Blue Devils look to recharge themselves following overtime loss in Sophie Cunningham Classic

Quincy High School sophomore forward Jada Brown scored 25 points in Sunday's overtime loss to Strafford (Mo.) in the Sophie Cunningham Classic in Columbia, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Quincy High School girls basketball team plays only one game in the next 10 days, giving the Blue Devils a chance to recharge, refocus and recover. All are needed. Sunday’s 60-54 overtime loss to Strafford (Mo.) in the Sophie Cunningham Classic at Columbia College’s Southwell Complex marked Quincy’s third game in…

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Pinpoint passing leads to sharp shooting as QHS girls wrap up Classic with impressive victory

Quincy High School's Jada Brown goes up for a shot between Plainfield North defenders in the first half of Saturday afternoon's game in the large school girls bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill. | David Adam photo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The first three quarters of Saturday afternoon’s game at the Shirk Center in the State Farm Holiday Classic showed just how good the Quincy High School girls basketball team can be. One moment halfway through the fourth quarter showed how fragile that success is. The Blue Devils posted a 61-42 victory over…

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Blue Devils clamp down defensively in third quarter to separate themselves from Tigers

Quincy High School's Cameron Byquist drives to the basket and is fouled by Wheaton Warrenville South's Brooke Ittersagen during the second quarter of Thursday night's first-round game in the large school girls bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic at Bloomington High School. Byquist made the basket and completed the three-point play. | David Adam photo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — If the State Farm Holiday Classic organizing committee had chosen to incorporate the shot clock for this year’s tournament, the Quincy High School girls basketball team’s nine-point halftime lead Thursday night could have been substantially more. “I bet we force another four or five turnovers,” QHS coach Brad Dance said. “Our defense…

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Blue Devils secure 200th victory of Dance’s coaching career by dominating Pirates

The Quincy High School girls basketball players celebrate coach brad Dance's 200th career victory at the end of Saturday's 55-29 victory over Boonville (Mo.) in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Brad Dance is a proven success as a girls basketball coach. As a math wiz, however, Dance may need to sharpen his skills. Moments after his Quincy High School team had dominated Boonville 55-29 on Saturday during the final day of the week-long 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College,…

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Blue Devils find nice rhythm offensively, answer every one of Bearcats’ challenges

Quincy High School sophomore guard Myley Longcor sizes up the Hermann (Mo.) defense during the second half of Friday's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Dance is finding himself in the holiday spirit, and he wants the stockings of all of the Quincy High School girls basketball players to be filled with good vibes. “I told the girls we have to start finding the positives in things,” the Blue Devils coach said. Friday night, there was nothing…

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Strong second half defensively gets Blue Devils back to .500 mark in conference play

Quincy High School sophomore guard Cameron Byquist applies defensive pressure to United Township's Reemaz Adam during Thursday's Western Big 6 Conference game at the QHS gym. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The first half was far from a masterpiece, but the final product looked significantly better. The Quincy High School girls basketball team put the pedal to the metal in the second half of Thursday’s Western Big 6 Conference tilt with United Township, outscoring the Panthers 36-10 in the final 16 minutes on its…

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Sluggish start, stellar finish defensively enables Blue Devils to dispatch Bombers

Quincy High School freshman guard Khloe Nicholson finished with eight points, nine rebounds, five assists and six blocked shots in Wednesday's victory over Macomb at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy High School’s girls basketball team received the perfect wake-up call Wednesday night. A bit painful, but perfect. “We came out flat, and Macomb punched us right in the mouth,” Blue Devils coach Brad Dance said. Macomb dominated the first quarter, racing to a 16-9 lead, but those opening eight minutes wound up…

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Last-second shot doesn’t fall, but struggles throughout fourth quarter doom Blue Devils

Quincy High School sophomore guard Cameron Byquist goes in for a layup during the first half of Saturday's game against Sterling at the QHS gym. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team executed the play. The shot just did not go in. The Blue Devils trailed Sterling 48-46 with six seconds left during Saturday’s Western Big 6 Conference clash at the QHS gym. On an inbounds play underneath the Sterling basket, Quincy sophomore guard Myley Longor got the…

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Brown, Blue Devils put together can’t-miss effort in opening WB6 play by crushing Rocks

Quincy High School sophomore forward Jada Brown, right, attacks the Rock Island defense during Tuesday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at the QHS gym. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — For nearly 28 minutes of game time, Jada Brown could not miss. The Quincy High School sophomore forward scored the Blue Devils’ first nine points, made her first 12 shots and poured in 31 points in the Blue Devils’ 64-42 victory over Rock Island in Tuesday’s Western Big 6 Conference opener at the…

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One off the checklist: Blue Devils lead wire to wire in victory over cross-town rival Raiders

Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier reaches back to grab a rebound during Tuesday night's girls basketball game against Quincy Notre Dame at the Pit. | David Adam

QUINCY — How well is the Quincy High School girls basketball team playing at the moment? “I think we’re probably playing the best ball we have all season right now,” senior center Taylor Fohey said following Tuesday night’s 47-24 victory over rival Quincy Notre Dame at The Pit. It would be difficult to dispute Fohey’s…

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Blue Devils shoot 68 percent from field, win impressively in battle of state-ranked conference foes

Quincy's Jada Brown goes up for a shot while Galesburg's Syriah Boyd tries to defend during Thursday night's girls basketball game at the QHS gymnasium. | David Adam

QUINCY — It isn’t supposed to look that easy. The inside scoring of Jada Brown … the perimeter shooting of Myley Longcor … the post passing from the perimeter … the defensive pressure on Galesburg’s guards … it all came together on Thursday night in a masterful performance. A game between two state-ranked girls basketball…

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Brown’s 31 points help Blue Devils bounce back after late night to take third-place trophy

Freshman Jada Brown scored 31 points in Quincy High School's victory over Washington in the third-place game of the State Farm Holiday Classic on Saturday afternoon. | David Adam photo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — It’s a shame Taylor Fohey and Jada Brown will only get to spend one season together.  In their short time together on the Quincy High School girls basketball team, Fohey and Brown have developed into quite an accomplished pair of post players. Two days after Fohey scored 26 points in a 56-40…

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Fohey, Brown combine to make all but two of Quincy’s field goals in victory over Peoria Richwoods

Taylor Fohey, who scored 26 points, drives to the basket during Quincy High School's girls basketball game against Peoria Richwoods during the State Farm Holiday Classic on Thursday night at Normal Community High School. | David Adam photo

NORMAL, Ill. — After one of Taylor Fohey’s seven second-quarter baskets Thursday night, the frustration among the Peoria Richwoods girls basketball players was evident.  As Fohey drove to the basket and muscled up two more points, one of the Lady Knights said, “What do you want me to do?” Fohey scored 20 first-half points to…

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QHS’s twin towers power way past Cairo Northwest during Rumble on the River victory

Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier pressures Cairo (Mo.) Northwest guard Mallori Hankins during Saturday's game in the Rumble on the River. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Taylor Fohey and Jada Brown are at opposite ends of their high school careers, one signed to play college basketball next season and the other about to finish the first semester of her freshman year. Yet, when they meet in the middle, they are as formidable as any twin towers around. Cairo (Mo.)…

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