Mustangs earn third shot at Panthers with mind set on changing outcome of first two matches

The Mendon Unity volleyball team will attempt to win its fourth straight regional championship when it faces Camp Point Central at 6 p.m. Thursday in Camp Point, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Maybe the third time will be the charm for the Mendon Unity volleyball team. The Mustangs dispatched Liberty 25-20, 24-26, 25-17 in Wednesday night’s Class 1A Camp Point Central Regional semifinals, which sets up an interesting matchup in the championship match. Unity (25-12) will challenge regional host Camp Point Central (24-7)…

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Photo gallery: QND girls golf team wins West Central Conference championship

Quincy Notre Dame's Nancy Scholz tees off during Tuesday's West Central Conference championships at Westview Golf Course. | Shane Hulsey photo

To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team conquered the elements Tuesday on its way to a West Central Conference title. The Raiders’ top four golfers posted a 333 on holes 10 through 27 at a damp…

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Photo gallery: Cross country runners charge through South Park during Running Raider Classic

Quincy Notre Dame's Devin Bradfield, right, and Marion County's Porter Britt head for the final stretch of the South Park course Tuesday during the Running Raider Classic in Quincy. | Matt Schuckman photo

To purchase digital downloads of prints from this gallery,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — More than 160 high school cross country runners pounded the dusty, hard ground as they made their way through South Park on Tuesday afternoon during the Running Raider Classic. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman hung out along…

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Chargers rally to knock off Panthers as Lady Suns Classic rolls toward championship Saturday

From left, Illini West's Reagan Reed, Kennedy Gunning and Abi White celebrate Gunning's shot on set point against Camp Point Central on Thursday night in the Lady Suns Classic in Augusta, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

AUGUSTA, Ill. — Kennedy Gunning’s reaction said it all. In a rematch of a three-set roller coaster that took place just nine days ago, Gunning delivered the game-winning kill for the Illini West volleyball team in a 20-25, 25-18, 15-11 victory over Camp Point Central in Lady Suns Classic pool play Thursday. Her subsequent celebration…

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Four Pleasant Hill players named to Class 1A all-state team; Central’s Miller, QND’s Bunte, two from Liberty also honored

McKinley Lowe, left, and Ava Wombles | Shane Hulsey photos

QUINCY — Four players who helped the Pleasant Hill softball team reach a sectional championship game for the first time in school history recently received all-state honors. Senior pitcher McKinley Lowe and junior outfielder and pitcher Ava Wombles each made the Illinois Coaches Association Class 1A all-state first team. Lowe tossed three no-hitters and carried…

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‘We’re going to remember this forever’: Illini West’s Bentzinger, Liberty’s Sunde share track for final time

Illini West's Ian Bentzinger, left, takes the baton fromk Liberty's Keegan Sunde during the 4x100 relay at Friday night's Illinois/Missouri Senior All-Star Track Meet in Palmyra, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

PALMYRA, Mo. — Illini West’s Ian Bentzinger and Liberty’s Keegan Sunde spent all season as rivals. On Friday, they were teammates, and they made sure to have some fun. During the Illinois/Missouri Senior All-Star Track Meet at Palmyra High School, the state-qualifying sprinters made up the first two legs of the Illinois boys 4×100 meter…

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Liberty tabs Sparrow to take over reins of boys basketball program

Dan Sparrow, who spent 13 seasons as the head boys basketball coach at Jacksonville and Bartonville Limestone, has been named the boys basketball coach at Liberty. | Submitted photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Dan Sparrow first had to address the situation as an athletic director before he could look at it as an interested party. Greg Altmix resigned as the Liberty boys basketball coach in mid-May, forcing the Liberty administration to act with a certain degree of haste in finding his replacement in order to…

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School record, state medals highlight final day of Illinois girls track and field championships

Quincy High School's Sasha Betz competes in the 100-meter dash in the wheelchair division of the Illinois girls state track and field championships Saturday at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — A school record to go along with a state medal isn’t too shabby of a way to end the season. The Camp Point Central girls 4×100-meter relay team accomplished that feat Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, finishing in fifth place at the Class 1A state track and field championships.  The…

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Central’s Thompson, Liberty’s Gimm, Sunde leading charge to state track championships

Camp Point Central senior Jack Thompson is headed to the Class 1A state track and field championships in the long jump and triple jump and as part of the 4x100 relay team. | Photo courtesy CSE Track and Field

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Jack Thompson shared the results of the events he participated in Wednesday during the Class 1A Rushville-Industry Sectional and the closing line summed it up his effort quite nicely. “Huge Day!!!” he wrote. The Camp Point Central senior jumper and sprinter set a personal record in one event, helped the Panthers break…

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Mustangs manufacture five-inning victory over Eagles to reach Class 1A regional title game

Mendon Unity senior Cody Shaffer collected two hits and threw four innings with seven strikeouts in Wednesday's 11-1 victory over Liberty in the Class 1A regional semifinals at Liberty, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Patience, persistence and pitching have put the Mendon Unity baseball team on the verge of both a 20-win season and the program’s first regional title in more than 30 years. The second-seeded Mustangs took advantage of 10 free bases, broke through to take the lead in the third inning and finished off…

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Around the area: Dance, Trail Blazers sweep twinbill; Pirates, Eagles split doubleheader

John Wood Community College right-hander Tyler Dance won his third consecutive game with Saturday's 8-0 victory over Vincennes University in Vincennes, Ind. | Matt Schuckman photo

VINCENNES, Ind. — Tyler Dance found his footing. The John Wood Community College freshman right-hander threw six scoreless innings Saturday, striking out eight and walking one as the Trail Blazers opened a four-game Mid-West Athletic Conference series with an 8-0 victory over Vincennes University. JWCC also won the nightcap of the doubleheader 14-4. Dance, a…

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Coaching cousins: Grandfather’s influence shines through in how Fesslers guide rival softball teams

Liberty softball coach B.J. Fessler has gone head-to-head with his cousin, Payson Seymour coach Joe Fessler, twice this season. Their teams meet again Saturday. | Shane Hulsey photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Sara Reichert sees it as clearly as anyone. Her brother and her cousin share a common trait passed down through generations of the Fessler family. That’s their even-keel disposition. “Our grandparents were sports-loving fans,” said Reichert, the junior varsity softball coach at Liberty, where her first cousin B.J. Fessler is the varsity…

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Prairie State Profile: Eagles’ Sunde allows passion for sprinting to carry him to fast times

Liberty's Keegan Sunde, left, sprints toward the finish line in a 60-meter race during the indoor track and field season. | Photo courtesy Russ Tate

LIBERTY, Ill. — Spend any amount of time chatting with Keegan Sunde about his track career and you come away with one overriding realization. His passion for the sport is all encompassing. The Liberty senior sprinter enjoyed a solid indoor season, running the 60-meter dash in 7.25 seconds at the Illinois Top Times Meet at…

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Shaffer, Sims put up zeroes before Mustangs score twice in eighth inning to get past Eagles

Mendon Unity senior right-hander Cody Shaffer delivers a pitch during Thursday's game at Liberty. The Mustangs scored twice in the top of the eighth inning for a 2-0 victory in Liberty, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — The line drive hit Cody Shaffer’s upper right arm with enough force that the ricochet led to an out at first base and had people scrambling to check on the Mendon Unity right-hander. Immediately, the umpires called time and Mustangs coach Tyler McAllister popped out of the dugout to assess Schaffer’s injury…

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Photo gallery: Old-fashioned pitchers’ duel breaks out as Mustangs, Eagles go extra innings

Liberty catcher Jarred Owens sets himself to receive a pitch during Thursday's game against Mendon Unity in West Central Conference play in Liberty, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

LIBERTY, Mo. — A pair of right-handed hurlers engaged in a pitchers’ duel Thursday as neither Mendon Unity’s Cody Shaffer nor Liberty’s Jackson Sims allowed a run over the first six innings. The relievers were just a stingy in the seventh inning. It wasn’t until the eighth inning when a pair of errors enabled Unity…

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Raiders just bust a move to get offense rolling in home-opening victory against Eagles

From left, Quincy Notre Dame's Brooke Boden, Lanie Fesler and Caitlin Bunte high-five each other before an inning during Thursday's game against Liberty at The Backyard. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — One of Caitlin Bunte’s responsibilities, aside from being the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s starting pitcher and leadoff hitter, is to choose the musical playlist that serves as the soundtrack for each game at The Backyard. She has four personally designed playlists at her disposal. “Stuff that gets me hyped, stuff that’s upbeat…

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Photo gallery: QND, Liberty square off in Raiders’ home opener at The Backyard

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Payton Stupavsky holds a called third strike during Thursday's game against Liberty at The Backyard. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team had played one game this season prior to Thursday’s home opener, but it didn’t look like the Raiders were rusty at all. QND collected 17 hits in a 9-2 victory over Liberty at The Backyard. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman enjoyed a rare warm, sunny day…

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Wiewel comes up clutch as Raiders walk off with low-scoring victory over Eagles

Quincy Notre Dame junior Abram Wiewel drove in the winning run with a single to center field in the seventh inning of Thursday's 2-1 victory over Liberty at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Liberty baseball team wasn’t going to allow Nolan Robb to beat it. So Abram Wiewel did. After Quincy Notre Dame’s Logan Sutton singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday and stole second base, the Eagles chose to intentionally walk Robb. Wiewel followed by hitting a two-strike line…

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Epic inning leads to first victory for Liberty softball team

LIBERTY, Ill. — The inning that kept going and going and going ultimately ended with the Liberty softball team scoring enough runs to create a cushion the Eagles needed to withstand Rushville-Industry’s rally. The Eagles scored 12 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday, only to see the Rockets come back with four…

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Connoyer calms down after technical foul, scores game-high 17 points to lead QND boys past Liberty

Quincy Notre Dame's Aiden Klauser | MRN File photo by Samantha Carmean

LIBERTY, Ill. – Quincy Notre Dame forward Jackson Connoyer had to refocus after receiving a technical foul following a scramble for a rebound under his own basket midway through the second quarter Friday night. His actions resulted in two free throws that gave Liberty a seven-point lead. “I said things I shouldn’t have said,” Connoyer…

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Holthaus, Bombers dial in from perimeter, shoot down Eagles to get back on track

Macomb guard Drew Watson throws a pass to teammate Ian Case during Friday night's game against Liberty in Liberty, Ill. | Samantha Carmean photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Braden Holthaus admittedly has been searching for his shot during much of the early portion of the basketball season. The Macomb junior guard may have finally found it. Holthaus sank four of his seven 3-pointers in the first quarter — most well beyond the arc — to propel the Bombers to an…

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Chargers’ Deitrich in high jump finals at Illinois boys state track, Eagles’ Gimm to throw in discus

Quincy High School's Boen Brockmiller competes in the 200-meter dash at the Class 3A boys state track and field championships Friday in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Three Quincy High School runners were unable to advance to the finals in the Class 3A boys state track and field championships during Friday’s preliminaries at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois University campus. Boen Brockmiller placed 27th in the 200-meter dash, finishing in 22.90 seconds, while Eric McClelland was 34th in…

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Barry, Neisen each win two sectional titles, lead area athletes to state track meet

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Unity’s Saylor Barry won two events and finished second in another, Liberty’s Arianna Neisen dominated the distance events and a bevy of area athletes punched their ticket to the state track and field championships during Wednesday’s Class 1A Rushville Sectional. The state championships take place May 18-20 at O’Brien Stadium on the…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Eagles’ Deege plays vital role in helping younger teammates grow

Liberty senior Landon Deege is the Eagles' defensive anchor in center field and a top left-handed hurler. | Submitted photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Landon Deege understands the reality the Liberty baseball team is facing. “We’re young, but we’re growing,” the senior said. With that comes the ups and downs of inexperience. The Eagles have won one game to date — a 1-0 victory over Illini West in which Jackson Sims struck out eight over five…

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Second-quarter shutout shows Raiders how dominant they can be defensively

Quincy Notre Dame guard Jake Hoyt, right, pressures an inbounds pass during Friday night's game against Liberty at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer could have waited another 35 seconds until the first quarter ended to address the issues he saw with how the Raiders were interacting defensively. It wouldn’t have had the same impact. So when Liberty coach Greg Altmix used a timeout with 34.8 seconds remaining in…

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Pittsfield seventh grade girls win IESA state championship, Liberty takes second

The Pittsfield seventh grade girls basketball team won the Class 3A state championship Thursday with a 44-11 victory over Paris Mayo. | Photo courtesy Pikeland schools

AUBURN, Ill. — By the end of the first quarter of the Illinois Elementary School Association seventh grade Class 3A girls basketball state championship, the intrigue was mostly gone. The Pittsfield Lady Braves saw to that. Pittsfield overwhelmed Paris Mayo 19-2 in the first quarter, went on another 12-2 run in the third quarter and…

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Schuck on a Truck: Liberty coach Jared Schmidt talks cross country ahead of state meet

Liberty cross country coach Jared Schmidt, left, joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for this week's episode of "Schuck on a Truck." | Muddy River Sports photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Liberty junior Arianna Neisen will run at Detweiler Park this weekend. Quincy High School senior Eric McClelland will, too, in what is the ultimate weekend for Illinois prep cross country runners. The state meet takes place Saturday in Peoria with three classes running 3-mile races on both the boys and girls sides.…

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Schuck on a Truck: Liberty golfer Blake Arnold discusses his season, family support and finishing his career at state tournament

LIBERTY, Ill. — A decorated high school golf career came to an end last Saturday when Liberty senior Blake Arnold finished tied for 13th at the Class 1A state tournament, and he finished it with a birdie on his final hole. In the process, Arnold became the highest individual state finisher in Liberty golf history.…

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Cross country roundup: Liberty’s Neisen runs among top contenders at Spartan Invitational

Liberty's Ariana Neisen finished third individually Saturday at the Spartan Invitational hosted by St. Joseph-Ogden. | Matt Schuckman file photo

ST. JOSEPH, Ill. — In a field of 140 cross country runners, mostly from the Champaign-Urbana area, Liberty junior Ariana Neisen proved yet again she belongs in the lead pack. Neisen finished third individually, posting a time of 17 minutes, 41.47 seconds at the Spartan Invitational hosted by St. Joseph-Ogden. Tolono Unity junior Erica Woodard…

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Jetting to a state title: QHS’s Rose wins 200-meter dash at Class 3A state championship

Quincy High School's Jettason Rose stays ahead of Thornton Fractional South's Ryan Coleman in the 200-meter dash finals during the Class 3A boys state track and field championships at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Jettason Rose fulfilled the promise of his name. The Quincy High School sprinter became the ninth individual state track and field champion in school history Saturday, jetting past the field to win the 200-meter dash at the Class 3A state championships at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium. Rose finished in 22.04 seconds,…

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Central’s Thompson leaps, Eagles’ Girardin sprints into Class 1A state track and field finals

Central's Ezra Thompson finishes his leap during the long jump preliminaries Thursday at the Class 1A state track and field championships at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. Photo courtesy Chris Johns/PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Ezra Thompson led the brigade of area athletes into the finals of the Class 1A boys state track and field championship. The Central leaper qualified for two events, finishing seventh in the long jump at 6.47 meters and eighth in the triple jump at 12.76 meters. He will compete in the finals…

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Liberty softball team runs out of magic in sectional semifinal loss to state’s No. 1-ranked team

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — For a fleeting few minutes, the Liberty softball team had everyone thinking its magical run might continue. With two outs in the top of the first inning Tuesday against the state’s No. 1-ranked team, the Eagles made a little noise. Larissa Neisen and Natalie Hildebrand collected back-to-back singles before a strikeout ended…

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Eagles fend off Panthers’ late-inning rally, earn spot in regional championship game

The Liberty softball team celebrates its 5-4 victory over Central in Wednesday night's semifinals of the Class 1A Central Regional in Camp Point, Ill. Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Jade Blair’s hair was a bit frazzled, and her eyes carried a look that her check-engine light was probably blinking. Still, the Liberty right-hander was able to gather her wits, weather a couple of late-inning storms and pitch the Eagles past Central 5-4 in the Class 1A Central Regional softball semifinals…

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Photo gallery: Pritchard captures softball action from Class 1A Central Regional

The Liberty softball players celebrate their 5-4 victory over Central in Wednesday's semifinals of the Class 1A Central Regional in Camp Point, Ill. Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Photographer Mike Pritchard found himself behind the lens of his camera for two epic softball games Wednesday in the Class 1A Central Regional with seventh-seeded Unity upsetting second-seeded Pleasant Hill 4-0 in a 13-inning marathon and fifth-seeded Liberty outlasting third-seeded Central 5-4. Here is a gallery of images Pritchard captured from…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Pursuit of bodybuilding career boosts record-setting track efforts for Liberty’s O’Neil

Liberty senior Shannon O'Neil, shown here competing in the 100-meter hurdles during the Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays in Hannibal, Mo., has set three Liberty school records this season. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

LIBERTY, Ill. — Jared Schmidt’s excitement is understandable. Despite a spring in which the weather has been “absolutely atrocious,” the Liberty girls track and field team has piled up a number of school records in individual events. Now the weather is ripe for running as the Eagles head to Friday’s Class 1A Beardstown Sectional. “So…

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Commemorative 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…

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In midst of record pursuit, Liberty’s Wolf finds future collegiate home at Indiana State

Liberty's Cannen Wolf, left, runs alongside Quincy High School's Fiker Rosen during the 1,600-meter run Wednesday in the 71st Quincy Invitational at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Cannen Wolf’s plan didn’t go exactly how either he or Liberty track coach Jared Schmidt envisioned. Luckily, there will be other chances to chase the school record in the 1,600-meter run. Should Wolf chase the record down, it would be the perfect catapult to an NCAA Division I track career. The Eagles senior…

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Boys Basketball Coach of the Year: Liberty’s Altmix helps Eagles soar to new heights

Liberty coach Greg Altmix led the Eagles to the first state championship game appearance in school history. Photo courtesy Steve Davis

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…

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Crim: Kreke’s influence on longstanding success of Liberty basketball program remains evident

The 1981 Liberty boys basketball team coached by Paul Kreke, right, established the standard and culture that exists today within the Eagles' program.

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…

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Reason to celebrate: Eagles’ state title game effort is lauded, applauded by fans creating sea of red

Liberty's Logan Robbins hold the Class 1A second-place trophy after the Eagles lost 54-41 to Yorkville Christian on Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media

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…

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State tournament notebook: Robbins’ defense is on point, Eagles share Illini locker room, Altmix finally gets hit by spotlight

Liberty senior forward Logan Robbins, right, looks to make a pass against Yorkville Christian in Saturday's Class 1A state championship game at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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…

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Guiding Eagles to state championship game became family affair for Altmix and sons

Liberty coach Greg Altmix yells instructions to his players during Saturday's Class 1A state championship game against Yorkville Christian, while his son and assistant coach, Alex, left, also calls out the play. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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.…

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Schuckman: Homegrown talent displaying hometown pride is what small-school basketball should be about

A Liberty cheerleader is engaged in a cheer during Saturday's Class 1A state championship game against Yorkville Christian at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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…

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Flyin’ high: Determined Eagles take sting out of Hornets to advance to Class 1A state title game

Liberty's Reese Knuffman acknowledges the crowd after the Eagles beat Scales Mound 75-41 Thursday in the Class 1A state semifinals at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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…

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Schuckman: Eagles stick together to make state championship journey memorable and emotional

Liberty coach Greg Altmix reacts to a play during Thursday’s Class 1A state semifinal against Scales Mound at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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…

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Fear the mullet: Klingele’s game deserves as much attention as his choice of hairstyles

Liberty's Breiton Klingele goes up for a shot during the first half of Thursday's Class 1A state semifinal against Scales Mound at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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…

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Photo gallery: Liberty vs. Southeastern in Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional

Liberty fans react during the Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional on Monday night at the Jacksonville Bowl. Liberty defeated Southeastern 49-42 to advance to the state final four in Champaign. Photo courtesy Steve Davis

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.

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Taste of Champaign: Klauser’s play speaks volumes as Liberty eclipses Southeastern for spot in Class 1A state semifinals

Liberty senior forward Logan Robbins leaps into the air and pumps his fist as time expires on the Eagles' 49-42 victory over Southeastern in Monday night’s Class 1A Jacksonville Super Sectional at the Jacksonville Bowl. Photo courtesy Steve Davis

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…

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Class 1A super-sectional notebook: Stephens’ dominant junior season heightens expectations for senior campaign

Southeastern's Danny Stephens puts up a shot during the Suns' 49-42 loss to Liberty on Monday night in the Class 1A Jacksonville Super-Sectional at the Jacksonville Bowl. Photo courtesy Steve Davis

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…

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Eagles move step closer to fulfilling boyhood dreams, will play for spot in Class 1A final four

The Liberty boys basketball players celebrate their Class 1A sectional championship after beating Jacksonville Routt 39-28 Friday night in White Hall, Ill. Photo courtesy Russ Tate

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…

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50 After 50: No. 18 Eagles reset mindset after late-season setbacks, make run to history

Front row, from left to right, manager Joe Dietrich, Blake Geren, Logan Graham, Zach Barker, Dalton Lentz, Levi Obert, Eric Doane and manager Ethan Wolf. Back row, from left to right, assistant coach Jeffrey Obert, assistant coach Dan Sparrow, Reed Wolfmeyer, Evan Graham, Daniel Mast, Cole Wellman, Tayton Roe and coach Greg Altmix. 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…

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Illinois boys basketball state rankings: Liberty stays in middle of Class 1A’s top 10, QHS still receiving votes

Liberty coach Greg Altmix, right, and the Eagles are the area's only team ranked in the Illinois boys basketball state polls. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Moline boys basketball team’s victory over Quincy High School last Friday night at Wharton Field House vaulted the Maroons into the Class 4A state rankings, while the Blue Devils remain among the others receiving votes. Liberty is still the only area team ranked, although the Eagles dropped one spot to No. 5…

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SuperFan Shootout: Talton’s field goal gives Panthers final edge in epic state-ranked showdown with Eagles

Monroe City guard Joshua Talton calls timeout before being tied up by Liberty's Breighton Klingele during the second half of Saturday night's game in the SuperFan Shootout at The Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Tied up, off target, then true. Joshua Talton smiled knowing the last one was the only one that mattered. Stymied at the end of regulation when his drive to the basket resulted in a jump ball and foiled at the end of the first overtime when his elbow jumper caromed off the rim,…

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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.…

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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…

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