Posts Tagged ‘Boys basketball’
Longcor receives first-team all-state plaudits from IBCA, eight others pick up honors
QUINCY — A trio of Quincy High School boys basketball players received all-state honors from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and led a brigade of nine area players overall to receive plaudits. Quincy senior guard Bradley Longcor III received first-team honors in Class 4A, while Blue Devils senior forward Keshaun Thomas was a third-team selection…
Read MoreBrewer expresses his appreciation for support from Canton community throughout his career
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Preston Brewer’s final words were heartfelt. “Thank you, Canton,” he said. That’s how the Canton boys basketball team’s senior all-state forward ended his final interview, which took place in the tunnel looking out into a then-mostly empty Mizzou Arena after Canton’s 72-61 loss to Eugene in Thursday’s Class 2 state championship game.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Canton brings home second-place trophy from Class 2 state tournament
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Canton boys basketball team’s deepest postseason run in program history ended with a state title game appearance Thursday night. The Tigers led Eugene 49-45 heading to the fourth quarter at Mizzou Arena, but the Eagles rallied for a 72-61 victory. The second-place finish marks the third state trophy the Canton boys…
Read MoreLarge and in charge: Canton’s size advantage spearheads second-half surge, leads to spot in state title game
COLUMBIA, Mo. — How much of an advantage did the Canton boys basketball team have on the interior during Wednesday’s Class 2 semifinal game against Puxico? “A lot,” Tigers coach Dalton Armontrout said. As the game progressed, that edge became more and more apparent. All the Tigers had to do was recognize it. “We did…
Read More‘We’re not done yet’: Brewer, Tigers remain locked in on mission following semifinal win
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Preston Brewer tamed his excitement. As the Canton senior forward exited Wednesday’s Class 2 semifinal game against Puxico for the final time with the Tigers 1:12 away from securing the program’s first ever trip to a state title game, Brewer kept saying to his teammates, “One more.” Brewer did not want to…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Canton wins Class 2 state semifinal, will play for first championship in program history
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Canton boys basketball team overcame a third-quarter deficit by dominating the interior in a 65-50 victory over Puxico in Wednesday night’s Class 2 state semifinals at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers shot 61.7 percent from the field and outrebounded the Indians 40-16. The Tigers will face Eugene at 8 p.m. Thursday in…
Read MoreTigers plan to stick to what they know in preparing for Class 2 state final four appearance
CANTON, Mo. — Whatever you want to call it — superstition, continuity, routine — it has worked. The Canton boys basketball team hasn’t changed anything about its approach, from the pregame meal to coach Dalton Armontrout’s outfit to the mode of transportation, during its run to the Class 2 state semifinals. “It’s important just to…
Read MoreSchuckman: Final game together is reminder Blue Devils’ senior class to remain forever linked
NORMAL, Ill. — Reality hit Bradley Longcor III all at once as he took a seat on the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s bench. With 19 seconds remaining in regulation Monday night in the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional at Illinois State University’s CEFCU Arena and the Blue Devils trailing by five points, Longcor fouled…
Read More‘I didn’t think we’d be in this situation’: Inefficient effort offensively dooms Blue Devils in super-sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — Andy Douglas didn’t remember what he said in the locker room because he didn’t know what to say when he walked in there. Tasked with offering some sense of comfort to his Quincy High School boys basketball team following its 58-50 loss Monday night to Lisle Benet Academy in the Class 4A…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS’s season ends with loss to Benet Academy in Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — A scoring droiught that lasted more than five minutes at the start of the game put the Quincy High School boys basketball team in catch-up mode for the entirety of Monday night’s 58-50 loss to Lisle Benet Academy in the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University…
Read MoreWires, Blue Devils putting best foot forward in search of trip to state final four
QUINCY — Each time Kamren Wires stood up to walk, the pain surged through his left foot and ankle, and that cast further doubt on the possibility he’d play anymore this postseason. “The doctors said I was out for three or four weeks, and I believed them,” said the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s…
Read MoreCrim: Tigers head to loaded Class 2 final four at Mizzou Arena looking to ‘make a name for ourselves’
CANTON, Mo. — After accepting congratulatory handshakes and hugs and posing for pictures with teammates and fans, Preston Brewer finally felt the enormity of the moment. While trying to describe the physical pounding he took from relentless Harrisburg defenders for 32 minutes in Friday night’s Missouri Class 2 quarterfinal victory on his home court, he…
Read MoreSchuckman: Douglas clings to Lepper’s words and their friendship while helping Blue Devils fight way to sectional championship victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — After what had been a restless night with little to no sleep, Andy Douglas got the phone call he was expecting. On the other end was Tom Lepper, the voice Douglas needed to hear. This was only 12 hours or so after the Quincy High School boys basketball team had lost 44-43…
Read More‘It feels amazing’: Blue Devils put past disappointment to rest, beat Ironmen for sectional championship
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — No over-the-counter remedy could help those associated with the Quincy High School boys basketball program overcome the gnawing disappointment which had lingered for the equivalent of a calendar year. This wasn’t heartburn. This was heartache. “We know what it feels like to be one inch away,” said senior point guard Kamren Wires,…
Read More‘We get to practice tomorrow’: Canton fends off Harrisburg to reach Class 2 final four
CANTON, Mo. — The Harrisburg boys basketball team was determined Preston Brewer would not beat it Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 2 state tournament. So, Kaden Oliver and Drew Gottman stepped up to keep Canton’s magical season alive. Oliver buried four of his five 3-pointers in the second half — all…
Read More‘They were just one step ahead of us’: Knights gain early edge, fend off Hornets in sectional semfinals
WHITE HALL, Ill. — As the minutes ticked off the clock and the goose egg stayed on the scoreboard, the frustration for Jackson McNeff and the Brown County boys basketball team continued to mount. “It just felt like we couldn’t shoot the ball in the ocean,” said McNeff, a sophomore forward. For the first 9…
Read More‘The sky’s the limit’: Youthful Hornets lay foundation for future success
WHITE HALL, Ill. — An abrupt ending to a resurgent season did not prevent Brown County boys basketball coach Jeff Bottorff or his players from recognizing what they accomplished. When Bottorff addressed his team in the locker room following the Hornets’ 59-40 loss to Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran in Wednesday’s Class 1A North Greene Sectional semifinal,…
Read MoreFletcher Gym’s friendly confines bring out best in Blue Devils in sectional semifinal victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Milton Whitfield had yet to experience playing in historic Vergil Fletcher Gym prior to Tuesday night. “All I wanted was a chance on this floor,” the Quincy High School junior guard said. For good reason. “It’s very beautiful, very big, very spacious,” Whitfield said. “The kind of floor you want to run…
Read MoreRematch with Ironmen in sectional championship brings about plenty of emotion for Blue Devils
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — As they filed out of Vergil Fletcher Gym on Tuesday night, the Quincy High School boys basketball players weren’t aware of who their opponent would be in Friday’s Class 4A Collinsville Sectional title game. “Either one, I’m excited to play,” senior guard Bradley Longcor III said. He knew there would be motivation…
Read MoreCanton boys end sectional jinx, power past Clopton to reach Class 2 state quarterfinals
CLARKSVILLE, Mo. — Two seasons in a row, the Canton boys basketball team had reached the Missouri Class 2 sectional, and both times the final buzzer sounded the end to its season. This time, the Tigers got to celebrate. Canton scored the game’s opening 10 points and built a 20-point lead by the end of…
Read MorePalmyra puts up first-quarter fight, but Principia showcases its firepower thereafter in sectional victory
ST. LOUIS — Through the first eight minutes of Monday night’s sectional, the Palmyra boys basketball team went toe-to-toe with the top-ranked team in Missouri Class 3. “I was happy,” Palmyra coach Brian Rea said. “I just wanted to have a little more movement and some better action that we could get some easy buckets…
Read MoreCrim: Centralia’s Bennett maintains focus on what’s next for Orphans after milestone victory
QUINCY — Lee Bennett took a moment to pose for a photograph with a group of Centralia High School students acknowledging his 700th career coaching victory last Wednesday night after the Orphans demolished Charleston in the semifinals of the Class 3A Effingham boys basketball regional. The celebration was short. “There’s a lot of people who…
Read MoreHornets display maturity beyond their years in upsetting Rockets in overtime for regional title
GRIGGSVILLE, Ill. — What was it that Roger Daltrey of The Who told us in the early days of what we now refer to as classic rock? Wasn’t it something about, “The kids are alright?” Yes, it was. And yes, they are. The Brown County boys basketball team, dominated by a kiddie corps of 10…
Read More‘Now it’s on to the next’: Regional championship is start of what Blue Devils hope is fruitful postseason
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The sea of blue that flooded the Belleville West High School gym made Dom Clay feel like he was at Blue Devil Gym. “It felt like home, for sure,” Clay said. As the Quincy High School boys basketball team kept extending their blistering scoring run to start Friday’s Class 4A Belleville West…
Read MoreFamily of winners: Blue Devils’ fourth straight regional title is result of brotherhood
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — When the Quincy High School boys basketball team breaks their huddle with shouts of ‘Family,’ that is no coincidence. “It’s a testament to what they’ve built over the years,” Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas said. “They truly care about each other on the floor, and they care about each other more off…
Read MorePalmyra exacts its revenge, beats top-seeded Monroe City for district championship
PALMYRA, Mo. — Ryan McKinney was all smiles as he was surrounded by a sea of jubilant Palmyra fans. “We had nothing to lose coming into this game,” the junior guard said. “I mean, we had already lost to them three times. But, you know, if you win the one that matters, those three losses…
Read MoreRight on target: Bullets guard leads second-half offensive surge, ending Raiders’ season
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Brayden Saling’s second-half performance was so impressive that it even caught his coach off guard. As a matter of fact, Williamsville boys basketball coach Nick Beard was dumbfounded to learn his senior southpaw guard was held scoreless for the first two quarters. “I had no idea,” Beard said. But Beard wasn’t completely…
Read MorePerfect execution on final possession boosts Macomb to regional title on home floor
MACOMB, Ill. — The significance of playing the Class 2A regional championship at The Hangar wasn’t lost on Macomb boys basketball coach Jeremy Anderson or assistant coach Zach Keene. “Between the two of us, that’s more than 40 years of coaching,” Anderson said. “And we could only come up with four or five times we…
Read MoreTitans unable to gain measure of revenge, fall to Cardinals in regional championship
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Same opponent, same circumstance, different venue. Yet, it was still the same result for the West Hancock boys basketball team. Facing Pleasant Plains in the Class 2A regional championship for the second straight year — last year it happened in Warsaw, this time in Pleasant Plains — the Titans struggled offensively,…
Read MoreThree times the charm: Canton captures third consecutive district championship
QUEEN CITY, Mo. — Winning one district championship proved significant. Capturing a second crown was rewarding. But a third? In a row? That will leave you almost speechless. Just ask Preston Brewer. “I honestly can’t put it into words how I feel about winning it three times in a row,” the senior forward said Friday…
Read MoreCollective effort carries Raiders to lopsided victory over Bluejays in regional semifinal
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix was curious leading up to Wednesday’s Class 2A Pittsfield Regional semifinal game against Petersburg PORTA just how the Raiders would react. “When you come into a new program, you never know how guys are going to respond in the postseason,” said Altmix, the first-year…
Read MoreDunk and destroy: Clay’s breakaway slam ignites massive surge as Blue Devils win regional semi
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Rico Clay Jr.’s instincts when it comes to making a play on the ball brought more than a handful of college football recruiters to visit the talented cornerback last summer and fall. Those same instincts helped ensure the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s season didn’t end prematurely. With the top-seeded Blue…
Read More‘It’s pretty high stakes’: Monroe City, Palmyra to meet for fourth time, this one for district title
PALMYRA, Mo. — Get ready for Monroe City versus Palmyra IV. As expected, the top two seeds in the Class 3 District 6 boys basketball tournament won their semifinal-round games Wednesday night to set the stage for a fourth meeting this season in Friday night’s championship game. Trey Smyser hit four 3-pointers in the first…
Read MoreValiant effort by Chargers falls just short in regional semifinal loss to state-ranked Bullets
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The slight fadeaway. The tired legs from playing every minute of the game. Any number of factors could have contributed to the shot coming up just short. While the outcome was not what Tre Neiderman or the Illini West boys basketball team wanted, Neiderman accepted the result. “The fact that the last…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Monroe City, Palmyra boys win district semifinals to set up another showdown
PALMYRA, Mo. — The Panthers will be playing in the Class 3 sectionals next week, but will it be the Monroe City Panthers or the Palmyra Panthers? The Clarence Cannon Conference rivals advanced to the championship of the Class 3 District 6 boys basketball tournament with semifinal victories Wednesday night. Top-seeded Monroe City beat fourth-seeded…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 9
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined on the Hess Auto Hotline by Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne, Central-Southeastern girls coach Matt Long, Quincy High School boys coach Andy Douglas and Payson Seymour boys coach Tyler Duschinsky to break down the prep basketball scene for the latest episode of…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops’ Starry Star of the Week: Central-Southeastern’s Peters earns Week 9 honor
QUINCY — Each week during Muddy Night Hoops powered by Farm & Home Supply — a 90-minute talk show centered on prep basketball — the Starry Star of the Week will be presented to one area student-athlete. Sponsored by Refreshment Services Pepsi, the Starry Star of the Week looks to highlight someone who did something…
Read MoreCrim: Payson’s Schwartz views his milestone scoring achievement as team accomplishment
PAYSON, Ill. — One by one, seniors and their parents were introduced before last Friday night’s boys high school basketball game between Payson Seymour and Western. Blake Schwartz’s name was called last. After exchanging hugs with his mom and dad in front of the Payson bench, he was asked by the public address announcer to…
Read MoreFourth-quarter rally enables QND to end regular season with confidence after beating Keokuk
KEOKUK, Iowa — All that Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix wanted was a chance. Through two and a half quarters of Friday’s affair with Keokuk, it looked like that opportunity may never materialize. But the Raiders never relented. “The guys just kept battling,” Altmix said. “They didn’t give up.” Down double digits…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, February 21
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, February 21: Boys basketball Quincy Notre Dame 64, Keokuk (Iowa) 62 Brown County 87, Pleasant Hill 55 Monmouth-Roseville 43, Macomb 37 Palmyra 69, Highland 36 Monroe City 52, Macon 20 South Shelby 60, Higbee 48 Marion County 63, North Shelby 59 Louisiana 72, Mark Twain 49…
Read MoreQJHS, Camp Point Central eighth graders finish as state runners-up, Southeastern takes fourth
TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Trailing by 13 points early in the second half, the Quincy Junior High School eighth grade boys basketball team got within two points in the fourth quarter but never got the lead in a 46-42 loss to the Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts (STA) from Park Forest in the…
Read More‘We knew we could get it’: Chargers set new single-season wins record by beating Rockets
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Twenty-two. Tre Neiderman and the Illini West boys basketball players have had that magic number in their sights since setting a goal during summer workouts to eclipse the program’s single-season record for victories. “We knew that we could get it,” Neiderman said. Now the Chargers have it. With a 57-40 victory over…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils drop to No. 3, Titans climb to No. 10 in final poll
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Associated Press Illinois boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (11) 27-1 118 1 2. Marist 28-2 92 5 3. Quincy (1) 27-3 86 2 4. Waubonsie Valley…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Wednesday, February 19
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Wednesday, February 19: Boys basketball Brown County 64, Carrollton 45 Illini West 57, Rushville-Industry 40 Calhoun 53, Pittsfield 34 Palmyra 54, Clark County 39 Columbia Battle 76, Monroe City 41 Girls basketball Palmyra 54, Clark County 49 Men’s basketball Central Methodist 87, Culver-Stockton College 63 Women’s basketball…
Read MoreVictory of Titan-ic proportions: West Hancock wins West Central Conference title, beats QND at The Pit
QUINCY — As he dribbled from one side of the court to the other, West Hancock senior guard Gavin Grothaus found himself dangerously close to a five-second violation. A turnover could have changed the outcome of the game. Instead, Grothaus avoided the mishap and made the biggest pass of Tuesday’s showdown with Quincy Notre Dame,…
Read MoreRocks deny Blue Devils’ bid to finish conference play undefeated in regular-season finale
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — For a moment, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas thought maybe his team’s lackluster demeanor was just an aberration. The state-ranked Blue Devils lethargically took the floor for warmups prior to Tuesday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game against Rock Island at the Rocky Fieldhouse with a chance to…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Titans, Raiders trade punches in postseason atmosphere
QUINCY — The West Hancock boys basketball team went toe-to-toe with Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday night with a packed house at The Pit raising the decibel levels to as loud as the gym has been all winter. The Titans put a stamp on their West Central Conference title with a 65-58 victory. Muddy River…
Read MoreSmith’s field goals to start fourth quarter make certain Panthers hold Pirates at bay
PALMYRA, Mo. —The Palmyra boys basketball team scored the first 21 points Tuesday night against Hannibal. Game, set, match. Right? Well, not quite. Palmyra was not able to deliver what amounted to be the ultimate knockout punch until the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. That’s when the Panthers’ 6-foot-3 Mason Smith connected on a…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 8
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined on the Hess Auto Hotline by Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance, Illini West girls coach Grant Surprenant, West Hancock senior guard Lewis Siegfried and Canton senior forward Preston Brewer to break down the prep basketball scene for the latest episode of Muddy…
Read MoreBlue Devils put away pesky Crimsons to secure victory in final game at Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — Dom Clay got all the tears out of his system on Friday night, but that did not make Saturday any less emotional or memorable. For Clay and the seven other seniors on the Quincy High School boys basketball team, Saturday’s clash with Jacksonville marked their final game at Blue Devil Gym. “It hit…
Read MoreQuincy, Camp Point eighth grade boys basketball teams to play for state titles, Southeastern to play for third
Comets use strong second half to reach title game TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Junior High School eighth grade boys basketball team will play for an Illinois Elementary School Association Class 4A state championship Thursday after winning a pair of games Saturday at Taylorville High School. The Comets beat O’Fallon Carriel 33-20 in the quarterfinals…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, February 15
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, February 15: Boys basketball Quincy High School 66, Jacksonville 49 Palmyra 69, Bowling Green 56 Girls basketball Class 2A Illini West Regional Illini West 43, South County 40 West Hancock 39, Beardstown 29 Class 1A Payson Regional West Prairie 64, Payson Seymour 33 Rushville-Industry 56, Bushnell-Prairie…
Read MorePower in the post: Thomas dominates inside as Blue Devils win WB6 championship outright
QUINCY — Each time Keshaun Thomas gained position on a Moline defender in the post Friday night, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas could hear former assistant coach Tom Lepper barking at the guards to make the entry pass. In fact, Douglas could envision the lumbering 6-foot-9 Lepper getting off the bench and…
Read More‘I’m glad we could get one for her’: Saukees grind out win in first game since Ramsey’s death
BARRY, Ill. — Taylor Graham had no doubt he got some heavenly help to allow his pivotal free throw to rattle in. “It definitely felt like it,” Graham said. “To be honest, out of the hand, I thought I missed it.” That free throw, which came with 13.6 seconds left and gave the Pittsfield boys…
Read More‘We knew it was our moment’: Seniors help Raiders take 20-2 lead, roll to victory over Liberty
QUINCY — Alex Dance and his four Quincy Notre Dame senior teammates don’t get many chances to play together at the same time on the basketball court. Naturally, they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity on Senior Night. “We knew this was one of our last chances to start together,” Dance said. “We just…
Read MoreTitans continue rolling toward postseason, handle Suns for second time this season
WARSAW, Ill. — Southeastern boys basketball coach Brandon Gooding was honest in his assessment. Brutally honest. “If we’d play a great team like West Hancock 100 times, they’d probably win all 100,” Gooding said. “But we’re trying to emphasize to our kids go out there and be a puncher, play as hard as you can.”…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils move step closer to undefeated conference championship
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team needs a victory Tuesday night at Rock Island to finish undefeated in the Western Big 6 Conferenece following a 69-52 victory over Moline on Friday night at Blue Devil Gym,. The Blue Devils are 26-2 overall and 11-0 in the WB6. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: QND boys race to huge lead in claiming West Central Conference victory
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team led 20-2 after one quarter and 39-8 at halftime as they rolled to a 71-29 victory over Liberty during Friday’s West Central Conference tussle at The Pit. Four seniors — Alex Dance, Conner Young, Jackson Pyatt and Carter Miller — combined for 11 points in the…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, February 14
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, February 14: Boys basketball Quincy High School 69, Moline 52 Quincy Notre Dame 71, Liberty 29 West Hancock 63, Southeastern 27 Pittsfield 49, Western 43 Griggsville-Perry 60, Payson Seymour 54 (2OT) Jacksonville Routt 51, Brown County 45 Illini West 47, Bushnell-Prairie City 26 Macomb 49, Camp…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils move back to No. 2 in Class 4A
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (10) 25-1 109 1 2. Quincy (1) 25-2 95 3 3. Homewood-Flossmoor 25-2 89 2 4. Hinsdale Central 27-2…
Read MoreBlue Devils take care of business against Pioneers, set up showdowns with Maroons, Rocks to finish WB6 play
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — For a moment Tuesday night, however brief it was, the Rock Island Alleman boys basketball team led state-ranked Quincy High School. Then the Blue Devils took possession of the ball, the lead and the game. Alleman sophomore guard Jack Wendt scored on a drive down the left side of the lane…
Read MoreMonroe City’s hot 3-point shooting in first quarter sparks 24-point victory over Palmyra in CCC play
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Monroe City boys basketball coach Brock Edris joked with his team after the fact, but there was no joke about the effort his players put forth against Palmyra on Tuesday. Following a five-game stretch in which it went 3-2 with wins by a combined seven points against teams with a collective…
Read MoreSnow day anticipation: Raiders bring energy to West Central Conference victory over Mustangs
MENDON, Ill. — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players prepared to take the floor Tuesday night, they had a little extra pep to their step. Credit, in part, goes to Mother Nature. “After we heard there’s a snow day (Wednesday), that just got us excited and we got after it,” Raiders junior guard…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, February 11
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, February 11: Boys basketball Quincy High School 76, Alleman 33 Quincy Notre Dame 80, Mendon Unity 39 Winchester West Central 69, Payson Seymour 63 Illini West 42, Camp Point Central 23 Brown County 55, Western 37 Beardstown 54, Pittsfield 43 Monroe City 68, Palmyra 44 South…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 7
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined in the Refreshment Services Pepsi Studio by Quincy High School senior guard Kamren Wires and Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tristan Pieper and on the Hess Auto Hotline by Marion County boys coach Reed Plunkett and Canton girls coach Danielle Baker to break down the…
Read MoreBalanced offensive attack, stout defensive effort contribute to Titans blowing out Eagles
LIBERTY, Ill. — Balanced and connected. When the West Hancock boys basketball team is both of those things — like it was on Monday — Titans senior guard Lewis Siegfried would hate to play against them. “It’s scary just thinking about it,” Siegfried said. The Titans put four players in double figures and clamped down…
Read MoreThree area eighth grade boys basketball teams qualify for state tourney in respective classes
QUINCY — The Quincy Junior High School eighth grade boys basketball team is headed to the Illinois Elementary School Association state tournament. Camp Point Central and Augusta Southeastern are, too. The three squads won sectional championships in their respective classes Monday night, advancing to the state quarterfinals on Saturday. Quincy defeated Mt. Zion 32-23 at…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, February 10
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard from Monday, Feb. 10: Boys basketball West Hancock 64, Liberty 35 Payson Seymour 58, Beardstown 52 (OT) North Mac 49, Pittsfield 40 Southeastern 67, Pleasant Hill 53 Girls basketball Brown County 72, Mendon Unity 57 Pittsfield 65, Greenfield/Northwestern 36 Macomb 68, Illini West 49 Men’s basketball Clarke University…
Read MoreFriday night’s sluggish start becomes distant memory as Blue Devils race to 35-9 lead in rout
QUINCY — It wasn’t going to be a repeat performance. One night after being held to a lone field goal in the first quarter and to just 13 points in the opening half against United Township, the Quincy High School boys basketball team made sure there would be no need for any second-half heroics. Beginning…
Read MoreMexico’s blistering shooting continues, while turnovers continue to plague QND
QUINCY — Darren Pappas has seen this act before. The coach of the Mexico (Mo.) boys basketball team has had a front row seat to the Bulldogs’ perimeter prowess. “When we get our feet set, I like our chances,” Pappas said with a grin. Mexico made eight of its first nine shots, had seven first…
Read MoreSmith’s putback dunk adds exclamation point to Palmyra’s overtime victory over Routt
QUINCY — Hudson Bock’s surprise turned to delight in a blink. With the Palmyra boys basketball team leading Jacksonville Routt 58-57 in overtime, Bock turned a steal into a fastbreak which he figured he’d finish with a left-handed layup. The ball had other ideas, rolling off the right side of the rim. “I saw it…
Read MoreSmyser’s trey gives Monroe City boost in finishing off Liberty in final minutes of regulation
QUINCY — As his teammates moved the ball up the floor, Trey Smyser gravitated to one of his favorite spots on the floor. “I like shooting on the wing,” he said. Apparently so. The Monroe City senior guard buried a 3-pointer from the right wing in front of the Panthers’ bench with 49.1 seconds remaining…
Read MoreSeniors in West Hancock backcourt lead charge as Titans use tide-turning run to hold off Hawks
QUINCY — Lewis Siegfried, Gavin Grothaus and the West Hancock boys basketball team went on the attack. Trailing Clopton (Mo.) 13-12 with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter Saturday in the KHQA/American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout, the Titans went on a 15-0 run while holding the Hawks without a field goal for…
Read MoreBlue Devils battle back from first-half effort deemed ‘worst of all time’ to fend off Panthers
QUINCY — It is not an exaggeration to say the Quincy High School boys basketball team played its worst 16 minutes of the season Friday night. It’s not hyperbole either to suggest it was the worst half of the Blue Devils’ careers. They freely admitted it was a struggle beyond measure. “Worst of all time,”…
Read MoreHelias capitalizes on swing moment in fourth quarter, fends off QND’s comeback
QUINCY — The pass was perfect and the shot was open. “Everything was right there,” Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix said. Everything except the tide-turning moment it was set up to be. The Raiders had cut an 18-point, second-half deficit to seven in the early stages of the fourth quarter of Friday’s…
Read MoreCramsey helps Eagles kick into gear in fourth quarter to outlast Indians in Adams County rivalry
PAYSON, Ill. — Vince Cramsey is one of the premier guards in West-Central Illinois, and he’s just a sophomore. Cramsey punctuated the Liberty boys basketball team’s 49-42 victory Friday night over Payson Seymour, scoring seven of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Eagles to their fourth straight victory in front…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS avoids WB6 upset by going on 30-3 run to erase forgettable first half
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team scored just three points in the first quarter Friday night against United Township and trailed 22-5 with three minutes to go in the first half, but the Blue Devils went on a 30-3 run to take control and post a 53-43 Western Big 6 Conference victory…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, February 7
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, Feb. 7: Boys basketball Quincy High School 53, United Township 43 Jefferson City Helias 57, Quincy Notre Dame 45 Liberty 49, Payson Seymour 42 Camp Point Central 56, Rushville-Industry 36 Mendon Unity 76, Southeastern 62 Macomb 67, South Fulton 42 Brown County 69, Pittsfield 36 Pawnee…
Read MoreHall of Fame QHS basketball player Gary Phillips passes away at age of 85
QUINCY — Gary Phillips didn’t return to his roots often, but when he did, the Quincy High School Hall of Fame basketball player was treated with legendary status. Even if he shied away from it. A star for the Blue Devils in the 1950s who became an All-American at the University of Houston and played…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils slip to No. 3, Titans on edge of Class 2A top 10
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (11) 23-1 119 1 2. Homewood-Flossmoor 23-2 106 3 3. Quincy (1) 22-2 103 2 4. Bolingbrook (1)…
Read MoreKnowles’ triple-double helps Titans grind out overtime victory over Bloodhounds
HAMILTON, Ill. — West Hancock boys basketball coach Jeff Dahl tried his best to wrap his arms around what had just transpired. “This … was a grinder,” he said. West Hancock survived an overtime struggle with Fort Madison (Iowa), winning 74-67 Tuesday night to extend its win streak to nine in front of a crowd…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, February 4
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, Feb. 4: Boys basketball West Hancock 74, Fort Madison (Iowa) 67 Liberty 59, Western 51 Payson Seymour 66, Pittsfield 50 Brown County 57, Southeastern 40 Monroe City 57, South Shelby 55 Canton 69, Putnam County 50 Moberly 66, Hannibal 42 Girls basketball Quincy Notre Dame 66,…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 6
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined in the Refreshment Services Pepsi Studio by Quincy High School coach Brad Dance and KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr and on the Hess Auto Hotline by Brown County coach Dave Phelps and Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey to break down the prep basketball scene…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, Feb. 3
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, Feb. 3: Boys basketball Liberty 65, West Prairie 47 North Callaway 64, Highland 41 Wright City 61, Mark Twain 37 Marion County 51, Knox County 39 Girls basketball Central-Southeastern 60, Pittsfield 37 Brown County 52, Macomb 48 Highland 62, North Callaway 36 Canton 78, Atlanta 31…
Read MoreSchuckman: Milestone moments continue to pile up for QHS senior class
QUINCY — Crunching some numbers as the Quincy High School boys basketball players continue to reach milestones … • When Bradley Longcor III passed Jeff Klingler for third place on the program’s all-time scoring list, someone noticed and asked about Jack Kramer’s point total at No. 2. There was a discrepancy between Kramer’s Hall of…
Read MoreEfficient effort offensively, toughness defensively carry Blue Devils to Shootout victory over Red Devils
NORMAL, Ill. — The efficiency with which the Quincy High School boys basketball team runs its offense typically means a shot is going up after one, two or at most three passes. “Normally, We don’t normally get a reversal,” Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas said. The patience with which the Blue Devils played Saturday night…
Read More‘They just kept battling and battling’: Raiders dig out of 13-point hole, rally to beat state-ranked Panthers
MONROE CITY, Mo. — When their team allows the first 13 points of a game, a basketball coach may be inclined to make significant adjustments. But even when the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team fell behind by a baker’s dozen in the first 4:45 against Monroe City on Saturday, Raiders coach Greg Altmix did…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team never relinquishes lead in second half against Chaminade
NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team led by as many as eight points in the second half of Saturday’s game at the Midwest Crossroads Shootout and never gave up the lead despite St. Louis Chaminade whittling the deficit to as little as two points. The Blue Devils held on for a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND boys and girls sweep hoops doubleheader from Monroe City
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team held up its end of the bargain this time. For the second time this season, the QND boys and girls basketball teams played a twinbill against a Clarence Cannon Conference team. In December, the Raiders split with Palmyra. Saturday night, it was a showdown…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, February 1
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, Feb. 1: Boys basketball Quincy High School 49, Chaminade 44 Quincy Notre Dame 66, Monroe City 57 Illini West 50, Abingdon-Avon 42 Hale Bosworth 63, North Shelby 42 Girls basketball Sterling 42, Quincy High School 40 Quincy Notre Dame 57, Monroe City 27 Central-Southeastern 63, Cissna…
Read MoreDouglas reminds Blue Devils to stay grounded after blowing out another WB6 opponent
QUINCY — Every contender wants a shot at the title. So as both the reigning Western Big 6 Conference champion and the No. 2-ranked team in the state in Class 4A, the Quincy High School boys basketball squad has to be prepared to make sure a prize fight doesn’t turn into a back-alley brawl. “Everybody…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils stay undefeated in WB6 play with victory over Golden Warriors
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team improved to 10-0 in the Western Big 6 Conference with Friday night’s 84-45 victory over Sterling at Blue Devil Gym, giving the Blue Devils a two-game lead in the league standings. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreCardinals employ new defense while hitting their groove offensively in rolling to CCC victory
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — It took a little more than a quarter for the South Shelby boys basketball team to find its rhythm. Once the Cardinals did, it was smooth sailing. South Shelby led 14-12 after the first quarter against Highland on Friday, but the Cardinals stretched that lead to as large as 15 in the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Highland, South Shelby split Clarence Cannon Conference twinbill
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — The Highland girls basketball team scored a significant victory with its 38-36 triumph over South Shelby in Clarence Cannon Conference play Friday night, while the South Shelby boys rolled to a 72-44 victory over Highland in the nightcap of the twinbill. Muddy Rivr Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was at Highland and put…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, January 31
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, January 31: Boys basketball Quincy High School 84, Sterling 45 West Hancock 61, Camp Point Central 31 Liberty 63, Brown County 51 Payson Seymour 66, Southeastern 57 (OT) Macomb 56, Havana 22 South Shelby 72, Highland 44 Palmyra 64, Macon 45 Kirksville 43, Hannibal 31 Monroe…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS senior Titus Petty discusses being the Blue Devil mascot
QUINCY — Titus Petty takes center stage — or in this case, center court — on Friday nights. The Quincy High School senior, who played defensive back on the record-setting football team, was selected to be this year’s Blue Devil mascot for the boys basketball team. That means he gets to wear the tights and…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils fall to No. 2 in Class 4A following Shootout loss
CHICAGO — Here are this week’s Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (11) 22-1 135 2 2. Quincy (2) 20-2 118 1 3. Homewood-Flossmoor (1) 22-2 108 7 4. Bolingbrook 22-3…
Read More‘What did I just watch?’ Knowles’ reverse slam, Titans’ first quarter blitz highlight blowout of Chiefs
WARSAW, Ill. — Hunter Froman did a double take from the bench. Gavin Grothaus ran back on defense with his hands on his head and mouth wide open in disbelief. They were in awe of what Cooper Knowles had just done. It was just the cherry on top of a dominant sundae whipped up by…
Read MoreRaiders slam door shut on Chargers’ rally by holding them scoreless over final three minutes
QUINCY — With a chance to leave zero doubt, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team instead gave its opponent a slither of hope. It nearly erased the best stretch of basketball the Raiders had played in quite some time. “We got complacent,” Raiders junior forward Jackson Connoyer said. “Took our foot off the gas.”…
Read MoreBlue Devils follow through on promise to practice better in order to play better, hammer Silver Streaks
GALESBURG, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball players’ action spoke just as loud as their words following Saturday’s loss — just the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils’ second loss of the season and first at home in nearly two years. They said a more focused attitude at practice would lead to better on-court results.…
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