Posts Tagged ‘Boys basketball’
‘They’re just really good’: Raiders learn firsthand why Blue Devils are among state’s top-ranked teams
QUINCY — There wasn’t much Quincy Notre Dame’s Beau Etink could say about the Raiders’ crosstown counterparts other than the painstakingly obvious. “It’s quite simple. They’re just really good,” Eftink said. The few words Eftink used to describe the state-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team couldn’t have been more accurate. After a relatively back-and-forth…
Read MoreTitans trade salvos with top-ranked Rams, prove they belong in conversation among Class 2A’s best
ABINGDON, Ill. — The West Hancock boys basketball team proved something to Titans coach Jeff Dahl and the rest of Illinois on Saturday. The Titans belong in the upper echelon of Class 2A. “This game should inspire them to think that we can get to the top,” Dahl said. The Titans went toe-to-toe with Peoria…
Read MorePanthers listen to words of wisdom, return to court energized in beating third straight Illinois opponent
QUINCY — Even though the Palmyra boys basketball team had opened the season by winning seven of its first eight games, a group of former players thought a few things were amiss. So, they were granted permission to address the team during a Saturday practice, delivering a message that focused on improving in certain areas…
Read MoreBombers changed intensity, sense of urgency to clip Hornets in final pre-Christmas tuneup
ABINGDON, Ill. — Two things had to change this time around, and they did. In the 2022 Great Western Shootout at Abingdon-Avon High School, the Scales Mound boys basketball team handled Macomb 50-31. “I thought a couple years ago, we were pretty good,” said Bombers coach Jeremy Anderson, whose team went 25-6 that season. “We…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND boys basketball teams square off in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball, ranked second in Class 4A, showed its well deserving of a high ranking as it steamrolled Quincy Notre Dame in the second quarter Saturday night at cruised to a 70-40 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Scenes from final day of 17th Rumble on the River at JWCC
QUINCY — A competitive week that brought the best in small-school basketball from West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri wrapped up Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The 17th Rumble on the River was a bonafide success, especially with teams walking out of the gym saying they will be back next year. Muddy…
Read MoreScoreboard, schedule for 17th Rumble on the River
QUINCY — Here are the scores and schedule for the 17th Rumble on the River, taking place at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center: Monday, Dec. 16 Monroe City girls 56, Burlington Notre Dame 22 Tuesday, Dec. 17 Mendon Unity girls 54, Atlanta 22 Mendon Unity boys 62, Atlanta 54 Wednesday, Dec. 18 Brown…
Read MoreSecond-half turnaround carries second-ranked Blue Devils to WB6 road victory
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Andy Douglas laughingly joked the Quincy High School boys basketball program may be financially responsible for any locker room damages that occurred Friday night, insinuating there had been an uproar at halftime. Neither the Blue Devils’ head coach nor any of his staff took out any shower heads or locker doors,…
Read MoreQND coach turns to bench brigade to ‘reignite the whole team’ in victory over Camp Point Central
QUINCY — Robbie Reed knows when he hears his coach call his name he better be ready. The same applies to the rest of the non-starters on the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team. “When (coach Greg Altmix) calls on us, we got to just reignite the whole team and bring us all together,” Reed…
Read MoreMayfield’s rhythm shooting from the perimeter enables Monroe City to waltz into break riding high
QUINCY — Quincy Mayfield has been searching for his shooting touch. He may have found it Friday night. The junior point guard sank five 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 23 points to help carry the Monroe City boys basketball team to a 66-50 victory over Payson Seymour in the 17th Rumble on the River…
Read MoreTale of two halves defensively ends with Palmyra suffocating Unity over final 16 minutes
PALMYRA, Mo. — Hudson Bock could not have imagined two more polar opposite defensive performances from the Palmyra boys basketball team against Mendon Unity on Friday. “Our defense was really good in the second half, but it was absolutely awful in the first half,” Bock said. After taking a 39-35 lead into halftime, the Panthers…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, Dec. 20
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, Dec. 20: Boys basketball Quincy High School 69, United Township 53 Quincy Notre Dame 58, Camp Point Central 20 West Hancock 59, Western 35 Brown County 60, Beardstown 38 Macomb 56, Liberty 39 North Greene 42, Pittsfield 18 Jacksonville Routt 89, Pleasant Hill 42 Palmyra 64,…
Read MoreMonroe City boys continue building momentum heading toward Christmas break
QUINCY — Brock Edris has his Christmas gift for the Monroe City boys basketball players neatly wrapped and ready to go. All that’s missing is a bow. A victory Friday night against Payson Seymour in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center would be the perfect accent. The…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Scenes from Thursday’s action during Rumble on the River at JWCC
QUINCY — The Monroe City boys and girls basketball teams, along with Central-Southeastern, continued to show the strength of area hoops squads by picking up victories Thursday in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Central-Southeastern kicked off the night with a 64-31 victory over Clopton (Mo.), while…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Hannibal boys, girls suffer losses to Mexico at Korf Gym
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The North Central Missouri Conference doubleheader the Hannibal boys and girls basketball teams played Thursday night at Korf Gym proved to be a challenge. Mexico, which is receiving votes in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 4 state poll, raced to a 74-40 victory in the boys game. Ben Richards led the…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils move to No. 2 in Class 4A, Titans climb to No. 8 in Class 2A
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Association Press boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the state. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (8) (8-0) 88 1 2. Quincy (1) (7-0) 69 3 (tie) Bolingbrook (8-1) 69 4…
Read MoreBoost from Smith’s 3-pointer ignites Panthers’ closing kick in victory over Raiders
PALMYRA, Mo. — It was as if Mason Smith had flipped a switch. As soon as the Palmyra senior guard’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ clash with Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday swished through the net and the home crowd erupted, Smith could feel the electricity pulsing through…
Read MoreMustangs stay steady in chiseling away Hornets’ lead, taking control in second half
QUINCY — A few months down the road, the Mendon Unity boys basketball team might look back at Tuesday night’s victory as a defining moment in its quest for the school’s first winning record since the 2016-17 season. The Mustangs, on the verge of being blown right off of Mountain Dew Court on the campus…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Mustangs sweep Hornets on second night of Rumble on the River
QUINCY — The Mendon Unity boys and girls basketball teams gave Illinois the edge after two nights of the 17th edition of the Rumble on the River, sweeping a pair of games from Atlanta (Mo.) at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Unity girls scored a 54-22 victory, and the boys followed with…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Palmyra split basketball doubleheader in Flower City
PALMYRA, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame and Palmyra boys and girls basketball teams split a twinbill Tuesday night at Palmyra High School as the Raiders won the girls matchup 58-44 and the Panthers won the boys game 66-58. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was there and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, Dec. 17
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, Dec. 17: Boys basketball Palmyra 66, Quincy Notre Dame 58 Liberty 55, Beardstown 30 Payson Seymour 56, Triopia 41 Brown County 63, Havana 37 Illini West 61, South Fulton 20 Moberly 69, Hannibal 53 Canton 53, South Shelby 48 Monroe City 81, Mark Twain 33 Rumble…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, Dec. 16
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, Dec. 16: Girls basketball Rock Island Alleman 56, Quincy High School 52 Central-Southeastern 61, Winchester West Central 41 Pittsfield 50, Liberty 38 Mendon Unity 37, Pleasant Hill 30 Illini West 64, Bushnell-Prairie City 19 Highland 65, Scotland County 30 Paris 35, North Shelby 27 Mark Twain…
Read MoreMissouri Basketball Coaches Association state prep polls make season debut
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association released its first state polls of the high school season Monday and will release new polls each week moving forward, alternating between boys and girls. Here are this week’s polls: Missouri boys Missouri girls
Read MoreCrim: Four decades later, 1984-85 Pittsfield boys basketball team still creating memories
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — It was an opportunity to turn back the clock and enable a band of brothers to reunite and reminisce about their accomplishments on the basketball court four decades ago and the friendships that have endured since. The 1984-85 Pittsfield High School basketball team is remembered as one of the best in school…
Read MoreMonroe City makes tournament’s centennial celebration unforgettable with OT victory
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The shot was as clutch as the roar that followed was deafening. The crowd inside the Monroe City High School gym erupted when Ryan Moss, a senior guard on the Monroe City boys basketball team, drained a 3-pointer to tie Palmyra at 42 with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter…
Read MoreWashington, Pirates see victory over Raiders as springboard to better days ahead
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Darrion Washington wants to be a part of the team that changes the basketball culture at Hannibal. A diminutive point guard who is listed at 5-foot-8 stood the tallest Saturday night. Washington scored a game-high 25 points to lead Hannibal to a 58-55 victory over previously unbeaten Quincy Notre Dame before a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Monroe City boys, South Shelby girls win tournament championships
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The 100th Monroe City Tournament produced a pair of epic finishes. First, the South Shelby girls basketball team withstood a game-tying, buzzer-beating shot by Palmyra’s Sydney Compton at the end of regulation to pull out a 58-57 victory in overtime. Then the Monroe City boys outlasted Palmyra 51-47 in overtime to…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, Dec. 14
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, Dec. 14: Boys basketball Hannibal 58, Quincy Notre Dame 55 Illini West 48, Mercer County 36 100th Monroe City Tournament Championship Monroe City 51, Palmyra 47 Third place South Shelby 69, Marion County 53 Girls basketball A-Town Holiday Classic Byron 56, Central-Southeastern 49 Macomb 44, Rockridge…
Read More‘It’s a pretty special thing’: Thomas breaks single-game rebounding record as Blue Devils roll
STERLING, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Ryan Brown set forth a challenge for senior forward Keshaun Thomas heading into Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling. Brown implored Thomas to come away with 20 points and 20 rebounds. “When he told me, I took it to heart to go out…
Read MoreRaiders work through up-and-down effort to run away from Suns and stay undefeated
AUGUSTA, Ill. — The cushy four-game homestand to start the season came to an end Friday night for the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team. The Raiders learned they can’t get away with simply playing two good quarters. The other two matter just as much. “You come out the first quarter and you don’t do what…
Read MoreMustangs withstand Indians’ fourth-quarter rally, survive with one-point victory
MENDON, Ill. — If Mendon Unity boys basketball coach Keith Carothers was spotted at a local pharmacy early Saturday morning in search of some sort of magic hair-growth potion, there was a specific reason for his being there. “I’ll tell ya what, I’m a lot balder now than I was before the game,” said the…
Read MorePittsfield overwhelmed by 23 first-half turnovers as Riverton cruises to easy victory in Voshall Gym
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The final score was deceiving. The Pittsfield boys basketball team suffered a 57-36 loss to Riverton on Friday night in Voshall Gym, but the Saukees had to outscore the Hawks 14-2 in the final quarter to make the score look less like the blowout than it actually was. Pittsfield (4-3) turned the…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, Dec. 13
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, Dec. 13: Boys basketball Quincy High School 81, Sterling 43 Quincy Notre Dame 70, Southeastern 37 West Hancock 88, Rushville-Industry 36 Mendon Unity 57, Payson Seymour 56 Triopia 68, Liberty 63 Riverton 57, Pittsfield 36 Macomb 42, Illini West 38 100th Monroe City Tournament Louisiana 54,…
Read MoreBock, Panthers put themselves in position to win third straight Monroe City Tournament title
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra boys basketball team is one victory away from winning a third straight Monroe City Tournament for the first time in more than 20 years. Palmyra, which has won more Monroe City titles than any other school in the 100-year history of the event, moved into the finals via its…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Thursday, Dec. 12
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Thursday, Dec. 12: Boys basketball Beardstown 56, Camp Point Central 46 Canton 61, Clark County 43 100th Monroe City Tournament Palmyra 43, South Shelby 35 Mark Twain 51, Highland 40 Girls basketball Quincy Notre Dame 47, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 27 Galesburg 44, Quincy High School 41 Central-Southeastern…
Read MoreDefensive dominance earns Panthers right to play for title in centennial celebration of own tourney
MONROE CITY Mo. — Two down, one to go. The Monroe City boys basketball team’s quest is not yet complete, but the second-seeded Panthers earned the right to play for the championship in the 100th Monroe City Basketball Tournament by dispatching Marion County 77-25 in Wednesday’s semifinal. The significance of the Panthers playing for the…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils bump to No. 3, Titans hang in at No. 10
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Associated Press Illinois boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the stat. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (4) (5-0) 112 3 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (6) (7-0) 97 2 3. Quincy (6-0) 81…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Monroe City boys, Palmyra girls advance to tourney title games
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City boys basketball team and the Palmyra girls will play for championships Saturday night, having navigated Wednesday’s semifinals of the 100th Monroe City Tournament. Monroe City beat Marion County 77-25, while Palmyra held off Highland 48-43. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was in Monroe City and put together…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Wednesday, Dec. 11
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Wednesday, Dec. 11: Boys basketball 100th Monroe City Tournament Monroe City 77, Marion County 25 Louisiana 41, Paris 37 Girls basketball Quincy High School 50, Macomb 30 100th Monroe City Tournament Palmyra 48, Highland 43 Paris 56, Mark Twain 45 Men’s basketball Culver-Stockton College 97, Mount Mercy…
Read MoreBlue Devils continue to inch closer to putting together complete ‘A’ effort
QUINCY — If that was the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s B — or even C — game, the rest of the Western Big 6 Conference must be shaking in their boots at the thought of the Blue Devils bringing their A game. The state-ranked Blue Devils led by as many as 50 points…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils overwhelm Silver Streaks to improve to 2-0 in WB6 play
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team took care of one of its mid-week chores Tuesday night, dispatching Galesburg 82-39 in the first Western Big 6 Conference game at home this season. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, Dec. 10
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, Dec. 10: Boys basketball Quincy High School 82, Galesburg 39 Liberty 75, Southeastern 58 Illini West 51, Mendon Unity 28 Winchester West Central 56, Pittsfield 48 Griggsville-Perry 48, Western 28 Macomb 46, Farmington 33 Fulton 51, Hannibal 39 Canton 86, Clopton 78 100th Monroe City Tournament…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, Dec. 9
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, Dec. 9: Boys basketball 100th Monroe City Tournament Marion County 67, Paris 49 Monroe City 59, Louisiana 28 Girls basketball Central-Southeastern 55, Illini West 27 Brown County 69, Carrollton 55 Pittsfield 45, Petersburg PORTA 39 West Hancock 60, Payson Seymour 30 Macomb 61, Bushnell-Prairie City 9…
Read MoreCentury of memories: Monroe City celebrates 100-year milestone for basketball invitational
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The semi-weekly Monroe City News reported in its Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1925, edition that a four-county basketball tournament would be played the following Friday and Saturday at Monroe City High School. Featuring teams from Monroe, Marion, Ralls and Shelby counties, it was billed as “the largest and most interest event in…
Read More‘We weren’t frustrated’: Slow start doesn’t deter Blue Devils from steamrolling another opponent
QUINCY — There were no alarms sounding, no distress flags being raised. The Quincy High School boys basketball team needed a full first quarter Saturday night for its offense to find a comfortable second gear, but once it did, it became obvious — and rather quickly — it was not a matter of if the…
Read More‘Our intensity changed things’: Raiders shut down Bombers in third quarter, finally get offense rolling
QUINCY — It was the worst of offenses, it was the best of offenses. Now, that’s a little overdramatic for what took place Saturday night at The Pit. And Charles Dickens likely would have found something a little less overused and a little more poetic to describe the tale of two halves. Still, it seems…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, Dec. 7
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, Dec. 7: Boys basketball Quincy High School 55, Deerfield 32 Quincy Notre Dame 46, Macomb 34 West Hancock 63, Payson Seymour 35 Biggsville West Central 55, Southeastern 53 Illini West 50, Farmington 39 Mendon Unity 53, Central Lee (Iowa) 51 West Burlington (Iowa) 76, Canton 59…
Read MorePyatt’s suffocating defense helps QND boys pull away in fourth quarter from pesky Payson Seymour
QUINCY —Jackson Pyatt didn’t flinch when his number was called. After watching Blake Schwartz, Payson Seymour’s top player, torch the Quincy Notre Dame defense for 18 points through the first three quarters, Pyatt had one job in the final eight minutes. “The goal was just make sure (Schwartz) doesn’t score,” Pyatt said. Consider it mission…
Read MoreBlue Devils navigate first road trip with no issues, start WB6 play with lopsided victory
GENESEO, Ill. — Although he has a veteran starting lineup, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas understood the first road trip for a new varsity roster could present some challenges. “The schedule is just different and you don’t know how guys will react,” Douglas said. The Blue Devils handled it like pros. Quincy…
Read MoreLiberty outlasts Central in fight for consistency, puts game away with fourth-quarter surge
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Chalk it up to inexperience. The Liberty and Camp Point Central boys basketball teams have one senior each on rosters littered with freshmen and sophomores, and both played like it’s early December and they’re trying to find their footing in Friday night’s West Central Conference opener. The teams combined to misfire…
Read MoreMcKinney’s deflection preserves victory after Panthers storm back in fourth quarter
CANTON, Mo. — Ryan McKinney knew what was coming. He just had to stop it. With a second remaining in regulation and the Palmyra boys basketball team leading Canton 64-62, the Tigers were inbounding from under the Panthers’ basket in need of a basket to extend the game. Looming large above the pack in front…
Read MoreHornets optimistic about future despite feeling some growing pains in loss to Cougars
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — It’s been said that yoga pants and small children do not lie. Neither do scoreboards. Winchester West Central’s 63-39 boys basketball victory over Brown County was every bit as decisive as the final point spread might indicate. So why wasn’t Brown County coach Jeff Bottorff upset? He admitted Friday night he…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Balanced scoring helps Raiders overcome blistering 3-point shooting from Indians
QUINCY — The Payson Seymour boys basketball team made 11 3-pointers on Friday night at The Pit, but Quincy Notre Dame held on for a 71-62 victory. Jackson Connoyer and Jace Allensworth scored 15 points for the Raiders, while Beau Eftink pitched in 13 points. Blake Schwartz scored 18 points for Payson Seymour, and Lane…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Palmyra sweeps Canton in pair of tight battles on hardwood
CANTON, Mo. — In a pair of games that weren’t deecided until the final minute — the final seconds in one case — the Palmyra boys and girls basketball teams each left Canton with a victory Friday night. The Palmyra girls won 54-49 before the boys sweated out a 64-62 victory. Muddy River Sports Writer…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Thursday, Dec. 5
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Thursday, Dec. 5: Boys basketball Liberty 64, Highland 27 Carrollton 47, Griggsville-Perry 31 Marion County 64, Bevier 33 Girls basketball Quincy High School 72, Geneseo 19 Quincy Notre Dame 72, West Hancock 32 Central-Southeastern 56, Macomb 40 Pittsfield 47, Winchester West Central 20 Illini West 48, Rushville-Industry…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: QHS sits at No. 4 in Class 4A, West Hancock No. 8 in Class 2A
CHICAGO — Here is a look at the first Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sports writers and sportscasters from throughout the state: Class 4A Rank School Total Points 1. Gurnee Warren (5) (4-0) 76 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (2) (4-0) 67 3. Kenwood (2-0) 63 …
Read MoreAllen’s display of ‘bully ball’ sparks Mustangs’ comeback, carries them to victory over Saukees
MENDON, Ill. — Sawyer Allen will never be labeled as a finesse type of basketball player. Never, ever. The 6-foot junior, who served as the quarterback of the Unity football team, more resembles a bull in a china shop when on a basketball court. A bull with moves, that is. Allen feels he owns the…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, Dec. 3
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, Dec. 3: Boys basketball Griggsville-Perry 61, Brown County (3OT) Mendon Unity 58, Pittsfield 54 Macomb 68, Geneseo 41 North Greene 51, Pleasant Hill 50 Palmyra 79, Mark Twain 38 Louisiana 58, Highland 48 Marion County 57, Community R-VI 36 Girls basketball Hannibal 68, Hazelwood East 25…
Read MoreRatchet up the intensity: Brown County takes control by wearing down Central with defense
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Brown County boys basketball coach Jeff Bottorff feared a championship hangover. The Hornets entered Monday’s game against Camp Point Central fresh off of a Beardstown Tournament championship in which they defeated Winchester West Central — the reigning Class 1A state champion — in Saturday’s title game and won four games in…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, Dec. 2
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, Dec. 2: Boys basketball Brown County 62, Camp Point Central 34 Canton 65, Monroe City 42 Girls basketball Quincy Notre Dame 65, Western 24 Central-Southeastern 59, Brown County 26 Illini West 46, West Hancock 42 Macomb 58, Lewistown 25 Monroe City 61, Canton 49 Men’s basketball…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Rivals square off on hardwood as Brown County boys, Central-Southeastern girls win
MT. STERLING, Ill. — The rivalry between Brown County and Camp Point Central took center stage Monday night with the Brown County boys basketball team winning 62-34 and the Central-Southeastern girls winning 59-26 in the head-to-head matchups. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePittsfield’s Hull to be inducted into IBCA Hall of Fame as part of Class of 2025
QUINCY — Jack Hull has been affiliated with bringing high school sports to Pike County fans over the airwaves for more than three decades, and he’s done so by being relatable, charismatic and honest. Those are the hallmarks of a Hall of Fame broadcaster. Hull, a former play-by-play voice for WBBA radio and one of…
Read More‘We played as one’: Blue Devils feed off each other to win fifth consecutive Thanksgiving title
QUINCY — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas burned a timeout only 2 minutes, 45 seconds into Saturday night’s championship game of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament for two reasons. Stem the tide and send a message. Burbank St. Laurence scored the game’s first seven points and was emotionally gaining steam before the…
Read MoreRaiders putting their unselfishness, ability to make game-to-game improvements on full display
QUINCY — Two games into the high school boys basketball season, and Quincy Notre Dame coach Greg Altmix already likes what he sees. Eleven players entered the scoring column, with four reaching double figures, as the Raiders overcame an early deficit to cruise to a 77-48 victory over Gateway STEM (Mo.) Saturday night in the…
Read MoreHornets make statement with strong fourth quarter against Cougars, win tourney championship
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The Brown County boys basketball team made a statement not only Saturday, but throughout Thanksgiving week. The Hornets defeated reigning Class 1A state champion Winchester West Central 55-50 on Saturday to capture the Beardstown Tournament title. “This was an opportunity to gauge where we’re at and get a statement win,” Brown County…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils beat Vikings to win 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament
QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III and the rest of the Quincy High School boys basketball players have made it abundantly clear they don’t like to lose at home. The Blue Devils ran their homecourt win streak to 18 straight games with Saturday’s 69-47 victory over Burbank St. Laurence and secured the championship of the 53rd…
Read MoreGet it and go: Raiders employ up-tempo attack to run away from Comets in season opener
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix hoped his team would be in midseason form in its season opener even if he knew that wasn’t likely. Still, the effort he witnessed from start to finish was the next best thing. “Working hard and hustling can cover up for a lot of mistakes,”…
Read MoreFlip the switch: Thomas, Blue Devils dominate inside to roll past Eagles and into title showdown
QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys basketball team reviewed the film from Thursday’s season-opening victory, Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas offered a critique that struck a nerve with senior forward Keshaun Thomas. The 6-foot-6 Thomas needed to be more aggressive chasing rebounds. “It turns a switch on for me,” Thomas said. “I have…
Read MoreSaukees rely on defense to carry them to title of their own Thanksgiving tournament
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Keep shooting. Eventually, the ball goes in. That’s the mentality the Pittsfield boys basketball players needed Friday night. The Saukees missed their first nine 3-point attempts, but once the ball started going through the hoop, everything changed. Taylor Graham hit a 3-pointer as the third quarter ended to give Pittsfield a one-point…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils power past Eagles and set up championship matchup at Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — After watching Burbank St. Laurence stay undefeated after two nights of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament, the Quincy High School boys basketball team needed to do the same. The Blue Devils did so emphatically, beating Dunlap 81-33 at Blue Devil Gym. That sets up a winner-take-all championship game between Quincy and St. Laurence…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Raiders sweep first night of QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tourney
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys and girls basketball teams made it a successful home debut Friday night at The Pit. The QND boys beat McCluer (Mo.) 65-40 in Greg Altmix’s first game as head coach, while the QND girls ran away from Calhoun 62-32 in the QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tourney. Muddy River Sports…
Read MoreBlistering start, pedal-to-the-metal finish enable Blue Devils to earn season-opening victory
QUINCY — The beginning and ending of the script the Quincy High School boys basketball team wants to follow played out almost flawlessly Thursday night. It’s the middle part that needs a rewrite. A scintillating start in which Bradley Longcor III scored the game’s first seven points, bookending the flurry with dunks, allowed the Blue…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team outlasts Lindblom in tourney opener
QUINCY — Emotion, energy and enthusiasm converged on Blue Devil Gym on Thursday night as the Quincy High School boys basketball team opened its season with a 76-58 victory over Chicago Lindblom in the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreBlue Devils expect to see different styles, different challenges during 53rd Thanksgiving Tournament
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…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Wednesday, Nov. 27
QUINCY — Here is a look at the area scoreboard for Wednesday, Nov. 27: Boys basketball Pittsfield Thanksgiving Tournament Pittsfield 55, Camp Point Central 38 Liberty 55, Petersburg PORTA 47 Beardstown Tournament Brown County 77, Griggsville-Perry JV 26 Southeastern 49, Beardstown 45 Spartan Tip-Off Tournament Illini West 39, Bushnell-Prairie City 15 Illini Bluffs 48, Macomb…
Read MoreSchuckman: As curtain rises on QHS basketball season, there’s an angel looking over these Devils
QUINCY — The laughs shared in a calm moment between practice drills Tuesday afternoon were a small sign healing has begun. It may take all season — or longer even — for the Quincy High School boys basketball players and coaches to fully embrace the fact a voice they listened to and cherished hearing has…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Experience will help Blue Devils meet heightened expectations
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…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, Nov. 26
QUINCY — Here is a look at the area scoreboard for Tuesday, Nov. 26: Boys basketball Bowling Green 61, Hannibal 56 Canton 56, Knox County 26 Monroe City 59, Moberly 45 Mark Twain 49, Paris 46 Kirksville 59, Highland 22 Pittsfield Thanksgiving Tournament Camp Point Central 33, Western 21 Petersburg PORTA 59, Payson Seymour 50…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Raiders put focus on playing physical, earning minutes in Altmix’s first season
Coverage of the QND boys basketball team brought to you by: QUINCY — Greg Altmix has embraced the challenges of fitting the puzzle pieces together. Altmix’s tallest task as the first-year Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach is putting those pieces into the correct places to get the clearest picture possible. “It’s going to be…
Read More‘That hoop looks like an ocean to him’: Liberty’s Sparrow drains seven treys in victory over Payson
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — When Reed Sparrow finds his groove, there is no telling where he will shoot from next. “You kind of question it a little bit with him being so far away, but you also have to give him the green light because sometimes that hoop looks like an ocean to him,” Liberty boys…
Read MoreSecond-half dominance defensively carries Saukees to tourney-opening victory
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Junior guard Hayden Gratton and his Pittsfield basketball teammates want to instill fear in their opponents with their defense. “We want them to be really scared,” Gratton said. “Get them going fast and turn the ball over.” The Saukees did exactly that on Monday. Pittsfield’s full-court, high-pressure defense forced 15 Western turnovers…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Liberty, Pittsfield win on opening night of Pittsfield Thanksgiving Tournament
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A 3-point shootout, a lockdown defensive effort and a raucous crowd highlighted the opening night of the Pittsfield Thanksgiving Tournament at Voshall Gym on Monday. The Liberty boys basketball team outlasted Payson Seymour 56-47, while Pittsfield upended Western 49-36. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent his evening in Pike County and…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, Nov. 25
QUINCY — Here are the local scores from Monday, November 25: Boys basketball Pittsfield Thanksgiving Tournament Liberty 56, Payson Seymour 47 Pittsfield 49, Western 36 Beardstown Tournament Mendon Unity 76, Hartsburg-Emden 40 Spartan Tip-Off Tournament Illini West 51, West Prairie 22 Macomb 54, Bushnell-Prairie City 23 Girls basketball Hannibal 73, Bowling Green 14 Brown County…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, November 23
QUINCY — Here is a look at the area scores from Saturday, November 23: Girls basketball Southern Illinois Shootout Edwardsville 42, Quincy High School 29 Pana Turkey Tournament Central-Southeastern 61, Mattoon 22 Central-Southeastern 76, Pana 35 Brown County Lady Hornet Classic West Hancock 40, Rushville-Industry 37 Brown County 61, Payson Seymour 23 Beardstown 54, Mendon…
Read MoreSplit decision for Palmyra boys and girls basketball teams on opening night
PALMYRA, Mo. — The Palmyra boys basketball team showed its depth and firepower in Friday night’s season-opening 74-58 victory over Clopton. Sophomore guard Hudson Bock scored a game-high 22 points, while senior forward Mason Smith scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half in his Palmyra debut. The Panthers got to the free-throw…
Read MoreSchuckman: Lepper was big man with big heart, big laugh and big personality
QUINCY — When Tom Lepper stepped away from his role as an assistant coach with the Quincy High School boys basketball program two seasons ago due to health concerns, a number of people asked if a story would follow. The only way I’d write one, I continuously reiterated, was if he wanted to talk about…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Hornets intent on raising some hell with their defensive pressure
Coverage of the Brown County boys basketball team brought to you by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — The “40 Minutes of Hell” play style made famous by Nolan Richardson’s men’s basketball teams at the University of Arkansas — which contributed to three Final Fours in six seasons and a 1994 national championship — is seeing a…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Captain Jack ready to lead Liberty boys basketball team to more success
Coverage of the Liberty boys basketball team brought to you by: LIBERTY, Ill. — Even though the first film in the series had already been out for three years and the second was released the year before, Dan Sparrow had not seen any of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies before choosing a name for…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Palmyra heads into season with new-look roster, same all-together mentality
Coverage of the Palmyra boys basketball team brought to you by: PALMYRA, Mo. — The game of hand soccer at the end of the Palmyra boys basketball team’s practice on Tuesday was not just a chance to goof off before going home. It served multiple purposes. The object of the game, which involves two teams…
Read MoreStrong sense of family at Austin Peay leads Blue Devils’ Clay to commit to play for Governors
QUINCY — Dom Clay’s junior season with the Quincy High School boys basketball team ended with a lot of people curious where his natural gifts and improving consistency might take him. They now know. It’s carrying him to the NCAA Division I level. The 6-foot-3 Clay recently committed to Austin Peay State University, making him…
Read MoreChicago Phillips boys basketball coach is told to turn in ‘equipment, keys and fobs’
QUINCY — A boys basketball coach whose team’s state championship season began with a trip to Blue Devil Gym last winter may not be returning to the sideline. Chicago Wendell Phillips coach Paris Martin appears to have been fired. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Martin received an email Tuesday afternoon from Phillips principal Rashad Talley requesting…
Read MoreCalifornia dreamin’: Player development key reason QHS’s Longcor commits to Santa Clara
QUINCY — The map shows Santa Clara, Calif., is nearly 2,000 miles away, but Bradley Longcor III doesn’t see it as being nearly that far. “We realized the plane flight is four hours,” the Quincy High School basketball standout said. “The other schools recruiting me are four hours away, too, except that’s a car ride…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Muddy River Showcase through another lens
QUINCY — The third annual Muddy River Showcase took place Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center with the Illinois boys and girls sweeping the all-star basketball event. The Illinois girls won 78-43, while the boys earned a 92-70 victory. Addi Zanger, a Quincy Notre Dame graduate and a sophomore at the University…
Read MoreDoyle, Wires spark Illinois’ full-court attack in third straight Muddy River Showcase victory
QUINCY — Dion Doyle decided this was the perfect opportunity to run it back. The Macomb basketball standout was part of a team that included Quincy High School’s Ralph Wires that won back-to-back Gus Macker 3-on-3 championships when the event was a Memorial Day weekend staple in downtown Quincy. Saturday, the duo reunited in the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Relentless defense propels Land of Lincoln boys to victory in Muddy River Showcase
QUINCY — Despite their struggles offensively in the first 16 minutes of Saturday’s third annual Muddy River Showcase, the Illinois boys all-stars got rolling behind an aggressive defense and parlayed it into a 92-70 victory over Missouri at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the day on…
Read MoreVideo highlights: Illinois, Missouri boys put athleticism on display in Muddy River Showcase
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey put together a highlight package from the Illinois boys’ 92-70 victory over Missouri on Saturday in the third annual Muddy River Showcase at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.
Read MoreSchuckman: Devilishly good decade coming to end for trio of QHS basketball teammates
QUINCY — Before the Lil’ Devils program brought them together, before they spent 10 consecutive winters running side-by-side, there were games in the YMCA basketball league where Ralph Wires, Tyler Sprick and Cam Brown were on opposite sides. “I tore them apart per usual,” Wires said with a mischievous, sarcastic grin. His ability to dart…
Read MoreFuture JWCC teammates ready to represent on college home floor in Muddy River Showcase
QUINCY — Neither Nick Moore nor Zack Evans is showing outward concern over the uncertainty surrounding John Wood Community College’s search for a men’s basketball coach, which has moved past the eight-week mark. And neither has wavered on their decision to sign with the Trail Blazers. The opportunity to play together is just too enticing.…
Read MoreRosters for Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase
QUINCY — Here are the rosters for Saturday’s third annual Muddy River Showcase pitting the top seniors from Illinois and Missouri in a basketball all-star setting. The girls game begins at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.
Read MoreHighland’s Campen follows in mother’s footsteps, brings versatility to Muddy River Showcase
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — Brady Campen couldn’t recall the age he began playing basketball. “My mom got me started really young,” Campen said. Not a bad person to learn from. Campen’s mother — Amber Law Campen — starred at Carthage (Ill.) High School, where she averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals and…
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