Future JWCC teammates ready to represent on college home floor in Muddy River Showcase

Winchester West Central's Zack Evans, left, and Camp Point Central's Nick Moore, right, will be teammates next season with the John Wood Community College men's basketball program. | Matt Schuckman photos

QUINCY — Neither Nick Moore nor Zack Evans is showing outward concern over the uncertainty surrounding John Wood Community College’s search for a men’s basketball coach, which has moved past the eight-week mark. And neither has wavered on their decision to sign with the Trail Blazers. The opportunity to play together is just too enticing.…

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Central’s Moore, CSE’s Lantz to play in Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-star games

Camp Point Central's Nick Moore, left, and Central-Southeastern's Brilyn Lantz will play in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-star games June 8 in Pontiac, Ill. | Muddy River Sports file photos

QUINCY — A pair of area standouts and a state champion who has signed with John Wood Community College highlight the rosters for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-star games, being held June 8 in Pontiac. Camp Point Central all-state guard Nick Moore will represent the south squad in the boys Class 1A-2A game, while…

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Central’s Moore receives second-team all-state honors, five area players earn special mention

Camp Point Central senior guard Nick Moore averaged 15.5 points per game and was named a second-team all-stater by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Nick Moore’s high school career can be summed up best by Al Davis’ catchphrase. Just win baby. The Camp Point Central senior, who was named a Class 1A second-team all-stater by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association this week, will graduate with a three-year winning percentage of .787 as the Panthers’ starting shooting guard…

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Moore’s late free throws help Central claw way into Class 1A sectional championship game

Camp Point Central senior guard Nick Moore scored 19 points in Tuesday night's victory over Peoria Heights in the Class 1A Abingdon-Avon Sectional semifinals. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

ABINGDON, Ill. — Camp Point Central boys basketball James Barnett had complete faith Nick Moore was going to drain the game-clinching free throws no matter what had happened a minute earlier. “It might seem weird, but I felt more confident he was going to make those two because he had missed the previous two,” Barnett…

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Central uses right reaction to challenge to fuel charge that ends with regional championship

The Camp Point Central boys basketball team poses with its Class 1A regional championship plaque after defeating Delavan 46-32 in Friday night's title game at Augusta, Ill. | Ben Marth photo

AUGUSTA, Ill. — With missed shots piling up and the loss of a halftime lead, the Camp Point Central boys basketball team needed to hit the reset button. Midway through the third quarter, Central coach James Barnett called a timeout and didn’t use the friendliest voice his team has heard this season in delivering his…

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Moore-to-Blewett basket late in game propels Central boys past West Hancock

Central's Gavin Blewett pulls up for a shot over two West Hancock defenders during Friday night's boys basketball game in Warsaw. | Photo courtesy of Keith Yex

WARSAW, Ill. — Camp Point Central guard Nick Moore launched a seeing-eye pass from the top left corner of the key, aimed directly at Gavin Blewett, who was wide open about five feet to the right of the basket. Blewett reeled in the laser-like toss, took one step toward the hoop and calmly banked in…

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Quick transition: Central jumps into basketball season with victory over Brown County

Camp Point Central boys basketball coach James Barnett and the Panthers opened their season Monday with a 22-point victory over Brown County in Camp Point, Ill. | Muddy River Sports file photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Camp Point Central’s boys basketball team is far from a finished product, despite what Monday night’s 48-26 season-opening victory over Brown Country might suggest. In fact, the Panthers are not even close to what James Barnett envisions he will see later this season. “It’s going to take a while, probably until…

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Beyond the Boxscore: Defensive stand, Moore’s punts, Thompson’s catches play pivotal roles in Central’s state championship

Camp Point Central fullback Elijah Genenbacher dives for the end zone to finish an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter Friday in the Class 1A state championship game against Lena-Winslow at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

NORMAL, Ill. — At times, they seem like just another play. Other times, they define a championship. Friday at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, the Camp Point Central football team made a number of plays that would be easy to overlook on a stat sheet but proved to be pivotal moments in the 14-0 victory…

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Stroke of genius: Moore’s relationship with Central’s offensive mastermind creates efficient attack

Camp Point Central offensive coordinator Casey Rhea, left, and quarterback Nick Moore discuss a play during last Saturday's Class 1A state quarterfinal game against Belleville Althoff in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — By now, Nick Moore shouldn’t be amazed or surprised. Yet, he always is. Together over the past three seasons, Camp Point Central offensive coordinator Casey Rhea and Moore, his starting quarterback, have poured over hours of game film to gain a better grasp of what opposing defenses intend to do and…

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Panthers’ first-quarter blitz knocks Crusaders out, sends Central to Class 1A state semifinals

Camp Point Central's Drew Paben, left, and Conner Griffin celebrate Paben's touchdown reception that extended the Panthers' first-quarter lead to 30-0 against Belleville Althoff in Saturday's Class 1A state quarterfinal matchup in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Many of those attending Saturday’s playoff game at Camp Point Central High School likely passed a particular sign on the west side of Illinois 94. The placard reads: “Small Town. Big dreams.” Oh so true on both accounts. On paper, the Central football team faced a daunting task in its Class…

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Suns’ Stephens receives O’Flaherty Award, first-team all-state honors for second time

Southeastern forward Danny Stephens was named the Red O'Flaherty Player of the year Award winner and a Class 1A first-team all-stater by the Associated Press. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — An injury kept Danny Stephens from playing in the postseason. It isn’t keeping him from racking up postseason honors. The 6-foot-7 senior forward from Southeastern was named as the repeat recipient of the Red O’Flaherty Player of the Year Award as well as a Class 1A first-team all-stater by the Associated Press for…

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Sound the alarms: Sizzling effort from 3-point range, stingy defense carry Panthers into sectional championship game

The Central boys basketball team's bench and crowd react to a play during Wednesday night's victory over Peoria Christian in the Class 1A Bushnell-Prairie City Sectional in Bushnell, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

BUSHNELL, Ill. — Not much could delay the inevitable, but the fire alarms blaring in the Bushnell-Prairie City High School gymnasium created a significant sense of confusion in the waning minutes of Wednesday’s Class 1A sectional semifinal boys basketball game between Camp Point Central and Peoria Christian. “It just came out of nowhere,” Central junior…

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Air attack helps Panthers soar to first-round victory, get rematch with Raiders

Central senior Garret Williams hauls in a pass that he turns into a 73-yard touchdown for the first score in Saturday's Class 1A playoff victory over Villa Grove. Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Nick Moore and Garret Williams both carried the same why-fix-it-if-it-ain’t-broken look on their faces. Moore, the talented sophomore quarterback for the Central Panthers, had teamed up with Williams, a senior wingback, for three first-half touchdown passes during Saturday’s 48-14 dismantling of Villa Grove in a Class 1A first-round playoff game. “(Williams)…

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