Blue Devils to use time prior to holiday tournament wisely, emphasize consistency and energy

Quincy High School sophomore guard Bradley Longcor III starts the offense during Saturday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It sounds relaxing when you say it out loud. The Quincy High School boys basketball team has 11 days until its next game. That offers the impression it will be a low-key holiday week leading up to Christmas and then a couple of get-back-into-the-groove days before the Blue Devils head off to play…

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‘We have to do us’: Blue Devils overcome lackluster first half against Bulldogs with game-clinching run

Quincy High School guard Bradley Longcor III, right, starts the offense during the first half of Saturday's game against Batavia at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Power in the post: Blue Devils throw ball inside to establish presence, cruise to Thanksgiving tournament championship

Quincy High School sophomore forward Keshaun Thomas gains position on the block during Saturday night's game against Springfield Lanphier in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

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Handling expectations: Blue Devils staying humble, focused as hype builds around them

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, center, shares a laugh with several of his players during a break in practice at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Blue Devils’ Talton named Western Big 6 MVP, joined on all-conference first team by Longcor

Quincy High School's Jeremiah Talton was named the Western Big 6 Conference MVP, as voted on by the league's coaches. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘The sky’s the limit’: Freshman class contributing to Blue Devils’ success faster than Douglas expected

Quincy High School’s Bradley Longcor III drives to the basket for a field goal during Saturday night’s game against Quincy Notre Dame at the Pit. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — It isn’t supposed to be this easy. Oh, sure, a handful of basketball players have done well during their freshman season at Quincy High School, but only six have scored more than 70 points as a freshman — Bruce Douglas, Jack Kramer, Dennis Douglas, Jeff Klingler, Parker Bland and Jeremiah Talton. But the…

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