday, the Hawks had a chance to tie Indianapolis in the final 10 seconds of regulation […]

Power in the post: Blue Devils throw ball inside to establish presence, cruise to Thanksgiving tournament championship

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QUINCY — Something the Quincy High School boys basketball coaching staff noticed watching game film revealed itself even further during Saturday morning’s shootaround. The Blue Devils’ primary post players — sophomore Keshaun Thomas and senior Sam Mulherin — weren’t controlling the block. “We watched them post straight up,” QHS coach Andy Douglas said. “They were […]

Photo gallery: QHS boys basketball team wins 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament

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QUINCY — With a never-in-doubt 58-39 victory over Springfield Lanphier on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym, the Quincy High School boys basketball team captured the championship of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. It is the Blue Devils’ 36th tournament title. Check out this photo gallery of images from freelance photographer Mathew Kirby and Muddy […]

Monroe City’s state title pursuit ends with semifinal loss to Adrian

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ADRIAN, Mo. — Even in the wake of a hurts-down-to-your-soul kind of loss, Monroe City football coach David Kirby needed the Panthers to remember one valuable thing. “I said this all year long,” Kirby said. “We are not victims. We are victors. You make sure you hold your head high through anything.” After losing 32-16 […]

Stunner to start: Hawks open GLVC play by upending preseason favorite Greyhounds

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QUINCY — After not enjoying a winning record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference since the 2016-17 season, the Quincy University men’s basketball team started conference play in stunning fashion Saturday with a 62-57 victory over preseason conference favorite Indianapolis at Pepsi Arena. So how long will Quincy coach Steve Hawkins enjoy giving the No. […]

Raiders finish perfect opening weekend by easily dispatching Jaguars

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QUINCY — Granted, Quincy Notre Dame’s 58-33 boys basketball victory over St. Louis Gateway STEM was not a thing of beauty. But not every performance in a long high school basketball season can come across as a Rembrandt. Every so often, there’s going to be a MAD Magazine cover show up, too.  Such was the […]

QND girls basketball team ramps up pressure, completes weekend sweep with easy victory

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QUINCY — By the midpoint of the first quarter there was only one real question surrounding the Quincy Notre Dame-Warrenton girls basketball matchup that was playing out at The Pit. Would Warrenton wind up with more points or turnovers by game’s end? If your choice had been “points” you would have been correct, but only […]

2022 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: 1981-82 girls basketball team

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QUINCY — The phrase “rebuilding season” was tossed around before girls basketball season started at Quincy Notre Dame in 1981. Four players had graduated from the 1980-81 team that placed second in Class A, and coach Ivan Brown also was gone. However, a young team quickly gelled, and a late-season injury didn’t stop the Raiders […]

2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: John Groves, friend of sport

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QUINCY — A 1968 graduate of Quincy High School, John Groves has been a loyal supporter and contributor for more than 50 years. Groves began helping his father, Jerry Groves, when he started the first formal “Chain Gang” for the QHS football team in 1960. John took over those duties from his father in 1982 […]

2022 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: 2011 boys soccer team

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QUINCY — The 2011 boys soccer team stumbled into the postseason, going 2-3-1 in the last six games of the regular season, but they racked off seven straight victories to claim the school’s first state championship in 26 years. The Raiders opened the postseason with a 9-1 victory over Athens, then needed a goal from […]

Bulldogged effort in Class 1A state title tilt by Central, but momentum, mojo never shift in its direction

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Every comeback starts at a tipping point, the moment where momentum and mojo shift dramatically. Everything lined up for a Lena-Winslow punt to be just that. Having forced the defending Class 1A state champion to punt from its own 23-yard line with 7 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter Friday […]

Schuckman: Memories become unforgettable, and Central football team’s legacy is equally undeniable

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — As they worked their way past the long line of Decatur St. Teresa faithful waiting to enter Memorial Stadium, a group of Camp Point Central football fans were abruptly stopped by some curious Bulldogs fans. “Did you get it done?” one asked. The disappointment echoed in the tone of the response. “It […]

After suffering 3-point loss at the Pit, Butler College Prep coach wants to see QND girls in state title game

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QUINCY — Butler College Prep girls basketball coach Xaver Walton got exactly what he wanted. The Lynx returned seven players from last year’s team that lost by three points to Minonk Fieldcrest in the Class 2A super-sectional. When Walton learned defending Class 2A state champion Quincy Notre Dame was looking for a team to play […]

Mulherin’s game-winner lifts Blue Devils to overtime victory, sets up tourney title showdown

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QUINCY — Sam Mulherin’s soft bank shot in the waning seconds of overtime was neither a fluke nor an accident. Mulherin’s basket, a wide-open jumper just a few feet to the left of the hoop, wound up providing the margin of victory in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s hard-earned 57-56 victory Friday night […]

Raiders survive ugly start, use defense to tighten screws on McCluer

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QUINCY — The first 3 ½ minutes of Quincy Notre Dame’s season opener against McCluer on Friday night was … almost unwatchable. The Raiders missed their first six shots, turned the ball over twice and missed three out of four free throws to trail 6-1. “It was really bad. Really bad,” senior Jackson Stratton said. […]

Photo gallery: Central football team finishes as Class 1A state runner-up

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Central football team’s magical postseason run ended Friday with a 30-8 loss to top-ranked Lena-Winslow in the Class 1A state championship game at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium. Central finished its season with a 13-1 record and the single-season program record for victories. Here is a gallery of images from […]

2022 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Tom Wisman, athlete and coach

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Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2022 Gully Transportation Tip-Off Shootout at The Pit. QUINCY — After playing basketball at Christian Brothers High School and Quincy College, Tom Wisman spent most of his life coaching basketball around the world. Wisman, […]

2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Tom Berry, coach

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Editor’s note: The Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. QUINCY — A  1963 graduate of Quincy High School who played baseball and basketball through his sophomore year, Tom Berry chose to have […]

2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Matea Simovic, athlete

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Editor’s note: The Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. QUINCY — One of the most successful girls tennis players in Quincy High School history, Matea Simovic was a four-time state qualifier, three-time […]

2022 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Leigh McLaughlin, athlete

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Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2022 Gully Transportation Tip-Off Shootout at The Pit. QUINCY — As the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team racked up all kinds of points during the late 2000s, it seems almost impossible to think that […]

Chills and thrills: Blazing start, defensive stranglehold catapult Blue Devils to victory in season opener

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QUINCY — The lights go down, the flames go up and everyone in Blue Devil Gym awaiting the Devil’s arrival feels the chills. The players aren’t immune to that, no matter how focused on the game they might be. “I would think any abnormal person would say no they don’t feel anything,” said Tyler Sprick, […]

Ingredients in place for unified Raiders to continue winning ways as season opener looms

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QUINCY — What do the Three Musketeers, DJ Khaled and the Navy SEALs have in common? They each could be the inspiration for the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team this season. Start with the Three Musketeers. In the legendary novel by Alexandre Dumas, the Musketeers stick together with the motto “Tous pour un, un […]

Family first: Harmann’s cousin showcases depth of ability in helping Blue Devils dispatch Dukes

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QUINCY — The exuberant kid who tagged along every opportunity he had when Chris Harmann went to Blue Devil Gym during a decade spent as a Quincy High School boys basketball assistant coach has matured That wasn’t a good thing for Harmann’s Dixon club. Tyler Sprick, a QHS junior guard and Harmann’s cousin, turned Thursday’s […]

Photo gallery: Opening night of 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym

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QUINCY — The opening night of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament had everything Quincy High School boys basketball fans want — a down-to-the-wire affair, an intriguing storyline and a victory by the Blue Devils. Quincy opened with a 65-29 victory over Dixon after Springfield Lanphier outlasted Miller Career Academy 57-54. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt […]

2022 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: John Frankenhoff, athlete

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Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2022 Gully Transportation Tip-Off Shootout at The Pit. QUINCY — John Frankenhoff played a critical role in bringing a sectional championship back to Quincy and end a 14-year postseason drought. Frankenhoff, a 1989 Quincy […]

Handling expectations: Blue Devils staying humble, focused as hype builds around them

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QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys basketball team trudged through another preseason practice, those responsible for the sound system in Blue Devil Gym tested the acoustics, the decibel levels and the clarity for pregame introductions. “They started playing everything and I got chills,” senior guard Reid O’Brien said. The Blue Devils also were […]

Indoor archery starts Dec. 7 at Admiral Coontz Recreation Center

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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal Parks and Recreation will offer indoor archery beginning Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Admiral Coontz Armory. The program will continue on Wednesday evenings through Feb. 22, 2023. Anyone may use the facility to practice their archery skills. A variety of 3D archery targets such as deer, turkey, bears, badgers, rabbits, dinosaurs, […]

2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Jared Anders, athlete

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Editor’s note: The Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. QUINCY — Jared Anders followed in his family’s footsteps — straight to the Hall of Fame. A two-time state medalist as a pole […]

Familiar face on Dixon sideline makes QHS Thanksgiving Tournament true holiday homecoming

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QUINCY — To the victor go the spoils. What exactly the spoils are Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas isn’t divulging. Thursday night, in the opening game of the QHS Thanksgiving Tournament, the Blue Devils will square off against Dixon at 7 p.m. at Blue Devil Gym. It also pits two close friends […]

2022 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Shannon (Foley) Venvertloh, athlete

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Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2022 Gully Transportation Tip-Off Shootout at The Pit. QUINCY — Shannon (Foley) Venvertloh played different roles in different sports — goal scorer in soccer, defensive standout in volleyball and playmaker in basketball. She played […]

Quincy woman returns to University of Notre Dame to celebrate 50th anniversary of Title IX

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Coletta Miller of Quincy recently took part in a celebration at the University of Notre Dame in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Miller, a 1974 graduate of Notre Dame, is married to Al Knepler of Quincy. She and more than 250 former female athletes were recognized by […]

Schuck on a Truck: Central football team’s offensive line

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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Come Friday, the Camp Point Central football team will walk into Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus for the Class 1A state championship game to square off with Lena-Winslow, the reigning state champion who has won five state championships since 2010. Leading the way with be an experienced, stout […]

QND to join Central State 8 Conference for football only beginning in 2024

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QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football program needed a home. The Central State 8 Conference needed another member to balance its scheduling paradigm. As it turns out, they needed each other at just the right time. Notre Dame and the CS8 collaboratively announced Wednesday morning the Raiders will join the league in 2024 for […]

QHS girls basketball team uses second-half rally to nearly topple reigning WB6 champion

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QUINCY — The second-half rally and fight to the finish the Quincy High School girls basketball team engaged in Tuesday night had two components. “We totally changed our mindset,” Blue Devils senior guard Leah Chevalier said. “And a few people hit shots.” It was nearly enough to topple the reigning Western Big 6 Conference champion. […]

The Rundown: Solid debut for Hannibal girls, Pittsfield boys win opener, WIU women earn first victory

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QUINCY — Kicking off Thanksgiving week with a flurry of activity as the Illinois boys basketball season got underway Monday night and the Missouri teams joined in the fun. Oh, college basketball season is in full swing, too. Here are some of Monday’s highlights … • The Hannibal girls basketball team won Shawn Gaines’ debut […]

Despite more Matas Martin late-game heroics, Hawks fall in overtime in weekend finale

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QUINCY — The Quincy University women’s basketball team is oh-so-close to being oh-so-successful. For the second time in four games, the Hawks went to overtime, getting a pair of clutch Beth Matas Martin baskets in the final 20 seconds of regulation to tie Sunday’s championship game of the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic against Winona State at […]

Crim: Stranger things continue to take place in Big 10 West division title chase

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One month after sinking to a last-place tie, Iowa is poised to win the Big 10 West. Such is life in college football’s strangest division. The Hawkeyes, written off after being blown out 54-10 by Ohio State on Oct. 22 to fall to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league play, control their destiny after pulling […]

Taste of Champaign: Panthers leave no doubt they belong in state title game after dismantling Mustangs

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COLFAX, Ill. — Ross Riley’s explanation for the Camp Point Central football team’s Class 1A semifinal win over Ridgeview-Lexington was a simple one. That was fitting because the Panthers’ 44-8 victory was simple domination. “We were just going, and I was just running. I don’t know what else to say,” exclaimed a jubilant Riley. “It’s […]

Monroe City excels playing ‘old-school football,’ grinds way into Class 1 state semifinals

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MONROE CITY, Mo. — The bottom line? “Now we’ve got the chance to play 48 more minutes,” said Monroe City running back Ceaton Pennewell, only moments after his club had survived a grueling Class 1 quarterfinal test Saturday afternoon against Lincoln. Monroe City’s 26-12 victory at Lankford Field did not come easy.  If nothing else, […]

Martin beats buzzer and Rogers State as QU women’s basketball team earns first victory

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QUINCY — When the final play produces the perfect outcome, it had to be run exactly the way it was designed in the huddle, right? “Something like that,” Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey said with a wry smile. When Rogers State disrupted Quincy planned off a sideline inbounds play with 6.9 seconds remaining […]

Photo gallery: Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic at Pepsi Arena

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QUINCY — The scheduled had to be adjusted and delayed, but Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Arena, four NCAA Division II women’s basketball teams converged for the Hansen-Spear Quincy Classic and delivered a pair of hard-fought affairs. Winona State defeated McKendree 64-50 in the opener, and Quincy University knocked off Rogers State 58-56 as Beth Matas […]

Trail Blazers show toughness in knocking off fourth-ranked Bears

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DES MOINES, Iowa — John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt schedules games in events such as the DMACC Classic to see if the Trail Blazers can handle the physical and mental challenges. The answer is quite clear. This group is on the right path to success. After beating 20th-ranked Iowa Western by […]

Rough start leads to late rally falling short as QU men’s basketball stumbles on road

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — The inconsistency the Quincy University men’s basketball team is showing takes time and toughness to fix. Now, there isn’t much time left before Great Lakes Valley Conference play begins. The Hawks struggled offensively at the start of Saturday’s game against Missouri Southern in the Pitt State Thanksgiving Classic, hit a lull defensively […]

Schuckman: Hawks forge unbreakable bonds by elevating volleyball program to unforgettable heights

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QUINCY — One final wave to say thank you to an adoring, enthusiastic crowd was the Quincy University women’s volleyball team’s way to say goodbye as well. The season that changed the Hawks’ program forever was over. Yet, the bond created amongst a group of student-athletes — “incredible young women” in the words of Quincy […]

Tide-turning third set costs QU women’s volleyball team chance to play for region championship

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QUINCY — The lead, the energy and an enthusiastic crowd. The Quincy University women’s volleyball team had everything it seemed to want and need to dispatch Missouri-St. Louis midway through the third set of Friday night’s NCAA Division II Midwest Regional semifinal. Yet, it turned out that wasn’t enough. The Hawks lacked the finishing touch […]

Photo gallery: QU women’s volleyball team faces UMSL in NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals

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QUINCY — The Quincy community and the Quincy University student body once again showed the QU women’s volleyball team its appreciation for an historic season, creating a loud and raucous atmosphere in Pepsi Arena for the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional semifinals. The Hawks used the energy to give Missouri-St. Louis a tussle before suffering […]

Raiders open title defense with familiar out-of-the-gate knockout punch of Warriors

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QUINCY — The knockout punch came quickly. Quincy Notre Dame scored early and often Friday night, opening its girls basketball season with a relatively easy 68-39 victory over Hardin Calhoun at The Pit. “I felt we played with a lot of confidence,” QND senior Blair Eftink said. “We were excited to play.” The game was […]

Strong second-half defensive effort lifts QU men’s basketball team to first road victory

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Quincy University men’s basketball team’s offense is going to give the defense time to find its way. In the second half Friday night, that seemed to happen. An 11-point halftime lead ballooned to as many as 29 points as the Hawks put the clamps on Pittsburg State, limiting the Gorillas to […]

Second of two major momentum shifts proves costly for Pirates in state quarterfinal setback

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WEST PLAINS, Mo. — Two shifts in momentum completely changed the context of Friday night’s Class 4 state quarterfinal rematch. The first gave the Hannibal football team a boost. The second spelled doom for the Pirates. After Hannibal scored on the final play of the first half to take a seven-point lead to the locker […]

Schuck on a Truck: Central football coach Brad Dixon discusses program success heading into state semifinals

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CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central football players have traded cut-off t-shirts and shorts for stocking caps and sweatshirts. When that takes place, something more significant has, too. In this case, the Panthers have reached the Class 1A state semifinals for the fourth time in program history. Central (12-0) travels for the first time this […]

Finishing with a flourish: Hawks eliminate Wildcats in straight sets, set up Midwest Regional semifinal showdown with Tritons

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QUINCY — With the third set tied at 17 and the Northern Michigan women’s volleyball team validly entertaining the idea it could extend the match, an air of optimism arose. Moments later, that hope floated away. Top-seeded Quincy University won eight of the final nine points of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional quarterfinal, moving […]

Bubbling with excitement: Support of QU women’s volleyball team from students, community brings Pepsi Arena to life

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QUINCY — Makayla Knoblauch remembers the days where the echoes were as loud as any other sound in Pepsi Arena and the Quincy University women’s volleyball players knew practically every fan in the stands. “Four years ago, it was just our parents, the other team’s parents and a couple of our QU friends,” the senior […]

Who’s your Mattie?: Norris delivers emphatic display offensively to power Hawks to regional quarterfinal victory

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QUINCY — The adjustments being made to combat the Quincy University women’s volleyball team’s full-throttle attack come as no surprise to outside hitter Mattison Norris. “People are going to scout us,” she said. “People know how to shut us down.” That leaves it to the Hawks to adapt. It didn’t happen in a three-set loss […]

Photo gallery: QU women’s volleyball team wins NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinal

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QUINCY — Northern Michigan women’s volleyball coach Mike Lozier used his opening statement in the post-match press conference to adequately sum up what his team dealt with during Thursday night’s NCAA Division II Midwest Regional quarterfinal. “Quincy’s really good at volleyball,” he said. “That was kind of the takeaway.” The top-seeded Hawks showed a glimpse […]

NCAA Midwest Regional roundup: Tritons roll past Hawks, while Bulldogs, Chargers advance

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QUINCY — It shouldn’t be this easy in the NCAA Tournament. The Missouri-St. Louis women’s volleyball team, the No. 5 seed, hit at a .400 clip and had little trouble dispatching Rockhurst 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional at Pepsi Arena on the campus of Quincy University. […]

Down to the last detail: Hawks adapt, adjust and improve in winning home opener against Trojans

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QUINCY — Malik Hardmon has listened to the Quincy University men’s basketball coaching staff harp on being detail oriented so often the words and phrases being uttered have slipped into his subconscious. “I wake up and in my dream I’ve heard, ‘Details, details, details,’” the senior forward said with a grin. He and the Hawks […]

Up before the sun: Offseason commitment to each other and to improving catapults QU women’s volleyball team to remarkable season

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QUINCY — The 4 a.m. alarms sounding the start of another long, tiring day were necessary, even if they weren’t always welcome. “There were days for sure where we did not want to be in the weight room,” said Makalya Knoblauch, the senior setter on the Quincy University women’s volleyball team. “What’s special about our […]

Schuckman: Emotion hits Hawkins leading up to second home debut as QU men’s basketball coach

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QUINCY — Every version of the national anthem is unique and different. Singers with big, booming voices tend to drag out high notes, especially at the top of their vocal range. Nervous singers hurry through it, praying they don’t forget a word or miss a note and fight just to finish. Steve Hawkins would have […]

Chance to play at home allows QU women’s volleyball team to further enhance its legacy

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QUINCY — No buses. No hotel rooms. No scheduling deliveries from Jimmy Johns or Papa Johns or any other ready-to-eat restaurant that would allow the Quincy University women’s volleyball team to get back on the road as quickly as possible. This week has been a study in immersion. The Hawks are immersed in volleyball and […]

Trio of area’s best Illinois football players receive all-state honors from coaches association

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QUINCY — Three area football players have been named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state teams, while seven others picked up honorable mention all-state plaudits. Central senior running back/linebacker Isaac Genenbacher, Brown County senior fullback/linebacker Colby Wort and Macomb junior wide receiver JT Jeter were first-team all-state selections. Genenbacher has been a […]

Talton breaks JWCC single-game 3-point record as Trail Blazers outlast Warriors in overtime

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QUINCY — When Jeremiah Talton was deciding where the best college fit would be, the former Quincy High School all-state basketball player wanted to find a program with an offense tailor-made for his game. “I’m a shooter,” Talton said at the time. Opponents of the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team are figuring out […]

Blue Devils put attacking arsenal on display in season-opening victory over Crimsons

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QUINCY — Quincy High School girls basketball Brad Dance talked throughout the preseason about how he felt his squad was going to shoot the ball better and score at a much higher rate. When the curtain opened on a new season Tuesday night, the Blue Devils backed that up. Four players finished in double figures […]

Legacy Martial Arts to be host of international taekwondo tournament in February

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QUINCY — Legacy Martial Arts will be the host of an ATA International taekwondo tournament on Feb. 4 at the Oakley-Lindsay Center. The “Bridge to Success Championship” is expected to bring more than 500 competitors and their families to Quincy, which is one of only three cities in Illinois to host a martial arts tournament of this size. “We are so excited that our students […]

QU volleyball team earns No. 1 seed in Midwest, will play host to regional beginning Thursday

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QUINCY — Knowing it was only a matter of time before she’d see the Quincy University volleyball team’s name appear on the national tournament bracket, Mattison Norris watched with a little wide-eyed wonder as teams in other regions got their name called. “I was thinking, ‘That’s going to be insane. That’s going to be us. […]

Rally for the ages: Central’s 24-point second half vaults Panthers into Class 1A state semifinals

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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Central quarterback Nick Moore’s post-game assessment was rather poignant. And precise. “The first half was kind of rough,” Moore said in matter-of-fact fashion. Yep, pretty much much nailed it, Nick. Fortunately, there are two halves in a high school football game. The margin of Central’s 24-12 Class 1A quarterfinal playoff victory […]

Photo gallery: Central football team rallies to advance to Class 1A state semifinals

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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Shut out in the first half and trailing by two scores, the Central football team showed why it has been one of the area’s most successful programs for the past decade. The Panthers simply refuse to lose. They rallied for a 24-12 victory over Greenfield-Northwestern in the Class 1A state quarterfinals […]

The Rundown: JWCC men lose, C-SC sweeps hoops games, WIU shut out at home

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QUINCY — The transition to winter sports is gradually happening. Here’s a look at some of the action that took place Saturday: • The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team stumbled out of the gate and never fully recovered, losing 98-83 to 14th-ranked Kirkwood in the final game of the Town and Country Inn […]