College notebook: Hawks sit No. 20 in preseason national poll, QHS grad Johnson with two indoor track personal bests

Quincy University junior catcher Luke Napleton, left, and Hawks coach Matt Schissel head into the 2023 season with QU ranked No. 20 in the NCBWA Division II national poll. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The battle waged last season for a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series is expected to happen again, at least by those voting for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason polls. The Quincy University and Illinois-Springfield baseball teams sit atop the Midwest Region preseason poll and are nationally ranked with…

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Six is enough: Illinois girls outrun, outlast Missouri despite diminished roster to capture Muddy River Showcase

Missouri guard Hannah Feeney, left, pressures Illinois guard Caydee Kirkham during Saturday's inaugural Muddy River Showcase at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — By the time she finally had a chance to sit and relax for a moment, Caydee Kirkham felt the aftereffects of spending 39 of the 40 minutes in the inaugural Muddy River Showcase girls basketball game on the floor. “My legs are cramping a lot,” she said. “But it was fun, so that’s…

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QND’s Schreacke repeats as leading vote-getter for Associated Press Class 2A all-state team

Quincy Notre Dame junior Abbey Schreacke was the leading vote-getter for the Associated Press Class 2A all-state team for the second year in a row. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Abbey Schreacke has been the most dominant player on the court nearly every game this season. So it came as no surprise when she was the leading vote-getter for the Associated Press Class 2A all-state teams, which were released Wednesday. The 5-foot-10 junior guard topped a list of five first-team standouts, three of…

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‘Oh my gosh’: Reed’s 3-pointer rescues Illini West, Kirkham’s free throws seal regional championship

Illini West's Reagan Reed shoots a 3-pointer as the clock winds down at the end of the fourth quarter in Friday night's Class 2A girls basketball regional championship game in Camp Point. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — After being hounded by Karlee Marlow and the Central-Southeastern defense Friday night, Caydee Kirkham finally found a spot on the floor the Panthers couldn’t guard her. The free-throw line. Kirkham was limited to nine points — half of her season average — through regulation and the first 3 1/2 minutes of…

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Prairie State Profile: Illini West’s Kirkham develops into area’s pre-eminent playmaker with guidance from basketball-savvy family

Illini West point guard Caydee Kirkham drives to the basket during a game against Unity in Carthage, Ill. Photo courtesy Rick Goettsche

The Prairie State Profile will appear each week to highlight an Illinois area student-athlete. CARTHAGE, Ill. — Technology has changed the method of delivery, but the messages are similar to what they were three decades ago. The intent is the same, too. It’s to give Caydee Kirkham all the knowledge she needs to succeed at…

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Holiday Tournament Roundup: Chargers run gauntlet to Beardstown title, Hornets finish third

The third-seeded Illini West girls basketball team beat the No. 1 and 2 seeds to win the Lady Tiger Classic championship. Photo courtesy Grant Surprenant

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — It didn’t take long for Grant Surprenant to realize Caydee Kirkham had a different demeanor Thursday night. “She had that look that she was in attack mode,” the Illini West girls basketball coach said of his senior point guard. Nothing Unity tried altered that. Kirkham delivered an MVP performance in the championship…

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