Blue Devils expect to see different styles, different challenges during 53rd Thanksgiving Tournament

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas goes through some instructions with his team during practice this week in Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Starting Thursday, there’s no time to dwell on the wouldas, couldas and shouldas. That’s what Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas likes about starting the season with three games in three days, which the Blue Devils will do in the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament in Blue Devil Gym. Quincy kicks off…

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Countdown to tipoff: Experience will help Blue Devils meet heightened expectations

Senior guard Bradley Longcor III, a first-team all-state selection as a junior, is one of three returning starters for the Quincy High School boys basketball team with three years of a varsity experience to lean on. | Matt Schuckman photo

Coverage of the QHS boys basketball team is brought to you by: QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball players don’t shy away from harboring state championship aspirations. “That’s my goal every time I play,” 6-foot-3 senior guard Bradley Longcor III said. Still, becoming preoccupied with that title pursuit is the last thing the…

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‘Phenomenal’ second-quarter blitz helps QHS rout Belleville West to reach sectional championship game

Bradley Longcor, left, receives an ovation from the Quincy High School fans while being congratulated by his teammates after being taken out of Tuesday night's Class 4A sectional semifinal game in the Panther Dome at O'Fallon Township High School. | David Adam photo

O’FALLON, Ill. — Bradley Longcor III believes he and his Quincy High School boys basketball teammates have more quarters in them like the second quarter of Tuesday night’s game. After Belleville West’s Jordan Lacey hit a 10-foot jump shot to tie the score at 16 on the first possession of the second quarter, the Blue…

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Blue Devils shoot plenty of layups while sharing ball in commanding road victory over Jacksonville

Quincy High School guard Kamren Wires helped the Blue Devils rebound from Friday's loss at Moline with a 27-point victory at Jacksonville on Saturday night. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — How easy was it for the Quincy High School boys basketball team to score against a porous Jacksonville defense on Saturday night? One play in the second quarter provided a perfect example. Blue Devils guard Kamren Wires was about to be trapped by two Jacksonville defenders in front of the Quincy bench,…

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Defensive dominance in first quarter allows Blue Devils to keep pace with Rock Island in WB6

Quincy High School's Tyler Sprick defends United Township's Caeden Terrell during the first half of Friday night's boys basketball game at Blue Devil Gym in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team forced United Township to burn nearly a minute off the clock on its opening possession Friday night before finally yielding a pull-up jumper from the left baseline by Dominic Rhoden. It was a harbinger of things to come. Quincy’s suffocating defense forced six turnovers and seven…

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Victory over defending state champs moves QHS boys into first-place tie in Western Big Six

Quincy High School's Camden Brown goes past Moline's Trey Taylor, left, and Vinablo Adjahoungbeta during Tuesday night's boys basketball game at Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam

QUINCY – A couple of explosive offensive spurts and a lockdown defense proved to be a winning formula. Three consecutive 3-pointers by Bradley Longcor III that created separation in the second quarter, and nine straight points in 92 seconds in the third period, were enough to carry the Quincy High School boys basketball team to…

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Sterling provides wake-up call as Klaver’s game-winning 3-pointer knocks Blue Devils from top of WB6

Quincy's Keshaun Thomas, right, rips a rebound away from Sterling's Andre Klaver during Friday night's high school boys basketball game at Homer Musgrove Fieldhouse in Sterling. | Photo courtesy of Alex Paschal, Shaw Media

STERLING, Ill. – The Western Big Six Conference race just got a little tighter. Sterling guard Andre Klaver buried a contested 3-pointer from deep on the left wing with 5.6 seconds remaining Friday night to stun third-ranked Quincy High School 65-62 in Homer Musgrove Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils, who beat the Golden Warriors 66-41 at…

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Schuck on a Truck: QHS boys basketball coach Andy Douglas discusses Quincy Shootout, Blue Devils’ progress

QUINCY — Sitting on the tailgate of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman’s pickup didn’t make much sense with snow blowing and temperatures dipping, so the latest episode of “Schuck on a Truck” became an inside edition as he and Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas hung out in the Blue Devils’ locker…

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Quarter century of memories: Douglas’ career night against Rocky lands Blue Devils WB6 crown

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas enjoyed his finest moment as a player against Rock Island, scoring a career-high 30 points in a victory in 2000 that captured the Western Big 6 Conference crown. | Matt Schuckman photo

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 26, 2000 — Quincy 76, Rock Island 66 QUINCY…

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Quarter century of memories: Blue Devils dismantle Redbirds to end regional title drought

Aaron Shoot, Ben Amos and Jacob Ary celebrate putting "2018" on the wall in Blue Devil Gym after winning both the Western Big 6 Conference championship and a regional title during their senior season. | Submitted photo

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: March 2, 2018 — Quincy 57, Alton 36 QUINCY —…

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Quarter century of memories: Dade’s half-court heave banks in for Thanksgiving tourney title

Mike Dade's half-court heave banked in to give the Quincy High School boys basketball team a 49-47 victory over Chicago Marshall in the title game of the 2015 QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. | Photo courtesy QHS basketball

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: November 28, 2015 — Quincy 49, Chicago Marshall 47 QUINCY…

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Quarter century of memories: Douglas’ debut as QHS head coach is ‘special, truly special’

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas has won more than 160 games in nine seasons at the helm. | Matt Schuckman photo

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: November 27, 2014 — Quincy 65, University City 40 QUINCY — Nine…

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

The 2017-18 Quincy High School boys basketball team accomplished many things, including winning the 2,000 game in program history. | Submitted photo

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…

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Blue Devils close regular season, pull away in second half to avoid upset at Galesburg

Ralph Wires, shown handling the basketball in a game last month against Lincoln, led Quincy with 14 points in Tuesday night's game against Galesburg. | David Adam

GALESBURG, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s fourth straight victory was accompanied by an emphatic stamp midway through the second half. The Blue Devils strung together 12 straight points at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth to pull away from upset-minded Galesburg and register a 66-55 Western…

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Quarter century of memories: Technicals, ejections lead to Douglas getting one-night audition as head coach

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, standing, made his stand-in coaching debut against Peoria Central on the road in 2009. | Muddy River Sports file photo

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: January 17, 2009 — Peoria Central 53, Quincy 46 QUINCY…

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‘These are the games we need’: Brown’s three-point play highlights late comeback by Blue Devils

Quincy High School's Camden Brown goes up to score the game-tying basket with 22 seconds remaining in Saturday night's game against Lincoln at Blue Devil Gym. Brown was fouled on the play by Payton Cook, and he made a free throw to put the Blue Devils ahead for good. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Playing the Lincoln Railsplitters is about as entertaining for the Quincy High School boys basketball team as shaving your head with a cheese grater. “I think anybody will say that Lincoln is like the least fun team to play all year long,” junior guard Ralph Wires said. “We want to run, but they…

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Blue Devils to use time prior to holiday tournament wisely, emphasize consistency and energy

Quincy High School sophomore guard Bradley Longcor III starts the offense during Saturday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It sounds relaxing when you say it out loud. The Quincy High School boys basketball team has 11 days until its next game. That offers the impression it will be a low-key holiday week leading up to Christmas and then a couple of get-back-into-the-groove days before the Blue Devils head off to play…

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Blue Devils fend off Statesmen with emphatic closing kick, turn attention to tough weekend

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — The signs this youthful, yet talented Quincy High School boys basketball team is maturing come in glimpses where momentum is teetering or the Blue Devils’ unbeaten record is threatened. Another of those moments came Tuesday night. A 13-point second-half advantage against the defending Missouri Class 5 state champion had dwindled to…

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

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, center, shares a laugh with several of his players during a break in practice at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas, right, discusses a play with sophomore forward Keshaun Thomas during practice leading up to this week's 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Schuckman: Blue Devils’ Douglas pours every beat of his heart into love for his players

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas goes through his final pregame preparations before the Blue Devils played Bolingbrook on Monday night in the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional at Redbird Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

NORMAL, Ill. — Restless nights tend to accompany the calendar flip, when January rolls into February and high school basketball coaches worry about how to prepare for and sustain postseason success. When the nights grow shorter and sleep is a struggle in the middle of October rather than the middle of the season, something other…

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Schuckman: Journey back to prosperity has been emotional ride for Blue Devils’ Douglas

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas has guided the Blue Devils to a 24-5 record and the Western Big 6 Conference championship one year after going 3-12. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — His voice quivered. His eyes glistened. And the words Andy Dougals felt best described the agony and ecstasy that bookended the past year were difficult to utter. “Damn, I didn’t know I’d get this emotional,” he said. So Douglas took off his glasses, dabbed at the corner of his eyes and took a…

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‘The sky’s the limit’: Freshman class contributing to Blue Devils’ success faster than Douglas expected

Quincy High School’s Bradley Longcor III drives to the basket for a field goal during Saturday night’s game against Quincy Notre Dame at the Pit. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — It isn’t supposed to be this easy. Oh, sure, a handful of basketball players have done well during their freshman season at Quincy High School, but only six have scored more than 70 points as a freshman — Bruce Douglas, Jack Kramer, Dennis Douglas, Jeff Klingler, Parker Bland and Jeremiah Talton. But the…

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Youthful Blue Devils to follow Talton’s lead as they turn page looking for future success

Junior guard Reid O'Brien, left, and senior swingman Jeremiah Talton will play significant roles for the Quincy High School boys basketball team this season. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It’s been nearly half a century since Bob Seger released “Turn the Page,” a song often covered by bands as acclaimed as Metallica that continues to be heard on classic rock radio stations. It might even be adopted by the Quincy High School boys basketball team as this season’s mantra. After enduring a…

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