Two seventh-grade boys basketball teams fall in sectionals

A pair of seventh-grade boys basketball teams vying for spots in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association state tournament fell short of those bids with losses in the sectional Tuesday night. In Class 3A at Auburn, Quincy Catholic suffered a 38-12 loss to Williamsville, ending the Crusaders’ season with a 12-13 record. Quincy Catholic trailed 4-2…

Read More

50 After 50: No. 29 Mustangs became epitome of sharing glory and banding together to make history

Front row, from left to right, Seth Bruenger, Dylan Shaffer, Will Klusmeyer, Alex Blickhan, Mark Jansen, Dawson Moore, Cory Miller, Clayton Thompson. Back row, from left to right, manager Jordan Fuller, assistant coach Richard Klusmeyer, head coach Keith Carothers, Adam Donley, Nick Dorethy, Lane Davis, Thomas Fielding, Brennan Begeman, assistant coach Greg Hildenbrand, assistant coach Ken Gray, manager Aspen Justice. Submitted photo

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 More

Scoreboard for Tuesday, February 1

Boys basketball At Liberty, Ill. Liberty 78, Western 39: The Eagles, ranked fifth in Class 1A, tuned up for a weekend showdown with Monroe City, the No. 1-ranked team in Missouri Class 3, by overwhelming the Wildcats and earning their 20th victory of the season. Cannen Wolf led the Eagles with 23 points, while Breiton…

Read More

Scoreboard for Monday, January 31

Boys basketball At Mendon, Ill. Illini West 73, Unity 41: The Chargers finally put the finishing touch on their Hancock County Tournament championship by outgunning the Mustangs in the weather-delayed finale. Nolan Deitrich made four 3-pointers and scored 14 of the Chargers’ 16 points in the first quarter as they bolted to a 16-10 lead.…

Read More

Show-Me Spotlight: Highland’s Mallett runs full speed into every season

Highland senior Drew Mallett shoots during the Cougars’ semifinal matchup of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational game against Hannibal in Palmyra, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

The Show-Me Spotlight will appear each week to highlight a Missouri area student-athlete. EWING, Mo. — If you were to line up the fastest of the fast — there are a few Highland boys who qualify for such a distinction — who ends up winning? Drew Mallett has a pretty good idea. “Well, I would…

Read More

Crim: From Warsaw to West Point to the world, Rothert’s journey is fascinating tale

Steve Rothert with his son, David, and daughter, Catherine, in Cappadocia, Turkey. The area is a popular tourist destination because it has many areas of unique geological, historic and cultural features. Hot-air ballooning is very popular in Cappadocia. Submitted photo

ANKARA, Turkey — Steve Rothert was preparing to play for the Illinois All-Stars in the 1986 McDonald’s/Herald-Whig Classic when we sat down to discuss his all-state basketball career at Warsaw High School and appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The essence of the column I wrote then was that Rothert was…

Read More

50 After 50: Pain of loss in super-sectional still something No. 30 Wildcats cannot shake

Front row from left, Scott Lucey, Ross McMillen, Bill Reynolds, Brad Lucey, Scott Mudd, Jeff Hauk. Back row, manager Paul Cassidy, Mark Gooding, Brian Froman, Steve Rothert, Sean Young, Todd Hardy, manager Richie Rudd.

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 More

Scoreboard for Friday, January 28

Boys basketball At Homer B. Musgrove Fieldhouse, Sterling, Ill. Quincy High School 60, Sterling 32. Click here for the story and video interview. At Liberty, Ill. Liberty 57, Brown County 52: A 20-point lead at the end of the third quarter got uncomfortably tight near the end as the Hornets rallied. The fifth-ranked Eagles used…

Read More

Defensive-minded Devils shut down Golden Warriors, increase lead in WB6 title chase

Quincy High School sophomore point guard Ralph Wires scored five points Friday night against Sterling and was dynamic defensively in the 60-32 victory. File Photo

STERLING, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s effort last weekend against United Township resulted in a victory, but it was anything but perfect. Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas might describe it as imperfect. “There wasn’t a defensive possession in the first quarter where we didn’t make a mistake,” Douglas said. So he…

Read More

Quincy Catholic seventh grade boys win Class 3A regional championship

The Quincy Catholic seventh grade boys basketball team won the Class 3A regional title Thursday night. Pictured from left, front row, Abel Berhorst, Mason Cragg, Brayden Bozarth, Brody Gilbert, Harper Hough. Back row, John Venvertloh, Grant Lepper, Viktor Harsell, Sam Klauser, Ryan Venvertloh. Submitted photo

WINCHESTER, Ill. — The Quincy Catholic seventh grade boys basketball team won a Class 3A regional championship Thursday night, beating Winchester 33-28. John Venvertloh led the Crusaders with 11 points, while Abel Berhorst and Venvertloh both made two free throws in the final minute to stave off Winchester, who had closed within one point. Gabe…

Read More

Scoreboard for Thursday, January 27

Boys basketball At Monroe City, Mo. Columbia Father Tolton 59, Monroe City 41: In a battle of state-ranked teams, the Trailblazers gained the edge by limiting the Panthers to 15 combined points in the second and third quarters. Monroe City, ranked second in Class 3 according to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association polls, trailed 32-18…

Read More

Illinois boys state basketball polls: Liberty receives first-place vote in Class 1A

The Liberty boys basketball team remains the only area school ranked in the state polls, which were released Wednesday. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Respect is growing for the Liberty boys basketball team. The Eagles remained No. 5 in the Class 1A state poll released Wednesday, but they received a first-place vote as the top of the Class 1A poll remains stacked. Four teams received first-place votes with No. 2 Yorkville Christian receiving the most with seven.…

Read More

Scoreboard for Tuesday, January 25

Boys basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy High School 66, Alleman 33. Click here for the story and photos. At Carthage, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 57, Illini West 45. Click here for the story. At Liberty, Ill. Liberty 61, Jacksonville Routt 47: The fifth-ranked Eagles used their size to their advantage as their frontcourt…

Read More

Shooting down records: Talton breaks Douglas’ single-season 3-point mark as Blue Devil romp

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton made seven 3-pointers in the first half Tuesday night against Alleman and in the process broke the single-season 3-point record with 69 made treys. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Had Andy Douglas wanted to keep his single-season 3-point shooting record just a little while longer, he could have benched Jeremiah Talton after the senior sharpshooter made his fifth trey Tuesday night. “I should have,” Douglas said with a laugh. “That would have been hilarious.” Even if Douglas had taken Talton out, he…

Read More

Schuckman: Roar after Wells’ shot is reminder he is small part of Blue Devil tradition now and forever

Quincy High School senior forward Wil Wells, right, puts up a shot during the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's game against Rock Island Alleman at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The clamor began as soon as Wil Wells stood up and made his way to the scorer’s table to check in to Tuesday night’s game against Rock Island Alleman. He knew it wouldn’t stop until he scored. “It’s a little bit of pressure, I have to admit,” Wells said. A senior forward on…

Read More

Harmann’s return to Blue Devil Gym is enjoyable, memorable experience

Chris Harmann, a 2003 Quincy High School graduate who coached in the QHS boys basketball program for 10 years, works the sideline during last Saturday's game against Liberty at Blue Devil Gym in the Quincy Shootout. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — As Chris Harmann strolled out of the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s locker room and onto the Blue Devil Gym court last Saturday morning, instincts took over and guided him toward the home team’s bench. Then reality set in. He wasn’t supposed to be sitting on the north end of the gym.…

Read More

Scoreboard for Monday, January 24

Boys basketball At Mendon, Ill. Brown County 63, Unity 52: Cole Behymer scored 22 points as the Hornets controlled the game in the second half. Colby Wort added 17 points for Brown County. Gavin Koenig led the Mustangs with 12 points, while Nick Maynard and Melvin McMillen scored 10 points apiece. Girls basketball At Rushville,…

Read More

Scoreboard for Saturday, January 22

Boys basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy Shootout St. Louis University High 49, Quincy High School 40. Click here for the story and photos. Liberty 62, Dixon 48. Click here for the story and photos. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Tournament Monroe City 73, Hannibal 60. Click here for the story and photos. Palmyra…

Read More

Schuckman: It’s gotta be the shoes as Quincy Shootout participants put their footware on display

A vast majority of the players participating in the Quincy Shootout this weekend at Blue Devil Gym were wearing unique footwear. Matt Schuckman photo

Stylish, bold, eye-catching and colorful. And it’s all about sole. During the fourth Quincy Shootout, which took place Friday and Saturday at Blue Devil Gym and Friday night at the Pit, the shoe game of some of the top prep basketball players in the state and in the nation was on display. A handful of…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Kramer adds to family legacy in Blue Devil Gym by taking down Blue Devils

SLUH senior guard Nick Kramer, right, laughs about a call before Quincy High School's Reid O'Brien gets ready to inbound the ball during Saturday night's Quincy Shootout game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The son of a Blue Devil legend did all he could to keep a current Quincy High School boys basketball standout carving his own legacy from adding a Quincy Shootout victory to his resume. By doing so, Nick Kramer made the trip down memory lane unforgettable. Kramer, the St. Louis University High senior…

Read More

Monroe City boys, Canton girls capture titles at 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational

Monroe City’s Kyle Hays lays the ball in during the Panthers’ victory over Hannibal in the championship game of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational on Saturday night in Palmyra, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

PALMYRA, Mo. — The Hannibal boys basketball team relied on its defense to keep it within striking distance of top-seeded Monroe City at halftime of Saturday night’s championship game of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational. The Panthers didn’t allow that to happen in the second half. After being held to just nine points in…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Eagles’ chemistry creates edge as they pull away from Dukes

The Liberty boys basketball team's bench reacts to Cannen Wolf burying a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer Saturday in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The initial reaction was what Greg Altmix expected. Thursday afternoon, the Liberty boys basketball coach informed his players they had added a game to the schedule with an appearance in the fourth Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. “(The organizers) giving us a chance to come and play in this event really got…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: iSchool of Lewisville uses 3-pointers to put stamp on victory

Players from the iSchool of Lewisville and Huntington Prep battle for position to grab a rebound during Saturday night's final game of the Quincy Shootout. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter allowed the iSchool of Lewisville to finish off a 65-56 victory over Huntington Prep in the final game of the Quincy Shootout in Blue Devil Gym. Aaron Carter made two of his six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points. Jason Thirdkill added 17…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Berkmar puts three in double figures, holds off Father Tolton

Father Tolton's Jevon Porter, right, looks to pass out of the post while being pressured by a Berkmar defender during Saturday's action in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A three-pronged attack proved to be better than one dominant force. Despite getting 25 points from senior forward Jevon Porter, Columbia Father Tolton couldn’t put the clamps on Berkmar (Ga.) as the Patriots had three players score in double figures in a 60-58 victory in the Quincy Shootout. Bryce Blaine buried a 3-pointer…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Strong start gives Link Academy edge in matchup with St. Rita

Link Academy's Trey Green, right, settles in to play defense in the first half Saturday against Chicago St. Rita in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Link Academy let Tarris Reed Jr. establish the post presence immediately. The rest of the Lions followed his lead. Reed scored nine of his 17 points in the first quarter when Link outscored Chicago St. Rita 14-9, but he had only two points in the 24-point second quarter. Six other players scored in…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Cadets’ balanced attack, stingy second-half defense lead to victory

CBC sophomore center John Bol, left, applies pressure to Modesto Christian's BJ Davis during Saturday's game in the Quincy Shootout in Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Modesto Christian boys basketball team’s 2,000-mile trip from California seemed like a worthwhile adventure when the Crusaders had a 45-40 halftime lead over CBC out of St. Louis. The Crusaders must have forgotten to pack their offense for the second half. The Cadets scored 44 points in the second half, while limiting…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Lions able to outlast Fighting Irish in double overtime

Peoria Notre Dame guard Nelson Reynolds, right, looks to drive while teammate Cooper Koch is being flanked by two Cardinal Ritter defenders during Saturday's game in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Two big defensive plays in the final minute of overtime led to Peoria Notre Dame and St. Louis Cardinal Ritter needing a second extra session. The Lions made sure there wouldn’t be a third. Robert Lewis knocked down three free throws to help Cardinal Ritter stave off PND with a 67-66 victory in…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Mighty Elephants enjoy mighty edge in second quarter

Iowa City West guard Christian Barnes, right, looks to attack against Math, Civics and Sciences Charter of Philadelphia during Saturday's game in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A 23-point second quarter swung the momentum in favor of the Math, Civics and Sciences Charter of Philadelphia, and the Mighty Elephants never relented in dispatching Iowa City West 71-51 on Saturday in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Trent Middleton’s second-quarter outburst sparked the swing as he scored 14 points in…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Fourth-quarter scoring binge pushes The Burlington School to victory

The Burlington School's Avion Pinner comes up with a loose ball during Saturday's game against Memphis East in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A feisty, fast-paced battle turned into an unexpected blowout at the end with Kheni Briggs becoming the reason why. The Burlington School led Memphis East by six points heading to the fourth quarter of Saturday morning’s matchup in the fourth Quincy Shootout, but Briggs ignited the Spartans’ 26-point fourth-quarter surge by scoring 11…

Read More

Scoreboard for Friday, January 21

Boys basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy Shootout Quincy High School 55, United Township 45. Click here for the story and photos. At the Pit, Quincy Quincy Shootout Confluence Prep 66, Quincy Notre Dame 65. Click here for the story and photos. At Griggsville, Ill. Liberty 52, Griggsville-Perry 20: The Eagles raced out to…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Blue Devils discover needed energy in fourth quarter, stay undefeated in WB6 by beating Panthers

Quincy High School's Terron Cartmill, left, pressures United Township's Mahki Johnson during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III nodded at the suggestion it had been a week filled with low-energy practices for the Quincy High School boys basketball team. “It wasn’t the best,” the freshman guard admitted. Junior guard Reid O’Brien was a little more blunt. “We didn’t have any good practices all week long,” O’Brien said. So…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: QND rallies, then falls in overtime to Confluence Prep

Quincy Notre Dame's Alex Connoyer, left, drives against a Confluence Prep defender during Friday night's Quincy Shootout game at the Pit. David Adam photo

QUINCY — It hurt like any loss. It hurt even more because it was an overtime loss. Yet a grin kept crawling across the face of Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer afterward. The Raiders fought back from a 10-point deficit to lead at halftime, then was a half-second away from winning in…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: St. Rita relies on Brown in fourth quarter in erasing 12-point deficit

Huntington Prep's Dok Muordar, left, gets boxed out by St. Rita's James Brown as the Mustangs' Melvin Bell looks on Friday night at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — When the Chicago St. Rita boys basketball team needed someone to spark a rally, the state’s top-ranked sophomore prospect obliged. James Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward, scored 11 of the Mustangs’ 25 fourth-quarter points as they erased a 12-point deficit and narrowly escaped Blue Devil Gym with a 76-75 victory over Huntington (W. Va.)…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: SLUH’s Kramer finds range, rhythm in second half

SLUH guard Nick Kramer, right, drives to the basketball against Math, Civics and Sciences' Jaheim Bethea during Friday night's game at the Pit. David Adam photo

QUINCY — St. Louis University High and Math, Civics and Sciences Charter out of Philadelphia played to nearly a draw in the first half, with the Jr. Billikens taking a 28-25 lead at halftime of their matchup in the Quincy Shootout at the Pit on Friday night. Then Nick Kramer took over. The senior guard…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Reed helps power Link Academy to second-half surge and victory

The Burlington School's Amare Miller boxes out Link Academy's Tarris Reed Jr. during Friday night's game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — One of the nation’s most talented and most talked about prep school lineups found itself facing a halftime deficit Friday night. That’s when Link Academy showed why it is receiving so much attention. Tarris Reed Jr., playing in the Quincy Shootout for the second time in his career, powered his way to eight…

Read More

Quincy Shootout: Memphis East goes on 23-point spurt to dispatch Father Tolton

Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton's Evens Appolon, right, tries to avoid the Memphis East trap during Friday night's game at the Pit. David Adam photo

QUINCY — Memphis East scored 23 consecutive points late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter to blow open a close game and defeat Father Tolton Catholic from Columbia, Mo., 71-53 on Friday night in the first game of the Quincy Shootout at the Pit. Neither team led by more than four…

Read More

Scoreboard for Thursday, January 20

Hannibal’s Aaris Stolte, left, shoots the ball over Highland’s Drew Mallett during the Pirates’ semifinal matchup of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational on Thursday night in Palmyra, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Boys basketball At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Invitational Hannibal 73, Highland 40: A 13-point halftime cushion turned into a rout as the Pirates’ 3-point barrage carried them into Saturday night’s championship game against top-seeded Monroe City. Hannibal made four 3-pointers in the third quarter and 11 treys overall. Aaris Stolte finished with 24 points, making…

Read More

Inside the Shootout: Nationally ranked teams, Power 5 conference recruits highlight Quincy Shootout field

Chicago St. Rita sophomore forward Morez Johnson, right, has committed to the University of Illinois and coach Brad Underwood. Submitted photo

The fourth Quincy Shootout takes place this weekend with games being played Friday night at Quincy High School’s Blue Devil Gym and Quincy Notre Dame’s The Pit. Saturday, all eight games will be played at Blue Devil Gym. Here is a look at the teams and top players who will be worth the price of…

Read More

Scoreboard for Wednesday, January 19

Palmyra’s Laydin Lochman, left, handles the ball while being pressured by Monroe City’s Kyle Hays during Wednesday night’s semifinal matchup of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational in Palmyra, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Boys basketball At Payson, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 59, Payson Seymour 55. Click here for the story and video interview. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Invitational Monroe City 42, Palmyra 23: The tempo favored fourth-seeded Palmyra until top-seeded Monroe City got stingy and Joshua Talton got rolling. Monroe City, which led the semifinal matchup 17-13…

Read More

Scoreboard for Tuesday, January 18

Girls basketball At the Pit, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 57, Quincy High School 35. Click here for the story and photos. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Tournament Canton 45, Monroe City 37: The Tigers held the Panthers to four points in the fourth quarter to advance to the semifinals. Nariah Clay led Canton with 17…

Read More

Scoreboard for Monday, January 17

Palmyra’s Laydin Lochman jumps to block a pass during the Panthers’ game against Canton in the opening round of the 79th annual Tony Lenzini Invitational in Palmyra, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Boys basketball At Bloomington, Ill. Bloomington Central Catholic Shootout Quincy Notre Dame 57, Farmington 43. Quincy Notre Dame 55, Williamsville 39. Click here for the story about both games. At Palmyra, Mo. Tony Lenzini Tournament Palmyra 76, Canton 53: Mason Roberts scored 11 points in the third quarter as the fourth-seeded Panthers outscored the fifth-seeded…

Read More

Schuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: SLUH guard Nick Kramer

St. Louis University High senior guard Nick Kramer, the son of Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jack Kramer, will be playing against Quincy High School on Saturday night in Blue Devil Gym as part of the Quincy Shootout. Photo courtesy St. Louis University High

The glimmer in Nick Kramer’s eye shined when he began talking about the situation he will be walking into this weeked. He’s entering his father’s old neighborhood. With that comes the understanding of history, tradition and legacy. Jack Kramer is part of all three when it comes to the Quincy High School boys basketball program,…

Read More

Scoreboard for Saturday, January 15

Boys basketball At Roy S. Anderson Gym, Lincoln, Ill. Quincy High School 45, Lincoln 25. Click here for the story. At Winchester, Ill. Winchester Invitational Tournament Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central 44, Liberty 42: The Bluejays’ Gavin Artholony made 9 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off the Eagles in the championship game.…

Read More

Talton finds rhythm, Blue Devils avenge loss at Roy S. Anderson Gym by barraging Railsplitters

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton made the second-most single-game 3-pointers in program history by making eight in Saturday night's 45-25 victory at Lincoln. Photo courtesy Paul Baillaergon, Archview Photo

LINCOLN, Ill. — Jeremiah Talton could tell during pregame warmups Saturday night the right ankle he had tweaked 24 hours prior wasn’t going to be an issue. “It’s actually feeling pretty good,” the Quincy High School senior swingman said. “As soon as I got out there, I wasn’t feeling anything.” He also knew he had…

Read More

Scoreboard for Friday, January 14

Boys basketball At John Thiel Gym, Galesburg, Ill. Quincy High School 55, Galesburg 53. Click here for the story. At Winchester, Ill. Winchester Invitational Tournament Petersburg PORTA/AC-Central 51, Brown County 44: The Hornets made it a three-point game in the final minute, but the Bluejays hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the…

Read More

Halfway home: Blue Devils reach midpoint of WB6 season in first place after fending off Silver Streaks

Quincy High School freshman Bradley Longcor III shoots and scores on a short jumper during the Blue Devils' 55-53 Western Big 6 Conference win over host Galesburg on Friday night at John Thiel Gym. Photo courtesy Steve Davis

GALESBURG, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball Andy Douglas believes his players deserve a nomination for an Emmy or an Academy Award. Leading Galesburg by two points with 8.5 seconds remaining in regulation Friday night at John Thiel Gym, Douglas instructed the Blue Devils during a timeout called by the Silver Streaks to act…

Read More

Scoreboard for Thursday, January 13

Boys Basketball At Winchester, Ill. Winchester Invitational Tournament Liberty 40, Jacksonville Routt 34: The state-ranked Eagles needed a fourth-quarter rally to advance to Saturday night’s championship game. Trailing the Rockets by three heading to the fourth quarter, Liberty got 3-pointers from Reece Knuffman and Cannen Wolf and went 7 of 12 from the free-throw line…

Read More

Game Night Guide: Road trips, tournament titles and wrestling nirvana on tap for this weekend

QUINCY — Tournament titles up for grabs, a conference lead at stake and a bevy of grappling. How’s that for a full weekend slate? That’s only doable if Mother Nature cooperates. With several Missouri schools rescheduling their Friday night contests for Thursday night to avoid any issues with the forecasted snowfall, the weekend prep basketball…

Read More

Scoreboard for Wednesday, January 12

Boys Basketball At Winchester, Ill. 99th Winchester Invitational Tournament Brown County 57, Winchester West Central 56: Cole Behymer’s free throw with 12.5 seconds remaining in regulation pushed the sixth-seeded Hornets into the semifinals after they dodged a couple of bullets in the final seconds. Fouled with 5.7 seconds to play, the Cougars’ Gavin Little missed…

Read More

Blue Devils adapt, adjust and apply pressure to keep WB6 win streak going

Quincy High School's Terron Cartmill, center, and Reid O'Brien, right, knock the ball away from Geneseo's Bristol Lewis after trapping him along the sideline during the first half of Tuesday night's game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Leave it to COVID-19 to disrupt the rhythm of the night. Still, the Quincy High School boys basketball team adapted. Due to positive COVID tests within its freshman team, Geneseo was forced to cancel Tuesday night’s preliminary game. So instead of watching the underclassmen play before going to the locker room to get…

Read More

Area Distributors Area Athlete of the Week: Monroe City’s Josiah Talton

Monroe City's Josiah Talton, center, is the Area Distributors Area Athlete of the Week after leading the Panthers to the Clopton Tournament championship last week. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Josiah Talton did what a senior leader is supposed to do. He stepped to the free-throw line and buried the shots to preserve a lead. And he did it twice in the same week. In the semifinals of the Clopton Tournament last week, the Monroe City senior guard went 5 of…

Read More

Liquor Booth Shot of the Game: Pittsfield’s Ronne Thelander exits after first career field goal

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield boys basketball team gave Ronne Thelander a fitting goodbye. The Saukees sophomore manager was in the starting lineup for last Friday’s game against Quincy Notre Dame at Voshall Gym, and after Pittsfield won the opening tip, Thelander was given the opportunity to take the first shot. His initial attempt fell…

Read More

Scoreboard for Tuesday, January 11

Hannibal’s Aaris Stolte puts up a shot during Tuesday’s game against Monroe City at Korf Gym in Hannibal, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Boys Basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy High School 61, Geneseo 42. Click here for the story and photos. At Winchester, Ill. Winchester Invitational Tournament Petersburg PORTA-AC Central 57, Payson Seymour 41: The Indians were limited to just five points in the first quarter, trailed by 10 points at halftime and saw the Bluejays…

Read More

Scoreboard for Monday, January 10

Boys Basketball At Winchester, Ill. Winchester Invitational Tournament Liberty 55, Carrollton 41: The Eagles’ balanced attack and second-quarter spurt carried them into the tournament semifinals. Leading by three after the first quarter, Liberty outscored Carrollton 17-6 in the second quarter with five different players scoring. Cannen Wolf led the Eagles with 14 points, while Logan…

Read More

50 After 50: Summer league battles prepare No. 38 Raiders for run at regional crown

Front row, Neil Mayfield, Tim Hellhake, Dave McCaughey, Tim Whittaker, Bill Schlegl, Jeff McCaughey, Joe Scholz, Greg Nutt. Back row, manager Scott Hummel, Todd Bastean, Tim Bichsel, Mark Wiemelt, Dan McCaughey, Kevin Meyer, Steve Bichsel, Greg Reis, Coach Bob Kies. Submitted photo

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 More

Scoreboard for Saturday, January 8

Boys Basketball At Willard Duey Gym, Springfield, Ill. Quincy High School 57, Springfield 30. Click here for the story. At Warsaw, Ill. Hancock County Tournament Illini West 35, Keokuk 33: Max Richardson scored 13 points as the Chargers opened the tourney by outslugging the Chiefs. West Hancock 66, Unity 34: Cody Shaffer led the Mustangs…

Read More

Unselfish play, clutch shooting carries Blue Devils to weekend sweep

Quincy High School freshman guard Dominique Clay led the Blue Devils with 16 points in Saturday night's victory at Springfield. File photo courtesy Paul Baillaergon

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bradley Longcor III caught the ball in a position to take a shot he’s been knocking down consistently all season. And he passed it up. Nothing could have made Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas any happier. After Terron Cartmill snared a defensive rebound on the first possession of Saturday…

Read More

Scoreboard for Friday, January 7

Hannibal's Haden Robertson lays in a shot during Friday night's North Central Missouri Conference game against Marshall at Korf Gym in Hannibal, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Boys Basketball At Rocky Fieldhouse, Rock Island, Ill. Quincy High School 61, Rock Island 57. Click here for the story. At Voshall Gym, Pittsfield, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 43, Pittsfield 31. At Carthage, Ill. Illini West 58, Payson Seymour 47: The Indians had their six-game winning streak snapped by a tough, physical Chargers squad. Nolan…

Read More

‘It sucked the life right out of Rocky’: Back-to-back 3-pointers propel Blue Devils to top of WB6 standings

Rock Island's Terrmell Akers, left, and Quincy's Bradley Longcor III go after a loose ball during the first half of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game at Rock Island, Ill. Photo courtesy Gary Krambeck, Dispatch/Argus

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Over the course of a six-minute span of the second half Friday night in which the Quincy High School boys basketball team chiseled a 13-point deficit down to one, Rock Island never lost its energy or its swagger. That is until Jeremiah Talton and Ralph Wires took it away. The senior…

Read More

Scoreboard for Thursday, January 6

Boys Basketball At the Pit, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 67, Western 26. Click here for the story and photos. At Clarksville, Mo. Clopton Invitational Monroe City 58, Elsberry 50: The Panthers advanced to the championship game with three solid quarters of defense. Monroe City led 28-14 at halftime following a 20-point second quarter and took…

Read More

No dunk, no worries: Sheffield, Raiders create chaos with defense against Wildcats

Quincy Notre Dame guard Jackson Stratton, right, pressures Western's Gage Smith during Thursday night's game at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Braden Sheffield set his sights on the rim. Unfortunately, the Quincy Notre Dame junior guard never got the chance to get his hands on it. “Some things aren’t meant to be,” he said with a wry smile. Teaming with the Raiders’ Alex Connoyer and Jackson Stratton to create chaos each time the Western…

Read More

Scoreboard for Wednesday, January 5

Boys Basketball At Ewing, Mo. Highland Tournament Palmyra 49, Knox County 42: The fourth-seeded Panthers outscored the fifth-seeded Eagles 20-9 in the second quarter and used it as a springboard to the semifinals. Bear Bock led the Panthers with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Laydin Lochman added 13 points as Palmyra coach Brian Rea…

Read More

Illinois boys basketball state rankings: Liberty is lone area team in top 10

Logan Robbins and the Liberty boys basketball team are ranked seventh in the first Class 1A state poll of 2022. Matt Schuckman photo

Here are the state rankings of Illinois high school boys basketball teams in each class for Jan. 5, 2022, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Glen Ellyn Glenbard West (10) 14-0 100 1 2. Chicago Kenwood 12-2 87 3 3. Glenview Glenbrook South 13-1 72 T4…

Read More

Scoreboard for Tuesday, January 4

Palmyra's Taytum White puts up a shot during Tuesday night's opening-round victory over Clark County in the Highland Tournament in Ewing, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Boys Basketball At Mendon, Ill. Liberty 60, Unity 42: The Eagles got back on track following consecutive losses to end the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament with a dynamic defensive effort. Breiton Klingele led Liberty with 16 points, while Melvin McMillen led Unity with 12 points. At Barry, Ill. Illini West 74, Western 37: Trayton Anders scored…

Read More

Scoreboard for Monday, January 3

Boys Basketball At Camp Point, Ill. Central 41, West Hancock 39: Nick Moore scored five of the Panthers’ seven points in the fourth quarter and helped them hold on down the stretch. Isaac Genenbacher led the Panthers with 18 points, while Colin LeMaire scored a game-high 20 points for the TItans. At Ewing, Mo. Highland…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Scoreboard for Wednesday, December 29

37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic At Collinsville, Ill. Wednesday’s Games At Auxiliary Gym Alton 61, Wasilla 31 At Vergil Fletcher Gym Troy Triad 46, Edwardsville 42 Belleville East 72. Oakville 45 Madison 38, Mundelein 28 Lincoln 51, Granite City 38 (fifth place) Rockford East 77, Belleville Althoff 55 (consolation championship) Collinsville 49, Quincy 34…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Roundup: Panthers take fifth in Bloomington, Indians to play for title at Greenview

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Central-Southeastern girls basketball used a strong effort against top-ranked Winnebago on Tuesday to catapult itself to two victories Wednesday in the small-school bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic. The Panthers opened the day with a 60-48 victory over Annawan, holding the Braves to six points in the third quarter while…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Roundup: Eagles finish fourth at Macomb after tough semifinal loss

The Liberty boys basketball team suffered a 54-38 loss to Macomb in the third-place game of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament on Wednesday night at Western Hall. Photo courtesy Scott Holland, McDonough County Voice

MACOMB, Ill. — The Liberty boys basketball team nearly toppled one Class 2A program. The Eagles didn’t have enough in the tank to generate a second opportunity. Wednesday afternoon, in the semifinals of the 75th Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament, Farmington went on a 7-0 run over a 90-second span in the final two minutes of regulation…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Roundup: Suns’ stingy defense leads to championship of MVIT

The Southeastern boys basketball team poses with the championship trophy after beating Bushnell-Prairie City 43-40 in the title game of the MVIT on Wednesday in Mendon, Ill. Photo courtesy Southeastern athletics

MENDON, Ill. — The Southeastern boys basketball team has a lofty goal for its defense. “We need to keep teams under 30 points or 35 points, somewhere right in there to have a chance to win,” senior guard Ramsey Fry said. “That’s the target.” The Suns didn’t quite hit the bull’s eye Wednesday night, but…

Read More

Another slow start spells doom for Blue Devils in third-place game at Collinsville

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — A trend developed in the three days the Quincy High School boys basketball team spent at the 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic that has Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas legitimately concerned. His team keeps stumbling out of the blocks. It happened again Wednesday night in the third-place game against Collinsville. The…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Roundup: Suns to face Spartans for championship of MVIT

MENDON, Ill. — The Southeastern boys basketball team continues to wait for junior all-state swingman Danny Stephens to get healthy, but the Suns aren’t waiting for him to make a tournament title run. The Suns beat Griggsville-Perry 37-31 in Tuesday night’s semifinals of the Mississippi Valley Invitational Tournament and will face Bushnell-Prairie City in Wednesday…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Scoreboard for Tuesday, December 28

Boys Basketball 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic At Collinsville, Ill. Tuesday’s Games At Vergil Fletcher Gym Afternoon session Decatur MacArthur 58, Madison 29 Quincy High School 33, Lincoln 30 Collinsville 60, Mundelein 36 O’Fallon 55, Granite City 24 Evening session Lincoln 24, Madison 19 Decatur MacArthur 58, Quincy 53 O’Fallon 50, Collinsville 49 Granite…

Read More

Blue Devils rally in fourth quarter to beat Railsplitters, will face Generals in semifinals

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Whew. That was the collective reaction from the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s bench and the throng of Blue Devil backers inside Vergil Fletcher Gym on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Devils were held scoreless the first four minutes of the second half of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic semifinal against…

Read More

Holiday tournament roundup: Semifinal matchups set at MVIT

MENDON, Ill. — The semifinal matchups are set for the Mississippi Valley Invitational Tournament with the host Unity boys basketball team exploding for 73 points. The Mustangs beat Pleasant Hill 73-58 as Vincent Magliocchetti scored 19 points. They will face Bushnell-Prairie City at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school gym. The Spartans beat Western…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Scoreboard for Monday, December 27

Boys Basketball 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic At Vergil Fletcher Gym At Collinsville, Ill. Monday’s Games Madison 55, Belleville East 48 Decatur MacArthur 53, Edwardsville 44 Quincy High School 73, Belleville Althoff 54 Lincoln 35, Alton 17 Mundelein 48, Oakville 29 Collinsville 82, Wasilla 49 O’Fallon 48, Troy Triad 31 Granite City 62, Rockford…

Read More

Blue Devils change course at halftime, return energetic in blowing past Crusaders

Jeremiah Talton drives to the basket during the first half of the Quincy High School boys basketball team's opening-round game against Belleville Althoff in the 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic at Vergil Fletcher Gym in Collinsville, Ill. Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photo

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Sam Mulherin understands good things happen if you put yourself in the right position. Necessary things happen, too. Mulherin’s energetic pursuit of offensive rebounds helped the Quincy High School boys basketball team shake its first-half slumber and ignited a 31-point third quarter against Belleville Althoff on Monday afternoon at Vergil Fletcher Gym.…

Read More

Holiday tournament guide: 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic

Quincy High School freshman guard Bradley Longcor Jr. is averaging 14.2 points per game. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Which team is considered the favorite in the 37th annual Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic? Take your pick. “There are a lot of really good teams in the field,” Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas said. “I don’t know if there is a team that is head and shoulders better than…

Read More

Rumble on the River provides prep basketball smorgasbord before Christmas

Liberty's Breiton Klingele, right, gets position for a rebound during Wednesday night's game against Lewistown in the Rumble on the River. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A three-day, 15-game prep basketball extravaganza wrapped up Wednesday night at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center with a glimpse of what’s to come. The Liberty boys basketball team improved to 9-1 with their victory in the Rumble on the River. The Payson Seymour boys improved to 6-3 with back-to-back victories. The…

Read More

Scoreboard for Tuesday, December 21

Boys Basketball At Monmouth, Ill. Monmouth-Roseville 52, Quincy Notre Dame 49. Click here for the story. At Liberty, Ill. Liberty 53, Illini West 45: The Eagles improved to 8-1 as Cannen Wolf scored 12 points and Tenhouse added 10. Nolan Deitrich led the Chargers, who are 7-3, with 23 points. At Rushville, Ill. Payson Seymour…

Read More

Buzzer-beating 3-pointer foils Raiders’ rally in loss to Titans in final pre-Christmas game

MONMOUTH, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players are hoping history repeats itself. Tuesday night’s 52-49 loss to Monmouth-Roseville saddled the Raiders with a 5-4 record heading into the Christmas break. It’s not too different than the 1988-89 QND team which started 8-6, ended up winning a sectional championship and is considered one…

Read More

Scoreboard for Monday, December 20

Girls Basketball At the Pit, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 49, Central-Southeastern 35: The Raiders led 30-21 at halftime as Sage Stratton scored 11 points and Abbey Schreacke added 10, and that lead grew to as many as 14 points in the third quarter. The Panthers scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to…

Read More

Beyond the Boxscore: Talton adjusts to physical defense, Blue Devils regain series control, Raiders look to rebound quickly

Quincy High School’s Jeremiah Talton, left, shoots while being challenge by Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Connoyer during Saturday night’s game at the Pit. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton hurt. Understandably so. Friday night, in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s 63-49 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference play at Blue Devil Gym, the Maroons chose to defend the league’s leading scorer by putting a defender chest-to-chest with the 6-foot-6 swingman. Talton got bumped on every cut…

Read More

Scoreboard for Saturday, December 18

Boys Basketball At The Pit, Quincy Quincy High School 59, Quincy Notre Dame 37. Click here for the story and photo gallery. At Havana, Ill. Illini West 51, Havana 46: The Chargers trailed by four with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, but rallied to force overtime and plucked the Ducks in the extra session. Nolan…

Read More

‘That hole is 6 feet deep and we’re buried in it’: Blue Devils’ offensive execution in second half flattens Raiders

From left to right, Quincy High School freshmen Bradley Longcor III, Keshaun Thomas and Dominique Clay celebrate as the clock runs out on the Blue Devils 59-37 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Saturday night at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Andy Douglas didn’t need to be boisterous with his halftime speech Saturday night. The Quincy High School boys basketball coach didn’t have to say much at all. “The guys were already talking about what we needed to do before I got in the locker room,” Douglas said. “A lot of it was said…

Read More

Scoreboard for Friday, December 17

Boys Basketball At Blue Devil Gym, Quincy Quincy High School 63, Moline 49. Click here for the story and photo gallery. At Camp Point, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 43, Central 38: Click here for the story. At Mendon, Ill. Palmyra 55, Unity 48: Bear Bock did a little of everything for the Panthers, finishing with…

Read More

Scoreboard for Thursday, December 16

Girls Basketball At QHS gym, Quincy Moline 44, Quincy High School 32. Click here for the story. At Carthage, Ill. Illini West 72, Liberty 13: The Chargers held the Eagles without a field goal in the first quarter, had six players score from the field over the first eight minutes and improved to 10-1 with…

Read More