Posts Tagged ‘Boys basketball’
Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: Palmyra’s Bear Bock
PALMYRA, Mo. — The consistent presence of Bear Bock doing whatever is necessary — scoring, rebounding and blocking shots — is part of the reason the Palmyra boys basketball team is riding an undefeated wave with the Christmas break approaching. Bock scored eight points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked two shots in Tuesday night’s 55-34…
Read MoreBlue Devils fend off Statesmen with emphatic closing kick, turn attention to tough weekend
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — The signs this youthful, yet talented Quincy High School boys basketball team is maturing come in glimpses where momentum is teetering or the Blue Devils’ unbeaten record is threatened. Another of those moments came Tuesday night. A 13-point second-half advantage against the defending Missouri Class 5 state champion had dwindled to…
Read MoreLundberg’s sizzling shooting helps Palmyra boys gain separation, pull away from QND
PALMYRA, Mo. — Granted, the Palmyra boys basketball team sits undefeated following a convincing 55-34 victory Tuesday night over Quincy Notre Dame. But Jon Lundberg feels Palmyra has barely scratched the surface of what it might accomplish between now and the end of the season. “I can feel it all coming together. I can sense the…
Read MoreLate start, intriguing draw for Blue Devils at Collinsville Praririe Farms Holiday Classic
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s path to the championship of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic is filled with obstacles. That starts with playing the final game of the opening round. The Blue Devils (7-0) drew Alton (1-6) in the 9 p.m. game in the first round, the last of eight…
Read MorePalmyra boys control championship game from start to finish, win Monroe City tourney title
MONROE CITY, Mo. — As far as Palmyra’s Bear Bock was concerned, the championship trophy for the Monroe City boys basketball tournament is back where it belongs. “It’s been a long time since we won this tournament,” he said. “We’re bringing that trophy back home.” Bock’s 14 points, including 12 in the first half when…
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 MoreRaiders pick up fourth victory in five games, but rotten third quarter leaves sour taste in mouth
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team enjoyed a solid first half on Saturday night against Hannibal. Then the third quarter happened. The Raiders led by 16 points at halftime, then made 10 of 11 free throws in the final four minutes of the game to hold off the Pirates 49-39 at…
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 MoreCompton powers Palmyra girls into title game at Monroe City Tournament
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra girls basketball team gets its first shot at the champs. The second-seeded Panthers marched their way into the championship game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament by beating third-seeded Highland 71-46 in Thursday night’s semifinals. By doing so, the Panthers (5-0) will face top-seeded and reigning Clarence Cannon…
Read MorePalmyra boys, South Shelby girls earns spots in Monroe City Tournament title games
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra boys basketball team used a 12-point burst at the start Wednesday night to slingshot its way into the championship game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament. The South Shelby girls used stellar defense to do the same. The second-seeded Panthers rode their strong start to a 57-50 victory…
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 MoreTop-seeded Panthers find no easy path to semifinals, survive push from Mustangs
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Despite being limited to just four points in the third quarter Tuesday night, the Monroe City boys basketball team was able to fend off Marion County’s upset bid and advance to the semifinals of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament. The top-seeded Panthers secured a 51-45 victory over eighth-seeded Marion County…
Read MoreThe Rundown: QHS girls handle Macomb at home, QND wrestlers win pair of duals, Illini West and Dietrich rally for victory
QUINCY — A busy Tuesday night saw action taking place on the hardwood and the mats. Here’s a look at some of the area highlights … • Already leading by 14 points at halftime, the Quincy High School girls basketball team used a strong dose of Taylor Fohey in the second half to finish off…
Read MoreMonroe City Tournament opens with trio of lopsided victories
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The opening night of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament featured a pair of lopsided victories in the girls bracket and only of the four games played being decided in the fourth quarter. The third-seeded Louisiana boys outlasted sixth-seeded Mark Twain 60-54 behind 15 points from Jack Logan. Josh Brothers led…
Read MoreHalftime discussion enables QND boys basketball team to alter tide in victory over Macomb
QUINCY — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coaching staff met in the office adjacent to the locker room at halftime Saturday night, the Raiders were engaging in their own discussion. The theme of both conversations seemed to be the same. What is the Raiders’ identity going to be? The second half — particularly…
Read MoreBlue Devils put depth, length on display to lead WB6 opener from start to finish
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Sent to the sideline with two fouls in the first quarter of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball opener, Quincy High School sophomore guard Bradley Longcor III tried to talk his way back into the game. “He kept saying, ‘I’m not gonna foul. I’m not gonna foul,’” Quincy coach…
Read MoreRaiders to learn from loss to top-ranked Cyclones and QU signee Hamilton
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players and coaches likely won’t watch the film of Friday night’s 66-35 loss to No. 1-ranked Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at Belz Gymnasium until Monday or Tuesday. That’s when the Raiders will delve into how to fix what the Cyclones exploited. Before then, though, comes a better-be-ready-for-this…
Read MorePalmyra boys show maturity with strong finish to put away Canton for third straight victory
CANTON, Mo. — What a difference a year makes. At least for the Palmyra boys basketball team. “A year ago, I’m not sure we would have won a game like this,” Palmyra coach Brian Rea said. Rea was assessing Friday night’s 64-52 victory over Canton, a game that saw the Panthers pull away down the…
Read MoreThe Rundown: Stephens scores 49 points, Illini West wins county showdown, Hannibal girls finish strong week
QUINCY — The first full regular-season Friday night of the prep basketball season gave us a glimpse of what to expect from now until March. That’s epic individual performances, down-to-the-wire games and teams coming of age. Here’s a look at what happened … • The Southeastern boys basketball team raced to an 18-1 lead in…
Read MoreThe Rundown: QND, Unity girls win ahead of showdown, Central wrestling sweeps, QHS girls capture first WB6 victory
QUINCY — A busy Thursday night on both the courts and the mats led to some sterling efforts. Here is a look at what transpired … • The Central wrestling team won a pair of duals, beating Beardstown 40-36 and Illini West 60-18. The Panthers’ Hunter Bolton earned a pair of pins at 160 pounds,…
Read MoreSoutheastern sits No. 1 in initial Class 1A state poll, Quincy High School is No. 8 in Class 4A
QUINCY — Having the best small-school player in the state leading the charge has put the Southeastern boys basketball team in the crosshairs. Having an abundance of talented underclassmen has done the same for Quincy High School. The initial Associated Press state basketball rankings prove that. The Suns checked in at No. 1 in Class…
Read More2022-23 Muddy River Sports area boys basketball preview section
Here is the Muddy River Sports area boys basketball preview section, delving into teams from Illinois and Missouri as the 2022-23 season gets underway. Click the link below to download the section.
Read MorePhoto gallery: Palmyra boys, girls basketball teams sweep twinbill from Mark Twain
CENTER, Mo. — The Palmyra girls basketball team is showing what it takes to win convincingly. The Palmyra boys are showcasing what it takes to win tough. Tuesday night, that combination led to a doubleheader sweep. The Palmyra girls blitzed to a 23-7 lead over Mark Twain at the end of the first quarter and…
Read MoreArea Distributors Area Player of the Week: Southeastern’s Danny Stephens
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The number of 50-point games fashioned by an area boys basketball player can be counted on both hands. Southeastern’s Danny Stephens moved the number closer to having to go to the toes to keep track. In the championship game of the sixth Beardstown Tiger Classic, the 6-foot-7 Stephens scored 52 points in…
Read MoreThe Rundown: QND girls stay undefeated, Brown County girls and boys with statement victories
The Thanksgiving turkey hangover has passed, and area boys and girls basketball teams are looking to find a rhythm to their seasons. Monday night revealed what is possible when teams find their groove. Here are some of the highlights … • The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team improved to 5-0 with a 73-29 victory…
Read MorePower in the post: Blue Devils throw ball inside to establish presence, cruise to Thanksgiving tournament championship
QUINCY — Something the Quincy High School boys basketball coaching staff noticed watching game film revealed itself even further during Saturday morning’s shootaround. The Blue Devils’ primary post players — sophomore Keshaun Thomas and senior Sam Mulherin — weren’t controlling the block. “We watched them post straight up,” QHS coach Andy Douglas said. “They were…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team wins 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament
QUINCY — With a never-in-doubt 58-39 victory over Springfield Lanphier on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym, the Quincy High School boys basketball team captured the championship of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. It is the Blue Devils’ 36th tournament title. Check out this photo gallery of images from freelance photographer Mathew Kirby and Muddy…
Read MoreRaiders finish perfect opening weekend by easily dispatching Jaguars
QUINCY — Granted, Quincy Notre Dame’s 58-33 boys basketball victory over St. Louis Gateway STEM was not a thing of beauty. But not every performance in a long high school basketball season can come across as a Rembrandt. Every so often, there’s going to be a MAD Magazine cover show up, too. Such was the…
Read MoreMulherin’s game-winner lifts Blue Devils to overtime victory, sets up tourney title showdown
QUINCY — Sam Mulherin’s soft bank shot in the waning seconds of overtime was neither a fluke nor an accident. Mulherin’s basket, a wide-open jumper just a few feet to the left of the hoop, wound up providing the margin of victory in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s hard-earned 57-56 victory Friday night…
Read MoreRaiders survive ugly start, use defense to tighten screws on McCluer
QUINCY — The first 3 ½ minutes of Quincy Notre Dame’s season opener against McCluer on Friday night was … almost unwatchable. The Raiders missed their first six shots, turned the ball over twice and missed three out of four free throws to trail 6-1. “It was really bad. Really bad,” senior Jackson Stratton said.…
Read MoreChills and thrills: Blazing start, defensive stranglehold catapult Blue Devils to victory in season opener
QUINCY — The lights go down, the flames go up and everyone in Blue Devil Gym awaiting the Devil’s arrival feels the chills. The players aren’t immune to that, no matter how focused on the game they might be. “I would think any abnormal person would say no they don’t feel anything,” said Tyler Sprick,…
Read MoreIngredients in place for unified Raiders to continue winning ways as season opener looms
QUINCY — What do the Three Musketeers, DJ Khaled and the Navy SEALs have in common? They each could be the inspiration for the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team this season. Start with the Three Musketeers. In the legendary novel by Alexandre Dumas, the Musketeers stick together with the motto “Tous pour un, un…
Read MoreFamily first: Harmann’s cousin showcases depth of ability in helping Blue Devils dispatch Dukes
QUINCY — The exuberant kid who tagged along every opportunity he had when Chris Harmann went to Blue Devil Gym during a decade spent as a Quincy High School boys basketball assistant coach has matured That wasn’t a good thing for Harmann’s Dixon club. Tyler Sprick, a QHS junior guard and Harmann’s cousin, turned Thursday’s…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Opening night of 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — The opening night of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament had everything Quincy High School boys basketball fans want — a down-to-the-wire affair, an intriguing storyline and a victory by the Blue Devils. Quincy opened with a 65-29 victory over Dixon after Springfield Lanphier outlasted Miller Career Academy 57-54. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MoreHandling expectations: Blue Devils staying humble, focused as hype builds around them
QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys basketball team trudged through another preseason practice, those responsible for the sound system in Blue Devil Gym tested the acoustics, the decibel levels and the clarity for pregame introductions. “They started playing everything and I got chills,” senior guard Reid O’Brien said. The Blue Devils also were…
Read MoreFamiliar face on Dixon sideline makes QHS Thanksgiving Tournament true holiday homecoming
QUINCY — To the victor go the spoils. What exactly the spoils are Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas isn’t divulging. Thursday night, in the opening game of the QHS Thanksgiving Tournament, the Blue Devils will square off against Dixon at 7 p.m. at Blue Devil Gym. It also pits two close friends…
Read MoreSoutheastern’s Stephens finds right college fit close to home, commits to play hoops at Mizzou
AUGUSTA, Ill. — Tuesday’s steady rain didn’t cause Danny Stephens or his father, Jeremy, any delays in getting the fields on the family farm worked over. “We finished them (Monday),” Stephens said. “So it was good timing.” And for as much as Stephens, the Southeastern senior, feels at home on the basketball court, he feels…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase doubleheader broadcast
You can watch both games of the inaugural Muddy River Showcase right here.
Read MoreSchuckman: Making memories proves as important as making buckets in Muddy River Showcase
QUINCY — Delaney Straus felt insulted. As the Missouri girls were milling around John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center ahead of Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase, the Marion County standout overheard a conversation in which a tongue-in-cheek prediction about the boys game was made. However, she thought the prediction of a 24-point Illinois victory was…
Read MoreShoot to thrill: Sizzling second half carries Illinois boys to victory in inaugural Muddy River Showcase
QUINCY — The spirited battles Jeremiah and Joshua Talton have engaged in either on the family basketball court or during open gyms at John Wood Community College moved to a much more public and brighter stage Saturday. That didn’t mitigate Jeremiah’s height advantage. “Let me get to be about 6-foot-7 and then it would be…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Muddy River Showcase boys basketball all-star game
QUINCY — A family showdown. A preview of things to come for the John Wood Community College men’s basketball program. A last hurrah for two storied senior classes. The start of a new summer basketball tradition. The Muddy River Showcase boys basketball all-star game had it all. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Boys game promises to be battle of wills with both sides loaded with talent
QUINCY — Greg Altmix floated the idea. The Muddy River Showcase organizing committee became enamored with it. And Brock Edris signed off on it. Right then, another level of intrigue was added to the Illinois vs. Missouri all-star basketball event. Quincy High School all-stater Jeremiah Talton originally declined his invitation to play in the boys…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: All-stars on both sides taking business-like approach to girls game
QUINCY — After running up and down the court for the better part of an hour Thursday night, the Illinois girls all-stars wrapped up their final practice before Saturday’s inaugural Muddy River Showcase. They weren’t quite done, though. Hallie Ray and Abbie Johnson, teammates at Illini West, asked if they could stick around John Wood…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Future of JWCC men’s basketball program to be on display
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Palmyra’s Loman uses emotional edge to help establish Panthers’ culture
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Brown County’s Fullerton uses skill set to be playmaker, leader in all sports
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Southeastern’s Fry shows aim is true no matter what shot he takes
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Scranton helps Saukees add another layer to Pittsfield’s rich tradition
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreSearch for right fit leads QHS all-stater Talton to JWCC to continue basketball career
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton wanted to play for a college basketball coach he could build a relationship with beyond the court and a program that would help his game mature. He didn’t have to leave town to find the right combination. The Quincy High School all-state swingman signed his national letter of intent with John…
Read MoreQHS’s Talton de-commits from University of New Orleans, seeks ‘place that really, really fits me’
QUINCY — The lure of an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship led Jeremiah Talton to make a hasty decision. He vows not to make the same mistake twice. The Quincy High School all-state swingman and Muddy River Sports Player of the Year received a release from his national letter of intent with the University of…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Monroe City’s success to be well represented on Missouri boys roster
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Players with postseason pedigree dot Illinois boys all-star roster
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Talking about the Muddy River Showcase
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman talks with JWCC Athletic Director/Men’s Basketball Coach about the inaugural Muddy River Showca
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Monroe City’s Edris to be at helm of Missouri all-stars
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Ticket information will be released soon. MONROE CITY, Mo. — Brock…
Read MoreCommemorative editions highlight magical postseasons for QND girls, Liberty boys basketball teams
QUINCY — Want to relive the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s postseason run to the Class 2A state championship? Would you want to revisit the Liberty boys basketball team’s pursuit of the highest state tournament finish in program history? Here’s your chance. Muddy River Sports has put together a pair of commemorative editions, highlighting…
Read More50 After 50: A look at the entire series
QUINCY — The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike…
Read MoreBoys Basketball Player of the Year: QHS’s Talton puts character, maturity and joy on display
QUINCY — So much of what Jeremiah Talton accomplished throughout his senior season boiled down to character and commitment, and his maturity as a player and a leader came to the forefront. Yet, there was still a kid in him, just the way it should be. Never was that more evident than after a Tuesday…
Read MoreBoys Basketball Coach of the Year: Liberty’s Altmix helps Eagles soar to new heights
LIBERTY, Ill. — For a University of Illinois graduate who has remained loyal to his alma mater and is a basketball junkie through and through, walking out of the tunnel onto the State Farm Center court was like living out a dream. Seeing his players live out their dream of playing for a state championship…
Read MoreUnveiling the inaugural Muddy River Sports boys basketball all-area team
The success of teams throughout the area on the boys basketball scene led to incredible memories and remarkable performances on both sides of the Mississippi River. Here is the inaugural Muddy River Sports boys basketball all-area team, with the the 10 players listed in alphabetical order:
Read MoreQHS Hall of Famer Bruce Douglas to be featured speaker at FCA banquet in May
QUINCY — One of the top prep basketball players in the history of the state of Illinois and an icon from the greatest era in the storied tradition of the Quincy High School boys basketball program is coming home to speak at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet. Hall of Fame point guard Bruce Douglas…
Read MoreCollegiate connections to QHS hoops program continue to be far ranging
QUINCY — How many roads intersect with the Quincy High School boys basketball program? Quite a few it turns out. For example, the University of Missouri men’s basketball program’s newest coach, Dennis Gates, was a starting guard on the Chicago Whitney Young powerhouse that beat the Blue Devils in the semifinals of the Class AA…
Read MoreMonroe City’s Talton receives Class 3 Co-Player of the Year honor from Missouri Basketball Coaches Association
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Brock Edris wondered aloud if Joshua Talton is the first player in the history of the Monroe City boys basketball program to be named the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 3 Player of the Year. “It’s a pretty special honor,” the Monroe City coach said. It’s a rare one indeed. Talton,…
Read More50 After 50: Proving success was no fluke, No. 9 Eagles produce magical postseason run in ’81
The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike and Hancock…
Read More50 After 50: Facing lofty expectations and high state ranking, No. 12 Saukees accomplish list of goals
The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike and Hancock…
Read MoreTalton receives IBCA first-team all-state honors, Stephens and Klingele honored in Class 1A
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton’s senior season ranks as one of the best produced by a Quincy High School boys basketball player in the last quarter century. It’s fitting then he is only the second player in that span to receive first-team all-state honors. The 6-foot-6 Talton, who led the Blue Devils to a 28-6 season,…
Read MoreCrim: Kreke’s influence on longstanding success of Liberty basketball program remains evident
LIBERTY, Ill. — The road to Liberty High School’s first appearance in a basketball state tournament championship game began in 1975, when Paul Kreke accepted the only job offer he had after graduating from Quincy College. He became the head coach of a Liberty program that posted winning records only three times the previous 20…
Read MoreReason to celebrate: Eagles’ state title game effort is lauded, applauded by fans creating sea of red
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The arena entrance was breath-taking, and the postgame exit was humbling. Yet, the welcome the Liberty boys basketball team received in its own gym from a community that raced home from the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center following Saturday’s Class 1A state championship game made the experience complete. “I wasn’t expecting…
Read MoreState tournament notebook: Robbins’ defense is on point, Eagles share Illini locker room, Altmix finally gets hit by spotlight
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Logan Robbins embraces playing defense. Actually, he enjoys it quite a bit. “It’s another way to impact the game,” said Robbins, a 6-foot-5 senior forward on the Liberty boys basketball team. “And if you can get the guy your guarding frustrated, it’s going to give you an edge.” It helps explain why…
Read MoreGuiding Eagles to state championship game became family affair for Altmix and sons
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Alex Altmix harbors dreams of eventually being a head coach and running his own high school basketball program. Should his brother, Jordan, want the same thing, neither will have to search far to find a blueprint for success. It’s been in front of them since the day either picked up a whistle.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Homegrown talent displaying hometown pride is what small-school basketball should be about
LIBERTY, Ill. — When the two-lane state highway without a shoulder snakes past the farms and fields and reaches the eastern border of Liberty, a sign looms large on the right side of the road. “Give me Liberty” it reads, and it lists the population of this Adams County village as 600. There may be…
Read More50 After 50: No. 14 Eagles figured out how to soar with confidence when games got tight
The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike and Hancock…
Read MoreFlyin’ high: Determined Eagles take sting out of Hornets to advance to Class 1A state title game
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Greg Altmix was agitated, and he had no problem telling his Liberty boys basketball team why. The veteran head coach scanned the Class 1A all-state teams released Wednesday by the Associated Press and didn’t see any of his players on the first or second team despite their upcoming appearance in the final…
Read MoreSchuckman: Eagles stick together to make state championship journey memorable and emotional
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Part of the wisdom Liberty boys basketball coach Greg Altmix has tried to impart on his players from his more than two decades on the bench is to enjoy the journey, not just the end result. So sitting in the lobby of the team hotel Thursday afternoon, while taking time to catch…
Read MoreFear the mullet: Klingele’s game deserves as much attention as his choice of hairstyles
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Breiton Klingele’s hairstyle came down to a choice. Not a bet. Not a dare. Not anything other than a conscious decision to let it grow. “I just decided it one day, so I started growing it,” Klingele said. “No other reason. I just wanted a mullet.” The Liberty senior’s long, curly locks…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Talton named Western Big 6 MVP, joined on all-conference first team by Longcor
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton’s impact on the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s success went far beyond points scored and 3-pointers made. Every coach in the Western Big 6 Conference felt that. It made it easy for them to vote for Talton, the 6-foot-6 senior swingman, as the WB6 most valuable player, the first season…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Liberty vs. Southeastern in Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The fans of the Liberty and Southeastern boys basketball teams filled the Jacksonville Bowl on Monday night for a titanic matchup in the Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional. Photographer Steve Davis captured the moments from start to finish. Below is a gallery of Davis’ images.
Read MoreTaste of Champaign: Klauser’s play speaks volumes as Liberty eclipses Southeastern for spot in Class 1A state semifinals
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Devin Klauser likely has never been in trouble for talking in class at Liberty High School. The senior is a guy of few words. Very, very few words. “He’s kind of shy,” Eagles teammate Cannen Wolf said, with the expected grin. The 6-foot-6 Klauser let his performance on the floor do his…
Read MoreMissing the mark: QHS boys struggle shooting in second half, see lead evaporate in super-sectional loss to Bolingbrook
NORMAL, Ill. — If you took time to actually measure the measurables — the height of the rim, the distance to the 3-point stripe, the length and width of the court — you’re bound to find both ends of the Redbird Arena court meet the same specifications.. The Quincy High School boys basketball players might…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils’ Douglas pours every beat of his heart into love for his players
NORMAL, Ill. — Restless nights tend to accompany the calendar flip, when January rolls into February and high school basketball coaches worry about how to prepare for and sustain postseason success. When the nights grow shorter and sleep is a struggle in the middle of October rather than the middle of the season, something other…
Read MoreClass 1A super-sectional notebook: Stephens’ dominant junior season heightens expectations for senior campaign
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Danny Stephens will be back for a curtain call. The 6-foot-7 Stephens’ junior year came to halt Monday night when he and his Southeastern Suns were beaten by a talented — and deep — Liberty team 49-42 in the Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional at the Jacksonville Bowl. The defeat did not diminish…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy High School vs. Bolingbrook in Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured some of the action, reaction and atmosphere in photos during Monday night’s Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional between the Quincy High School and Bolingbrook boys basketball teams. Check out a gallery of his images below.
Read MoreCrim: Walton’s journey brings him home, where teaching and coaching made for a fulfilling career
CANTON, Mo. — Rod Walton quietly moved back to Canton last month, a place he called home during a 30-year association with Culver-Stockton College. He spends his days visiting with old friends, some former high school basketball coaching colleagues, and other old C-SC hands he remained in contact with after retiring in 2012. He tries…
Read MoreSweet to Elite: Blue Devils upend third-ranked Ironmen for first sectional title since 2000
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas’ heart nearly sank. Fortunately for Douglas and the Blue Devils, Normal Community’s Zach Cleveland’s potential game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds left didn’t fall either. “It did everything but go in. It hit the backboard then rimmed out. It takes a little bit of luck…
Read MoreInjuries, defensive pressure trip up Raiders in sectional title game as Saints shoot way to crown
STANFORD, Ill. — When Cole Certa caught the ball two steps beyond the volleyball spike line and almost nonchalantly dribbled forward, concern immediately spread up and down the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s bench. “We were talking and saying, ‘He’s pulling it, he’s pulling it,’” Raiders coach Kevin Meyer said. “Sure enough he does.”…
Read MoreEagles move step closer to fulfilling boyhood dreams, will play for spot in Class 1A final four
WHITE HALL, Ill. — Understandably, Breiton Klingele found it difficult to keep his emotions in check. “Ever since I was little, all I have wanted to do was play in the state tournament,” he said. Well, Klingele, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, and his Liberty teammates now find themselves one step away from the Class 1A…
Read MoreStephens, Suns power through to capture program’s first sectional title in 30 years
ABINGDON, Ill. — Late in the first half Friday night, Danny Stephens turned to the bench and tugged at his jersey, signaling he needed a break. The breather never came for the Southeastern standout forward, but that didn’t stop him from powering the Suns to a dazzling finish and 45-34 victory over Peoria Christian in…
Read More‘There’s more in the tank’: QND boys rely on defense to pave way to sectional title game
STANFORD, Ill. — The first four minutes of the second half Wednesday night may have been the most energetic and engaged stretch defensively the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team has played this season. The Raiders even smiled at the suggestion they are at their best right now. But don’t read too much into that.…
Read MoreRaiders gain instant energy when Lavery, Bocke come off bench and change tone of semifinal win
STANFORD, Ill. — Charlie Lavery embraced the moment with vigor. Then Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer reminded him the job wasn’t complete. The Raiders led Maroa-Forsyth by 14 points with a little more than six minutes to play Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Class 2A Stanford Olympia Sectional when Lavery,…
Read More‘I thought it was money’: Talton’s half-court heave narrowly misses mark as Monroe City bows out
COTTLEVILLE, Mo. — Oh, to be in the right place at the right time. Amongst a sea of hands, Nathan DeGuentz rebounded a wild shot and put in the game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds left to give the Duchesne boys basketball team a 45-44 victory over Monroe City in Wednesday’s Class 3 sectional at Francis…
Read MoreJWCC Show-Me Spotlight: Record-setting Stolte making most of senior season with Pirates
The Show-Me Spotlight will appear each week to highlight Missouri area student-athletes. HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aaris Stolte’s historic season isn’t over. He’s confident the Hannibal boys basketball team’s run isn’t about to be through either. A senior guard who broke Brice Scott’s single-season 3-pointer record, Stolte and the second-seeded Pirates are looking to slide past…
Read MoreClutch performances from Blue Devils’ supporting cast lead to sectional semifinal victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Reid O’Brien dared the Collinsville boys basketball team to do it again. “If you leave me open, I’m going to make it,” he said with a smirk and a shrug. The Kahoks left him wide open twice. The Quincy High School junior guard made them both times. Tied at 17 at halftime…
Read MoreWreck it, Ralph! QHS sophomore guard’s game-winning layup ends Kahoks’ win streak, sends Blue Devils into sectional title game
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Any aspect of the final sequence — the split, the bounce or the bucket — could have been negated by a whistle. Ralph Wires prayed he wouldn’t hear one. With time evaporating rapidly and overtime looming, the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s sophomore point guard found himself in a now-or-never situation.…
Read MoreScoreboard for Saturday, February 26
Boys basketball At Monroe City, Mo. Class 3 District 6 championship Monroe City 69, Highland 40. Click here for the story. Girls basketball At Monroe City, Mo. Class 3 District 6 championship South Shelby 59, Palmyra 55. Click here for the story. Men’s basketball At Meyer Sports Center, Bolivar, Mo. Southwest Baptist 86, Quincy University…
Read MorePerfect exit: Monroe City seniors win final home game for program’s sixth straight district crown
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The last act deserved a standing ovation. The Monroe City faithful obliged. The final time a senior class that has set itself apart as one of the most successful in program history played at home resulted in an incredible accomplishment as the top-seeded Monroe City boys basketball team won its sixth…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, February 25
Boys basketball At Alton, Ill. Class 4A Alton Regional Quincy High School 56, O’Fallon 49. Click here for the story and photos. At Beardstown, Ill. Class 2A Beardstown Regional Quincy Notre Dame 48, Pleasant Plains 37. Click here for the story and photos. At Griggsville, Ill. Class 1A Griggsville-Perry Regional Liberty 59, Winchester West Central…
Read MoreTop-seeded Panthers, third-seeded Cougars will meet for district championship
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Joshua Talton and the Monroe City boys basketball team made it crystal clear who the team to beat in the Class 3 District 6 tournament is. And it didn’t take long to deliver the message. Talton, the senior guard, scored 14 of the top-seeded Panthers’ 25 first-quarter points Friday night and…
Read MoreBlue Devils toughen up in second half, rally to knock off Panthers for Class 4A regional crown
ALTON, Ill. — Quincy High School senior Jeremiah Talton identified the problem in a first half that saw the Blue Devils heavily outrebounded and settling for outside shots. “We were playing soft,” Talton said. “We weren’t playing our brand of basketball.” Talton put Quincy back on brand, scoring 13 of his 18 points in the…
Read More50 After 50: No. 18 Eagles reset mindset after late-season setbacks, make run to history
The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike and Hancock…
Read MoreScoreboard for Wednesday, February 23
Boys basketball At Beardstown, Ill. Class 2A Beardstown Regional Quincy Notre Dame 57, Illini West 37. Click here for the story and photos. Pleasant Plains 63, West Hancock 61. Click here for the story and photos. At Griggsville, Ill. Class 1A Griggsville-Perry Regional Liberty 61, Griggsville-Perry 47. Click here for the story and photos. Winchester…
Read MorePayson boys unable to clear West Central hurdle, bow out in regional semifinals
GRIGGSVILLE, Ill. — Unfortunately, the third time was not the charm for the Payson Seymour boys basketball team. The Indians saw their postseason run come to an abrupt end Wednesday night when Winchester West Central posted a 62-49 victory in a Class 1A Griggsville-Perry Regional semifinal game. West Central’s victory was its third this season…
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