Posts Tagged ‘Blue Devil Gym’
From A to Z, Quincy Shootout promises to be wonderland for basketball junkies
QUINCY — The sixth Quincy Shootout is arguably the most talented collection of athletes and teams Gem City basketball fans have seen. Players who have committed to, signed with or received offers from three of the top four teams in the Associated Press college basketball top 25 will be playing in Quincy this weekend. In…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils rally from first-quarter deficit to beat Statesmen by 10
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team can’t be kept down. The Blue Devils erased a 10-point first-quarter deficit Tuesday night and led the entire second half in a 61-51 victory over Webster Groves (Mo.) at Blue Devil Gym. Quincy is 8-0 following its final home game of the 2023 portion of its…
Read MoreBlue Devils capitalize on Austin’s absence by overpowering Golden Warriors for WB6 victory
QUINCY — The gameplan didn’t change, even if the opposing lineup did. The Sterling boys basketball team arrived at Blue Devil Gym for Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference clash without 6-foot-7, 265-pound senior forward Lucas Austin, an all-state offensive tackle who is taking an official football recruiting visit this weekend to West Virginia. “I…
Read MoreTourney title showcases Blue Devils’ ability to share basketball, credit and trust
QUINCY — Playing with an edge isn’t the same as playing with an ego. The Quincy High School boys basketball players are discovering the difference. The Blue Devils’ edge is their aggressive approach defensively, which creates turnovers and opportunities to score in transition, and their belief they can score on any opponent at any time.…
Read MoreQuarter century of memories: Summers buries Maroons’ title hopes with last-second shot
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 4, 2000 — Quincy 53, Moline 52 QUINCY —…
Read More‘You have to stay with it’: Blue Devils rally from 14-point deficit to win regional championship
QUINCY — Tyler Sprick said he never looked at the scoreboard, but he was fully aware of the situation the Quincy High School boys basketball team faced. No one went as far as to call it dire, but there was trepidation. Blindsided at the start of Friday night’s Class 4A Quincy Regional championship game as…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS rallies to beat Collinsville for Class 4A regional championship
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team didn’t take the lead for good until Tyler Sprick made a 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:55 remaining in regulation Friday night, but it cemented a rally from a 14-point deficit as the Blue Devils beat Collinsville 53-47 for the Class 4A Quincy Regional championship…
Read More‘Wow, what a night’: Seniors lead Blue Devils to victory in final regular-season home game
QUINCY — First came the rain, followed by the thunder and then a bellywasher of emotion. “Crazy,” a smiling Sam Mulherin called it. Perfect seemed to be an apt description, too. “It couldn’t have been a better night,” said Bryson Bowen, one of three seniors on the Quincy High School boys basketball team who played…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS sends seniors out in style with victory over Jacksonville
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team put a perfect cap on its home slate, beating Jacksonville 59-40 on Saturday night at Blue Devil in the final home regular-season game for seniors Sam Mulherin, Reid O’Brien and Bryson Bowen. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured some celebratory images and action shots throughout…
Read MoreRetribution is hers: Schreacke leads Raiders to victory in final crosstown showdown appearance
QUINCY — What took place once wasn’t going to happen twice. Abbey Schreacke made that abundantly clear. By scoring six of the game’s first 12 points Tuesday night and showcasing the variety of skills that make her the best player on the floor, the all-state senior guard put the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND girls basketball teams square off at Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — The crosstown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball teams returned to Blue Devil Gym on Tuesday night, and arguably one of the best players in Gem City history added to her legacy. The Raiders’ Abbey Schreacke scored 26 points to lead QND to a 57-35 victory. Muddy…
Read MoreSchuckman: QHS girls basketball players share opinions on gym space, upgrades and ceremonies
QUINCY — Mike Dade’s passionate plea to the Quincy School board last week asking for equal treatment for the boys and girls basketball programs succeeded in one important regard. It created conversation, opinion and debate. His speech also missed the mark in one very important aspect. He wasn’t a true voice for the players themselves.…
Read MoreCoaches offer thoughts on high-level play, incredible atmosphere of Quincy Shootout
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman had the opportunity throughout the two-day Quincy Shootout to visit with prep basketball coaches from teams across the country who have made Blue Devil Gym a January destination. Their overwhelming sentiment? The Shootout is a you-must-experience-this event. Here’s what they had to say:
Read More‘And it was nothing but net’: Mulherin’s first career 3-pointer punctuates Blue Devils’ WB6 victory
QUINCY — Sam Mulherin could say he’s one and done. But why do that? The Quincy High School senior forward relished making a buzzer-beating 3-pointer — the first 3-point attempt of his high school basketball career — so much so he’s ready to put his perfect shooting percentage on the line with another try. “Oh,…
Read MoreBlue Devils finish first half of WB6 slate in thick of title chase with chance to repeat as champs
QUINCY — Outside of the obvious scenario — that would be to beat Moline — the Quincy High School boys basketball players know what needs to happen over the second half of the Western Big 6 Conference season for them to repeat as league champions. The Blue Devils must replicate Friday night’s performance. They imposed…
Read MoreControlling tempo allows QHS boys basketball players to bring ‘Run, Devils, Run’ back to life
QUINCY — The idea of reprising “Run, Devils, Run” doesn’t necessarily marry with Keshaun Thomas’ strengths, and the 6-foot-6 sophomore forward doesn’t always keep pace with his more fleet-of-foot Quincy High School boys basketball teammates. “Ahh, it’s hard sometimes,” Thomas said. Yet, he’s fully in favor of a return to the more fast-paced mantra. “Yes,…
Read MoreFourth-quarter flurry enables Blue Devils to fight way past Rocks for critical WB6 victory
QUINCY — The words rolled from Bradley Longcor III in matter-of-fact fashion. “We’re a good team,” the Quincy High School sophomore said. And more times than not, good teams find ways to win games. Friday night at Blue Devil Gym was a classic case in point. Fueled by a scintillating second half at both ends…
Read More‘We turned it up’: Second-half defensive lockdown gives Blue Devils edge over Raiders in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — A simple suggestion is all it took. Needing to inject more life into his team — Quincy High School led Quincy Notre Dame 29-23 at halftime of Saturday night’s boys basketball showdown but had been rather lackluster defensively the first 16 minutes — Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas listened to an idea assistant…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devil Gym featured in IBCA’s 2023 Unique Gyms of Illinois calendar
The middle of December brings holiday gift ideas, All-American game goals and memories of a game played more than 30 years ago … Two venerable high school basketball gyms in Illinois and arguably the two most historic within the Western Big 6 Conference are being featured in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s 2023 Unique Gyms…
Read More‘We have to do us’: Blue Devils overcome lackluster first half against Bulldogs with game-clinching run
QUINCY — The chatter, the comparisons and the hype the state-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team continues creating could be a detriment if the Blue Devils allow those things to infiltrate the team-first mentality. “If we just do us, the best in us will come out,” sophomore guard Bradley Longcor III said. When the…
Read MoreBlue Devils survive less-than-Sterling effort to remain tied for first in Western Big 6
QUINCY — Andy Douglas let his ears be his guide. “If we can come out the first few possessions and our communication is great, it’s probably going to be a good night defensively,” the Quincy High School boys basketball coach said. “Tonight, it wasn’t. We didn’t talk.” So the fact Sterling opened the second half…
Read MoreBlue Devils spread scoring wealth in WB6 victory over Pioneers
QUINCY — Let’s be honest. Brutally honest. The Quincy High School boys basketball team probably could have put 100 points on the scoreboard — and with relative ease — during Tuesday’s Western Big 6 Conference game against overmatched and outmanned Rock Island Alleman at Blue Devil Gym. Instead, state-ranked QHS settled for a 65-28 victory…
Read More‘This is our team up on the wall’: Blue Devils finish off Rocks to guarantee themselves share of WB6 championship
QUINCY — To leave a legacy within Quincy High School’s tradition-rich boys basketball program, you have to put a number on the wall. Jeremiah Talton finally gets that opportunity. Bradley Longcor III and his classmates may end up doing it multiple times. Friday night, these Blue Devils earned the right to be part of history…
Read MoreSchuckman: It’s gotta be the shoes as Quincy Shootout participants put their footware on display
Stylish, bold, eye-catching and colorful. And it’s all about sole. During the fourth Quincy Shootout, which took place Friday and Saturday at Blue Devil Gym and Friday night at the Pit, the shoe game of some of the top prep basketball players in the state and in the nation was on display. A handful of…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Kramer adds to family legacy in Blue Devil Gym by taking down Blue Devils
QUINCY — The son of a Blue Devil legend did all he could to keep a current Quincy High School boys basketball standout carving his own legacy from adding a Quincy Shootout victory to his resume. By doing so, Nick Kramer made the trip down memory lane unforgettable. Kramer, the St. Louis University High senior…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Eagles’ chemistry creates edge as they pull away from Dukes
QUINCY — The initial reaction was what Greg Altmix expected. Thursday afternoon, the Liberty boys basketball coach informed his players they had added a game to the schedule with an appearance in the fourth Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. “(The organizers) giving us a chance to come and play in this event really got…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: iSchool of Lewisville uses 3-pointers to put stamp on victory
QUINCY — Three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter allowed the iSchool of Lewisville to finish off a 65-56 victory over Huntington Prep in the final game of the Quincy Shootout in Blue Devil Gym. Aaron Carter made two of his six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points. Jason Thirdkill added 17…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Berkmar puts three in double figures, holds off Father Tolton
QUINCY — A three-pronged attack proved to be better than one dominant force. Despite getting 25 points from senior forward Jevon Porter, Columbia Father Tolton couldn’t put the clamps on Berkmar (Ga.) as the Patriots had three players score in double figures in a 60-58 victory in the Quincy Shootout. Bryce Blaine buried a 3-pointer…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Strong start gives Link Academy edge in matchup with St. Rita
QUINCY — Link Academy let Tarris Reed Jr. establish the post presence immediately. The rest of the Lions followed his lead. Reed scored nine of his 17 points in the first quarter when Link outscored Chicago St. Rita 14-9, but he had only two points in the 24-point second quarter. Six other players scored in…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Cadets’ balanced attack, stingy second-half defense lead to victory
QUINCY — The Modesto Christian boys basketball team’s 2,000-mile trip from California seemed like a worthwhile adventure when the Crusaders had a 45-40 halftime lead over CBC out of St. Louis. The Crusaders must have forgotten to pack their offense for the second half. The Cadets scored 44 points in the second half, while limiting…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Lions able to outlast Fighting Irish in double overtime
QUINCY — Two big defensive plays in the final minute of overtime led to Peoria Notre Dame and St. Louis Cardinal Ritter needing a second extra session. The Lions made sure there wouldn’t be a third. Robert Lewis knocked down three free throws to help Cardinal Ritter stave off PND with a 67-66 victory in…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Mighty Elephants enjoy mighty edge in second quarter
QUINCY — A 23-point second quarter swung the momentum in favor of the Math, Civics and Sciences Charter of Philadelphia, and the Mighty Elephants never relented in dispatching Iowa City West 71-51 on Saturday in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Trent Middleton’s second-quarter outburst sparked the swing as he scored 14 points in…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Fourth-quarter scoring binge pushes The Burlington School to victory
QUINCY — A feisty, fast-paced battle turned into an unexpected blowout at the end with Kheni Briggs becoming the reason why. The Burlington School led Memphis East by six points heading to the fourth quarter of Saturday morning’s matchup in the fourth Quincy Shootout, but Briggs ignited the Spartans’ 26-point fourth-quarter surge by scoring 11…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Blue Devils discover needed energy in fourth quarter, stay undefeated in WB6 by beating Panthers
QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III nodded at the suggestion it had been a week filled with low-energy practices for the Quincy High School boys basketball team. “It wasn’t the best,” the freshman guard admitted. Junior guard Reid O’Brien was a little more blunt. “We didn’t have any good practices all week long,” O’Brien said. So…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: St. Rita relies on Brown in fourth quarter in erasing 12-point deficit
QUINCY — When the Chicago St. Rita boys basketball team needed someone to spark a rally, the state’s top-ranked sophomore prospect obliged. James Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward, scored 11 of the Mustangs’ 25 fourth-quarter points as they erased a 12-point deficit and narrowly escaped Blue Devil Gym with a 76-75 victory over Huntington (W. Va.)…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Reed helps power Link Academy to second-half surge and victory
QUINCY — One of the nation’s most talented and most talked about prep school lineups found itself facing a halftime deficit Friday night. That’s when Link Academy showed why it is receiving so much attention. Tarris Reed Jr., playing in the Quincy Shootout for the second time in his career, powered his way to eight…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Berkmar opens hoops frenzy with consistent scoring in victory
QUINCY — A five-point lead at the end of the first quarter was extended to 13 by halftime as Berkmar, Ga., systemically pulled away from the iSchool of Lewisville, Texas, for a 70-45 victory in the opening game of the fourth Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Malique Ewin, a 6-foot-10 Ole Miss signee, led…
Read MoreBlue Devils adapt, adjust and apply pressure to keep WB6 win streak going
QUINCY — Leave it to COVID-19 to disrupt the rhythm of the night. Still, the Quincy High School boys basketball team adapted. Due to positive COVID tests within its freshman team, Geneseo was forced to cancel Tuesday night’s preliminary game. So instead of watching the underclassmen play before going to the locker room to get…
Read MoreFresh approach: Trio of youngsters play with no fear in shouldering scoring load as Blue Devils knock off Maroons
QUINCY — The innocence of youth and the confidence of experience. It’s a lethal combination a trio of Quincy High School freshmen seem to possess, and their brashness, play-making ability and no-fear attitude is creating problems for the rest of the Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball teams. Friday night, Moline discovered how devastating those…
Read MoreBlue Devils survive Bulldogs’ 3-point barrage to finish perfect week
QUINCY — How much has the Quincy High School boys basketball team improved from a season ago? Quincy’s 64-61 victory over Batavia on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym completed a 3-0 week that also included wins over Sterling and Rock Island Alleman. Three victories, five days. Those three wins match the Blue Devils’ victory…
Read MoreKing of the treys: Talton eclipses Smith’s record as QHS’s career leader in 3-pointers
QUINCY — Each milestone Jeremiah Talton reaches and record he breaks serves as incentive for his younger teammates to shoot to surpass him. It won’t be easy. One game after becoming the 22nd player in the history of the Quincy High School boys basketball program to score 1,000 career points, the 6-foot-6 swingman reached another…
Read MoreBlue Devils show no fear while erasing fourth-quarter deficit against Phoenix
QUINCY — The way Keshaun Thomas sees it, there’s no reason to be intimidated by any atmosphere or situation the Quincy High School boys basketball team might find itself facing. “We just have to go out there and play,” Thomas said. “You can’t be scared of competition.” The freshman forward proved Friday night he’s scared…
Read MoreTalton’s career-best scoring effort highlights return of QHS hoops and Thanksgiving Tournament
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton left no chore undone Thanksgiving night. He even mopped the floor. With the Quincy High School boys basketball team leading Lake Forest Academy by 15 points with 4 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in regulation Thursday night, Talton slid into the middle of the lane and drew a charge on Caxys guard…
Read MoreTwo Quincy Shootout alums land in second round of NBA Draft
QUINCY — The evolution of the Quincy Shootout as one of the premier prep basketball showcases in the Midwest continued Thursday night. Two players who participated in the inaugural event at Quincy High School’s Blue Devil Gym in 2018 were selected in the NBA Draft. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who starred for Bishop Miege of Shawnee Mission,…
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