Photo gallery: Blue Devils beat Vikings to win 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, left, shares a laugh along the bench with seniors Keshaun Thomas, center, and Bradley Longcor III during the final minute of Saturday night's 69-47 victory over Burbank St. Laurence at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III and the rest of the Quincy High School boys basketball players have made it abundantly clear they don’t like to lose at home. The Blue Devils ran their homecourt win streak to 18 straight games with Saturday’s 69-47 victory over Burbank St. Laurence and secured the championship of the 53rd…

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Photo gallery: Blue Devils power past Eagles and set up championship matchup at Blue Devil Gym

Quincy High School senior guard Dom Clay glides in for a laying during the second half of Friday night's 81-33 victory over Dunlap at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — After watching Burbank St. Laurence stay undefeated after two nights of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament, the Quincy High School boys basketball team needed to do the same. The Blue Devils did so emphatically, beating Dunlap 81-33 at Blue Devil Gym. That sets up a winner-take-all championship game between Quincy and St. Laurence…

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Photo gallery: QHS boys basketball team outlasts Lindblom in tourney opener

The Quincy High School boys basketball team's coaching staff left a chair open on the bench with Tom Lepper's No. 54 jersey draped over it to honor the Hall of Fame player and former assistant coach who passed away last week. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Emotion, energy and enthusiasm converged on Blue Devil Gym on Thursday night as the Quincy High School boys basketball team opened its season with a 76-58 victory over Chicago Lindblom in the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:

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Blue Devils expect to see different styles, different challenges during 53rd Thanksgiving Tournament

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas goes through some instructions with his team during practice this week in Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Starting Thursday, there’s no time to dwell on the wouldas, couldas and shouldas. That’s what Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas likes about starting the season with three games in three days, which the Blue Devils will do in the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament in Blue Devil Gym. Quincy kicks off…

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Chicago Phillips boys basketball coach is told to turn in ‘equipment, keys and fobs’

Chicago Wendell Phillips boys basketball coach Paris Martin, shown here coaching against Quincy High School during last year's QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym, apparently was fired Tuesday. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A boys basketball coach whose team’s state championship season began with a trip to Blue Devil Gym last winter may not be returning to the sideline. Chicago Wendell Phillips coach Paris Martin appears to have been fired. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Martin received an email Tuesday afternoon from Phillips principal Rashad Talley requesting…

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Tourney title showcases Blue Devils’ ability to share basketball, credit and trust

Springfield Lanphier's Shaunessey Hatchett Jr., left, and Quincy High School's Keshaun Thomas battle for possession during the first half of Saturday night's game at Blue Devil Gym in the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Playing with an edge isn’t the same as playing with an ego. The Quincy High School boys basketball players are discovering the difference. The Blue Devils’ edge is their aggressive approach defensively, which creates turnovers and opportunities to score in transition, and their belief they can score on any opponent at any time.…

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Blue Devils’ defense ensures lead is quite safe in dispatching Titans

Quincy High School's Camden Brown wins the opening tip of Friday night's game against Tinley Park in the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

QUINCY — There was no letting a big lead slip away this time. One night after nearly squandering a seemingly insurmountable 24-point cushion in the second half, the Quincy High School boys basketball team limited Tinley Park to just five field goals over the final three quarters to cruise to a 69-29 victory Friday in…

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Reality check: Blue Devils react to Wildcats’ second-half run with strong closing kick

Quincy High School point guard Ralph Wires looks to pass during the first half of Thursday night's 69=58 victory over Chicago Phillips in the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A quick glance at the scoreboard told the Quincy High School boys basketball players all they needed to know. A boat race had become a dogfight. “It woke us up to reality,” junior forward Keshaun Thomas said. The Blue Devils had nearly doubled up Chicago Phillips three minutes into the second half Thursday…

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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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Photo gallery: QHS boys basketball team wins 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament

The Quincy High School boys basketball players celebrate with the championship trophy after winning the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With a never-in-doubt 58-39 victory over Springfield Lanphier on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym, the Quincy High School boys basketball team captured the championship of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. It is the Blue Devils’ 36th tournament title. Check out this photo gallery of images from freelance photographer Mathew Kirby and Muddy…

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Photo gallery: Opening night of 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym

QUINCY — The opening night of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament had everything Quincy High School boys basketball fans want — a down-to-the-wire affair, an intriguing storyline and a victory by the Blue Devils. Quincy opened with a 65-29 victory over Dixon after Springfield Lanphier outlasted Miller Career Academy 57-54. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…

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Familiar face on Dixon sideline makes QHS Thanksgiving Tournament true holiday homecoming

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas, right, discusses a play with sophomore forward Keshaun Thomas during practice leading up to this week's 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — To the victor go the spoils. What exactly the spoils are Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas isn’t divulging. Thursday night, in the opening game of the QHS Thanksgiving Tournament, the Blue Devils will square off against Dixon at 7 p.m. at Blue Devil Gym. It also pits two close friends…

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Blue Devils show composure, Talton provides finishing touch on tourney title

The Quincy High School boys basketball team celebrates winning the championship of the 50th QHS Thanksgiving Tournament with Saturday's 73-53 victory over St. Mary's. Photo courtesy Linda Douglas

QUINCY — Based solely on the youthful aspect of the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s roster, composure isn’t an attribute most fans would associate with the Blue Devils. After this weekend, composure might be one of their strengths. With St. Mary’s of St. Louis constantly subbing players to run fresh bodies at Quincy and…

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Blue Devils show no fear while erasing fourth-quarter deficit against Phoenix

Quincy High School sophomore guard Ralph Wires, left, directs traffic while being defended by Miller Career Academy's Charles Nelson during Friday night's game at Blue Devil Gym. Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

QUINCY — The way Keshaun Thomas sees it, there’s no reason to be intimidated by any atmosphere or situation the Quincy High School boys basketball team might find itself facing.  “We just have to go out there and play,” Thomas said. “You can’t be scared of competition.” The freshman forward proved Friday night he’s scared…

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Talton’s career-best scoring effort highlights return of QHS hoops and Thanksgiving Tournament

Quincy High School sophomore guard Tyler Sprick, center, pressures Lake Forest Academy's Shaedon Simpson as the Blue Devils' Jeremiah Talton lurks during Thursday night's game in the 50th QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton left no chore undone Thanksgiving night. He even mopped the floor. With the Quincy High School boys basketball team leading Lake Forest Academy by 15 points with 4 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in regulation Thursday night, Talton slid into the middle of the lane and drew a charge on Caxys guard…

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