Posts Tagged ‘Quincy High School’
‘Finally’: Blue Devils score 10 runs in first three innings to enjoy successful road trip to Hannibal
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The quality at-bats had been there. The solid contact had been there. But the results hadn’t always been there for the Quincy High School baseball team at the plate through the first dozen games of the season, which included three losses by one run, another two-run defeat and a three-run loss in…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: QHS baseball team gets standout performance from sophomore in first career start
After surrendering a run in the first inning, sophomore Nick Brown fired six consecutive scoreless innings to help the Quincy High School baseball team roll to a 10-1 victory on Saturday afternoon over Hannibal at the Veterans Sports Complex. The sophomore right-hander, making his first career start, scattered six hits, walked two, struck out four…
Read MoreQND commands second half, ends losing streak against QHS with 2-0 girls soccer victory
QUINCY – Quincy High School swept crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame in each of the previous two seasons, the only times the Blue Devils had accomplished that in the first 34 years of the girls soccer series. The Raiders were intent on flipping the script on Friday night when the teams met for the first…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Raiders’ offense comes alive after scoring just one goal in past two games
Adde Flesch gave the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team, which had managed just one goal combined in back-to-back losses to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Hannibal (Mo.), the lead with just 3 minutes, 9 seconds elapsed during Friday night’s game against Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. Sage Stratton scored the Raiders’ second goal in…
Read MoreBaserunning calls cost QHS softball team critical outs in sixth, seventh innings of WB6 loss
QUINCY — Quincy High School softball coach Anjay Heinecke didn’t agree with the umpire’s calls, but there was nothing she or anyone could do to change them. Those calls came in a one-run game in the sixth and seventh innings of the Blue Devils’ 5-4 loss to Western Big 6 Conference foe Rock Island Alleman…
Read MoreBlue Devils fail to hang on to one-run lead with three outs to go against Galesburg
QUINCY — Patience was the name of the game for the Galesburg baseball team when it mattered most on Wednesday. The Silver Streaks trailed Quincy High School 3-2 entering the top of the seventh inning before two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. Three consecutive walks later, the Silver…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Blue Devils fall just short of overcoming five-run sixth inning by Alleman
The Rock Island Alleman Pioneers took the lead with a five-run sixth inning, then withstood two comeback attempts by Quincy High School to win 5-4 in a Western Big 6 Conference softball game on Wednesday evening. Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured some of the moments during the game.
Read MoreSchuckman: Time to bring back The Sloan and give Quincy Invitational monikers some flavor
QUINCY — The Quincy Invitational took place Saturday at Flinn Stadium, just as it did in January and last fall in the QHS gym, and last August at Westview Golf Course. Each was a different sport, each with the same name for its event. That’s a travesty that has taken too long to fix. But…
Read More‘Everybody’s just winning’: Blue Devils dominate distance events en route to track team titles
QUINCY — Freshman Peyton Kuhl cannot help but marvel at the Quincy High School track and field team’s prowess in the distance events. “Everybody’s just winning,” Kuhl said. “I’m so happy to see everyone showing off what they have.” Kuhl is a prominent member of that group of distance dominators. She won the 800- and…
Read MoreAround the Quincy Invitational track: Unity’s Barry back in title form, Chargers display depth, QHS’s Thomas sweeps throws
QUINCY — Saturday’s Quincy High School track and field invitational at Flinn Stadium featured a photo finish, dominant team performances and several personal records. The Quincy boys and girls teams took home team titles by 55.5 and 151.5 points, respectively. Macomb’s Kylan McMillen and Camp Point Central’s Curtis Rigg provided the closest race of the…
Read MoreCrim: Blue Devils’ Longcor on 12-player ballot for Mr. Basketball in Illinois
QUINCY — Quincy High School’s Bradley Longcor III is one of 12 finalists for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, along with the Chicago Tribune, released the names of the finalists March 23. Voting by coaches and media members concludes today (March 31.) The winner will be announced April 4. Voting…
Read MoreState of denial: Pirates’ Turner turns away PK attempt, stymies Blue Devils in tourney victory
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team looked poised to take the lead, but Ava Turner had other ideas. With Quincy and Hannibal deadlocked at 1 with 24:11 left in the second half of Friday’s QHS Kickoff Tournament game at Flinn Stadium, Quincy junior forward Lanee Schuette stepped to the penalty spot after…
Read MoreAces in the hole: QHS graduate O’Brien makes holes-in-one during consecutive rounds on Carroll University’s spring break trip
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Maddie O’Brien figures she better start saving her dollar bills now. Come August, her Carroll University women’s golf teammates expect her to spend them freely. That’s when the Quincy High School graduate turns 21 years old and can legally partake in one of the game’s unwritten but widely embraced rules. If you…
Read MoreRelentless attack, constant movement enables Blue Devils to open season with WB6 victory
QUINCY — Eventually, AJ Stewart was going to be out of position, out of time or out of luck. It’s what Bella Brown, Leah Knudson and the rest of the Quincy High School girls soccer players were banking on. Stewart, the Rock Island junior goalkeeper, made six saves in the first half of Tuesday night’s…
Read MoreWombles’ first inning slam propels Saukees to run-rule victory over Blue Devils
QUINCY — Talk about a grand entrance. After the Pittsfield softball team’s first three batters of Monday’s game against Quincy High School reached base, Saukees sophomore pitcher and cleanup hitter Emma Wombles jumped on the first pitch she saw from Blue Devils hurler Carlee Gilker and hit a towering grand slam to left field. “It…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Pittsfield builds momentum, QHS looks to rekindle it following softball showdown
QUINCY — The momentum the Pittsfield softball team felt it created in a season-opening loss to tradition-rich Carrollton carried the Saukees to a 14-4 victory over Quincy High School on Monday at Avenue of Lights Field. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils, who won their season opener last week against West Hancock, have a week to rekindle…
Read MoreWiewel finishes what he starts, makes defensive play to end Raiders’ one-run win over Blue Devils
QUINCY — Bradi Lahr had no doubt Abram Wiewel would make the play. “It’s Abram Wiewel,” said Lahr, a junior right-handed pitcher for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. “He’s the best ballplayer I’ve been on a team with. I had trust in him the whole time.” With the Raiders leading Quincy High School 5-4,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, QHS baseball teams open season Saturday at QU Stadium
QUINCY — Opening day for the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams showed what fans have come to expect from both programs — grit, tenacity and tight games in the city series. After both teams dropped their season openers to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, QND took the upper hand in the city rivalry…
Read MoreParkhill completes long way back, ready to help Blue Devils after recovering from shoulder injury
QUINCY — As mangled as his right shoulder was, Kade Parkhill’s determination to get back on the baseball field far outweighed the pain. “I’ve grown up in baseball,” Parkhill said. “It’s filled up all my summers growing up. It’s filled up my past five years of spring and fall with junior high. It’s the game…
Read MoreSpring storylines will unfold as QHS teams with young lineups get acclimated to change
QUINCY — Spring will be a season of change for the Quincy High School athletic program. Several teams have experienced heavy graduation losses and will look to younger athletes to fill the void, while a coaching change comes with having an experienced group to lean on. The storylines are just beginning to unfold. Softball The…
Read MoreSchuckman: Final game together is reminder Blue Devils’ senior class to remain forever linked
NORMAL, Ill. — Reality hit Bradley Longcor III all at once as he took a seat on the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s bench. With 19 seconds remaining in regulation Monday night in the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional at Illinois State University’s CEFCU Arena and the Blue Devils trailing by five points, Longcor fouled…
Read More‘I didn’t think we’d be in this situation’: Inefficient effort offensively dooms Blue Devils in super-sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — Andy Douglas didn’t remember what he said in the locker room because he didn’t know what to say when he walked in there. Tasked with offering some sense of comfort to his Quincy High School boys basketball team following its 58-50 loss Monday night to Lisle Benet Academy in the Class 4A…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS’s season ends with loss to Benet Academy in Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — A scoring droiught that lasted more than five minutes at the start of the game put the Quincy High School boys basketball team in catch-up mode for the entirety of Monday night’s 58-50 loss to Lisle Benet Academy in the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University…
Read MoreWires, Blue Devils putting best foot forward in search of trip to state final four
QUINCY — Each time Kamren Wires stood up to walk, the pain surged through his left foot and ankle, and that cast further doubt on the possibility he’d play anymore this postseason. “The doctors said I was out for three or four weeks, and I believed them,” said the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s…
Read MoreSchuckman: Douglas clings to Lepper’s words and their friendship while helping Blue Devils fight way to sectional championship victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — After what had been a restless night with little to no sleep, Andy Douglas got the phone call he was expecting. On the other end was Tom Lepper, the voice Douglas needed to hear. This was only 12 hours or so after the Quincy High School boys basketball team had lost 44-43…
Read More‘It feels amazing’: Blue Devils put past disappointment to rest, beat Ironmen for sectional championship
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — No over-the-counter remedy could help those associated with the Quincy High School boys basketball program overcome the gnawing disappointment which had lingered for the equivalent of a calendar year. This wasn’t heartburn. This was heartache. “We know what it feels like to be one inch away,” said senior point guard Kamren Wires,…
Read MoreFletcher Gym’s friendly confines bring out best in Blue Devils in sectional semifinal victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Milton Whitfield had yet to experience playing in historic Vergil Fletcher Gym prior to Tuesday night. “All I wanted was a chance on this floor,” the Quincy High School junior guard said. For good reason. “It’s very beautiful, very big, very spacious,” Whitfield said. “The kind of floor you want to run…
Read MoreRematch with Ironmen in sectional championship brings about plenty of emotion for Blue Devils
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — As they filed out of Vergil Fletcher Gym on Tuesday night, the Quincy High School boys basketball players weren’t aware of who their opponent would be in Friday’s Class 4A Collinsville Sectional title game. “Either one, I’m excited to play,” senior guard Bradley Longcor III said. He knew there would be motivation…
Read More‘Now it’s on to the next’: Regional championship is start of what Blue Devils hope is fruitful postseason
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The sea of blue that flooded the Belleville West High School gym made Dom Clay feel like he was at Blue Devil Gym. “It felt like home, for sure,” Clay said. As the Quincy High School boys basketball team kept extending their blistering scoring run to start Friday’s Class 4A Belleville West…
Read MoreFamily of winners: Blue Devils’ fourth straight regional title is result of brotherhood
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — When the Quincy High School boys basketball team breaks their huddle with shouts of ‘Family,’ that is no coincidence. “It’s a testament to what they’ve built over the years,” Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas said. “They truly care about each other on the floor, and they care about each other more off…
Read MoreDunk and destroy: Clay’s breakaway slam ignites massive surge as Blue Devils win regional semi
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Rico Clay Jr.’s instincts when it comes to making a play on the ball brought more than a handful of college football recruiters to visit the talented cornerback last summer and fall. Those same instincts helped ensure the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s season didn’t end prematurely. With the top-seeded Blue…
Read MoreRedbirds’ first-quarter salvo too much for Blue Devils to overcome in regional title game loss
GRANITE CITY, Ill. — With 4:43 remaining in regulation Friday night, Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance called his final timeout of the season. “I just challenged the girls,” Dance said. The Blue Devils trailed top-seeded Alton by 27 points in the Class 4A Granite City Regional championship, having played from behind since…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils drop to No. 3, Titans climb to No. 10 in final poll
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Associated Press Illinois boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (11) 27-1 118 1 2. Marist 28-2 92 5 3. Quincy (1) 27-3 86 2 4. Waubonsie Valley…
Read MoreRocks deny Blue Devils’ bid to finish conference play undefeated in regular-season finale
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — For a moment, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas thought maybe his team’s lackluster demeanor was just an aberration. The state-ranked Blue Devils lethargically took the floor for warmups prior to Tuesday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game against Rock Island at the Rocky Fieldhouse with a chance to…
Read MoreQHS girls earn shot at Alton in regional title game after dispatching traditional nemesis Edwardsville
GRANITE CITY, Ill. — The growth in confidence and maturity of the Quincy High School girls basketball players can be seen by looking at two measuring sticks. On Nov. 23, the Blue Devils lost 42-29 to Edwardsville in a neutral site game in O’Fallon, Ill. Monday night, in the Class 4A Granite City Regional semifinals,…
Read MoreBlue Devils put away pesky Crimsons to secure victory in final game at Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — Dom Clay got all the tears out of his system on Friday night, but that did not make Saturday any less emotional or memorable. For Clay and the seven other seniors on the Quincy High School boys basketball team, Saturday’s clash with Jacksonville marked their final game at Blue Devil Gym. “It hit…
Read MorePower in the post: Thomas dominates inside as Blue Devils win WB6 championship outright
QUINCY — Each time Keshaun Thomas gained position on a Moline defender in the post Friday night, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas could hear former assistant coach Tom Lepper barking at the guards to make the entry pass. In fact, Douglas could envision the lumbering 6-foot-9 Lepper getting off the bench and…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils move step closer to undefeated conference championship
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team needs a victory Tuesday night at Rock Island to finish undefeated in the Western Big 6 Conferenece following a 69-52 victory over Moline on Friday night at Blue Devil Gym,. The Blue Devils are 26-2 overall and 11-0 in the WB6. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MoreQuincy girls roll past Moline, close in on third straight 20-victory season
QUINCY — Bring on the postseason. Quincy High School’s girls basketball team put the cap on another successful regular season Thursday night when it overwhelmed Moline 73-51 in a Western Big 6 Conference game before a crowd of about 290. Quincy, now 19-10 and one victory away from a third straight 20-win season, put four…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils move back to No. 2 in Class 4A
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (10) 25-1 109 1 2. Quincy (1) 25-2 95 3 3. Homewood-Flossmoor 25-2 89 2 4. Hinsdale Central 27-2…
Read MoreBlue Devils take care of business against Pioneers, set up showdowns with Maroons, Rocks to finish WB6 play
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — For a moment Tuesday night, however brief it was, the Rock Island Alleman boys basketball team led state-ranked Quincy High School. Then the Blue Devils took possession of the ball, the lead and the game. Alleman sophomore guard Jack Wendt scored on a drive down the left side of the lane…
Read MoreBrown reaches 1,000-point plateau as Blue Devils lead Pirates from start to finish
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Quincy High School girls basketball team bookended its opening salvo with 3-pointers from Madelyn Hamby and Myley Longcor. After that, Jada Brown took over. The Blue Devils rattled off a 12-2 run to start Tuesday night’s game against Hannibal at Korf Gym as Hamby scored the first seven points and Longcor’s…
Read MoreFriday night’s sluggish start becomes distant memory as Blue Devils race to 35-9 lead in rout
QUINCY — It wasn’t going to be a repeat performance. One night after being held to a lone field goal in the first quarter and to just 13 points in the opening half against United Township, the Quincy High School boys basketball team made sure there would be no need for any second-half heroics. Beginning…
Read MoreFive individual regional champions lead wrestling brigade into next week’s sectionals
QUINCY — The Quincy High School wrestling team qualified six grapplers for sectionals, while Quincy Notre Dame will be sending five wrestlers forward after top-three finishes Saturday as the postseason got started with regional action. Overall, five area wrestlers won individual regional titles and 24 advanced to sectionals. The Blue Devils, competing in the Class…
Read MoreBlue Devils battle back from first-half effort deemed ‘worst of all time’ to fend off Panthers
QUINCY — It is not an exaggeration to say the Quincy High School boys basketball team played its worst 16 minutes of the season Friday night. It’s not hyperbole either to suggest it was the worst half of the Blue Devils’ careers. They freely admitted it was a struggle beyond measure. “Worst of all time,”…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS avoids WB6 upset by going on 30-3 run to erase forgettable first half
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team scored just three points in the first quarter Friday night against United Township and trailed 22-5 with three minutes to go in the first half, but the Blue Devils went on a 30-3 run to take control and post a 53-43 Western Big 6 Conference victory…
Read MoreHall of Fame QHS basketball player Gary Phillips passes away at age of 85
QUINCY — Gary Phillips didn’t return to his roots often, but when he did, the Quincy High School Hall of Fame basketball player was treated with legendary status. Even if he shied away from it. A star for the Blue Devils in the 1950s who became an All-American at the University of Houston and played…
Read More‘The heart they showed tonight was truly special’: Blue Devils rally from double digit deficit, earn Dance’s 100th win as QHS coach
QUINCY — Brad Dance may not have seemed overly excited when the final buzzer sounded or when he got recognized following his 100th career win as the Quincy High School girls basketball coach on Thursday, but the fashion in which the Blue Devils helped Dance reach the century mark made him proud. The Blue Devils…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls beat Alleman in WB6 action, giving Dance milestone moment as coach
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team rallied to beat Rock Island Alleman 66-53 in Western Big 6 Conference play Thursday night at the QHS gym, giving coach Brad Dance his 100th victory with the Blue Devils. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was there and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils slip to No. 3, Titans on edge of Class 2A top 10
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (11) 23-1 119 1 2. Homewood-Flossmoor 23-2 106 3 3. Quincy (1) 22-2 103 2 4. Bolingbrook (1)…
Read MoreRedemption road: Raiders travel across town to avenge loss to Blue Devils, take control from start
QUINCY — The need for redemption lasted 370 days. The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players refused to let it linger a day longer. Desperate to makes amends for last year’s 23-point loss to Quincy High School at The Pit in which they scored just 24 points, the state-ranked Raiders rattled off 10 of the…
Read MoreDurst heeds coach’s advice and lets it fly, scoring career-high 27 points in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — Jenna Durst didn’t feel the vibes. “I didn’t really think the first two I shot were very good,” the Quincy Notre Dame junior forward said of her 3-point attempts from the left wing and the top of the key in the first 35 seconds of Tuesday night’s game against the Quincy High School…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND takes lead for good in second quarter of victory over QHS
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team scored the first eight points of the second quarter Tuesday and never trailed again, building a 15-point second-half lead and fending off Quincy High School’s fourth-quarter charge for a 66-55 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together…
Read MoreSchuckman: Milestone moments continue to pile up for QHS senior class
QUINCY — Crunching some numbers as the Quincy High School boys basketball players continue to reach milestones … • When Bradley Longcor III passed Jeff Klingler for third place on the program’s all-time scoring list, someone noticed and asked about Jack Kramer’s point total at No. 2. There was a discrepancy between Kramer’s Hall of…
Read MoreEfficient effort offensively, toughness defensively carry Blue Devils to Shootout victory over Red Devils
NORMAL, Ill. — The efficiency with which the Quincy High School boys basketball team runs its offense typically means a shot is going up after one, two or at most three passes. “Normally, We don’t normally get a reversal,” Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas said. The patience with which the Blue Devils played Saturday night…
Read MoreSterling’s putback as time expires costs QHS girls basketball team chance to pull another upset
STERLING, Ill. — Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance and the Blue Devils would have liked four extra minutes to attempt to topple state-ranked Sterling. A fraction of a second negated that opportunity. Off an inbounds play under the basket with 4.3 seconds remaining in regulation of a tied Western Big 6 Conference…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team never relinquishes lead in second half against Chaminade
NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team led by as many as eight points in the second half of Saturday’s game at the Midwest Crossroads Shootout and never gave up the lead despite St. Louis Chaminade whittling the deficit to as little as two points. The Blue Devils held on for a…
Read MoreQHS wrestlers take second in WB6 with three grapplers winning individual titles
STERLING, Ill. — The Quincy High School wrestling team had three individual champions and finished second in the team standings in the Western Big 6 Conference Tournament on Friday night at Homer B. Musgrove Fieldhouse. Geneseo won the conference title with 240 team points, followed by Quincy with 190 and Moline with 108.5. Quincy freshman…
Read MoreDouglas reminds Blue Devils to stay grounded after blowing out another WB6 opponent
QUINCY — Every contender wants a shot at the title. So as both the reigning Western Big 6 Conference champion and the No. 2-ranked team in the state in Class 4A, the Quincy High School boys basketball squad has to be prepared to make sure a prize fight doesn’t turn into a back-alley brawl. “Everybody…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils stay undefeated in WB6 play with victory over Golden Warriors
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team improved to 10-0 in the Western Big 6 Conference with Friday night’s 84-45 victory over Sterling at Blue Devil Gym, giving the Blue Devils a two-game lead in the league standings. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePlan to replace lights at QHS baseball, softball fields began with independent inspection
QUINCY — A visual inspection of facilities and a phone call from a concerned neighbor put the process in motion that resulted in the lights coming down at both the Quincy High School baseball and softball fields. Neither facility will have lights for the spring season, news that became public last week as the light…
Read MoreLongcor’s trey gives Blue Devils confidence boost as they win first leg of three-game gauntlet
GALESBURG, Ill. — Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance dubbed it the “3A gauntlet.” Three games in six days against teams ranked in the top 11 in the state in Class 3A. “Yeah, that’s a challenge,” Dance said. The Blue Devils proved they’re up to the task. Myley Longcor buried a 3-pointer with…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS senior Titus Petty discusses being the Blue Devil mascot
QUINCY — Titus Petty takes center stage — or in this case, center court — on Friday nights. The Quincy High School senior, who played defensive back on the record-setting football team, was selected to be this year’s Blue Devil mascot for the boys basketball team. That means he gets to wear the tights and…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils fall to No. 2 in Class 4A following Shootout loss
CHICAGO — Here are this week’s Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (11) 22-1 135 2 2. Quincy (2) 20-2 118 1 3. Homewood-Flossmoor (1) 22-2 108 7 4. Bolingbrook 22-3…
Read MoreBlue Devils follow through on promise to practice better in order to play better, hammer Silver Streaks
GALESBURG, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball players’ action spoke just as loud as their words following Saturday’s loss — just the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils’ second loss of the season and first at home in nearly two years. They said a more focused attitude at practice would lead to better on-court results.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Underwood’s appearance, Wentura’s birthday, Stratman’s effort make Quincy Shootout memorable
QUINCY — The Quincy High School administration obliged. So did Brad Underwood. That turned the Quincy Shootout into a memorable moment for a vast number of fans. At some point early Saturday afternoon, Quincy boys basketball coach Andy Douglas learned Underwood, the head coach of the University of Illinois men’s basketball program, and Illini assistant…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy Shootout provides memorable moments, high-level competition
QUINCY — The seventh Quincy Shootout is in the books. What will we remember from it? Brad Underwood’s appearance, Oak Park’s impressive play, Chris Cenac’s name, Blue Devil Gym packed to the rafters and so much more. A basketball junkie’s dream weekend was undoubtedly successful yet again. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent Saturday…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout schedule and scores
QUINCY — The seventh Quincy Shootout is taking place this weekend at Blue Devil Gym and The Pit. All games are being streamed on the Central Illinois Sports channel on YouTube. Here is the schedule: Friday’s games At Blue Devil Gym Sunrise Christian 76, Father Tolton 40 MVP — Sunrise Christian guard Jacob Walker, who…
Read MoreChance to make Shootout statement slips away from top-ranked Blue Devils in loss to Knights
QUINCY — This one stings, not because of the outcome but more so because of the preparation. When you’re the No. 1-ranked boys basketball team in the Illinois Class 4A state poll and you’re asked to defend your home court in a spotlight matchup in a ballyhooed event, you can’t coast through the week. It’s…
Read MoreShooting woes in fourth quarter, scoring drought cost QHS girls chance to win in return to Shootout
QUINCY — About the only thing any of the Quincy High School girls basketball players would change about their return to the Quincy Shootout field is the ending. The Blue Devils would like a redo on the fourth quarter, too. The Blue Devils led Millard North, of Omaha, Neb., by 11 points at the start…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys suffer setback in marquee game of Quincy Shootout
QUINCY — The top-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team suffered its second loss of the season, falling 53-46 to Bishop O’Connell of Arlington, Va., in the marquee game of the seventh Quincy Shootout on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls basketball team battles Millard North to final buzzer
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team saw its second-half lead evaporate, but the Blue Devils fought until the final seconds ticked away in a 56-52 loss to Millard North of Omaha, Neb., on Saturday during the seventh Quincy Shootout in Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and…
Read More‘We have to come with energy’: Blue Devils prep for showdown with Knights by dispatching Maple Leafs
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team wasn’t going to disrespect the opponent, the event or the sport with a nonchalant effort. There’s too much riding on this weekend to be anything less than focused. So despite knowing what the outcome of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup with Geneseo could have…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils’ camaraderie and love for each other brings proper perspective to milestone moments
QUINCY — Andy Douglas called timeout as soon as the ball tickled the twine. He wasn’t letting this moment pass by. With less than four minutes remaining in the first quarter of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup with Geneseo, Quincy High School senior guard Bradley Longcor III buried a 3-pointer from the left…
Read MoreQuincy High School softball coach suspended without pay after social media post
QUINCY — Quincy High School softball coach Darrell Henze was suspended Friday without pay pending a termination to be decided by the Quincy School Board at its February meeting for violating the school’s code of conduct for coaches. Henze said he was informed of the decision by Lisa Otten, the director of personnel for the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy Shootout kicks off with spirited play at Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — The first night of the seventh Quincy Shootout produced what basketball fans have come to expect from the marquee event of the winter — high-level teams competing with energy and enthusiasm, college-level talent playing above the rim and games decided in the waning seconds. More of the same is expected Saturday, when nine…
Read MoreFrom A to Z: Deep dive reveals incredible talent coming to Quincy Shootout once again
QUINCY — The Quincy Shootout returns Friday with four games being played at both Blue Devil Gym and The Pit on Friday night and nine games taking place Saturday at Blue Devil Gym. Here’s an A-to-Z look at what to expect and what to be on the lookout for this weekend: A is for attendance,…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils stay No. 1 ahead of Quincy Shootout showdown
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as compiled by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from across the state. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Quincy (8) 18-1 142 1 2. Kenwood (2) 20-1 126 2 3. Bolingbrook (3) 20-2 122…
Read MoreThree individual champions carry Blue Devils to team title of their own wrestling invitational
QUINCY — Evan Wakefield did not let an early three-point deficit deter him. Cale Mixer did not let the fact he had been pinned by the same opponent the day before deter him. And Clayton McClelland did not let more than two minutes of overtime or the gauze falling out of his bloody nose several…
Read MoreLongcor outscores Lincoln by himself as No. 1 Quincy caps perfect week with lopsided victory
QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III doesn’t glance at the scoreboard often during a game other than to check the time remaining and occasionally see what the score might be. “Just the time really,” he said. “To be honest, that’s it.” And he ignores the individual numbers shared on the big scoreboard on the south wall…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS completes three-game sweep of tradition-rich programs by beating Lincoln
QUINCY — First, down went Moline. Then Rock Island. And lastly Lincoln. The No. 1-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team swept three tradition-rich foes this week, completing the trifecta Saturday night with a 51-21 victory over Lincoln at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo…
Read MoreClamping down defensively allows top-ranked Blue Devils to crumble Rocks in WB6 showdown
QUINCY — The challengers continue to line up to take a crack at knocking the Quincy High School boys basketball team from its best-team-in-the-state perch. They keep failing for one very significant reason. The Blue Devils adjust, anchor down and get aggressive defensively. “I like our odds against anybody as long as we do what…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Derhake, Panthers’ Lawson reach milestones on first night of Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — Two senior wrestlers entered Friday’s Quincy Invitational at 99 career wins and it did not take long for either of them to reach the century mark. Quincy High School’s Gunnar Derhake and Palmyra’s Luke Lawson each won their first-round matches to reach the 100-win plateau. At 165 pounds, Derhake defeated Pekin’s Trace Holmes…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Top-ranked Blue Devils win WB6 showdown with ninth-ranked Rocks
QUINCY — A second-quarter surge carried the top-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team to a 56-44 victory over ninth-ranked Rock Island in Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference showdown at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePhoto gallery: First night of Quincy Invitational features milestones, nail-biting matchups
QUINCY — The Quincy Invitational brought a gym full of wrestlers to the Gem City and produced some epic matches on Friday’s first night of competition. The championship matches will take place Saturday afternoon at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent his evening matside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils remain No. 1 in Class 4A
CHICAGO — Here are this week’s Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Quincy (4) 16-1 80 1 2. Kenwood (2) 17-1 75 T2 3. Rich Township (2) 12-4 74 T2 4.…
Read MoreBlue Devils put end to Wharton jinx, take down Maroons on road for first time since 2017
MOLINE, Ill. — Dom Clay didn’t try to hide what this one meant. As the final seconds ticked away on Tuesday night’s 71-56 Western Big 6 Conference victory over the Moline boys basketball team at Wharton Field House, the Quincy High School senior guard stood near midcourt pumping his right arm in celebration. “It was…
Read MoreBlue Devils look to recharge themselves following overtime loss in Sophie Cunningham Classic
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…
Read MoreThomas, top-ranked Blue Devils refuse to coast, keep energy high throughout victory over Senators
QUINCY — Keshaun Thomas despises the idea of coasting into halftime. “Everybody has to go out there and hustle their hardest, no matter how much we’re up,” said Thomas, the 6-foot-6 senior forward with a relentless motor who has helped the Quincy High School boys basketball rise to No. 1 in the Class 4A state…
Read MoreBlue Devils overcome sluggish start as Longcor, Byquist spark rally to beat Panthers in overtime
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The moment nearly swept the Quincy High School girls basketball team away. Playing in the Sophie Cunningham Classic at Columbia College’s Southwell Complex on Saturday, the Blue Devils had the opportunity to meet Cunningham, the former Mizzou standout and current Phoenix Mercury guard, and experience what it is like to play in…
Read MorePhoto gallery: No. 1-ranked Blue Devils complete weekend sweep by beating Senators
QUINCY — The No. 1-ranked team in the state isn’t showing any signs of taking it easy on anyone. The Quincy High School boys basketball team — No. 1 in Class 4A — built a 22-point lead by halftime Saturday night and cruised to an 80-56 victory over Springfield at Blue Devil Gym. Quincy improved…
Read More‘We were locked in’: Blue Devils respond to loss with gusto, dispatch Pioneers in WB6 play
QUINCY — In the locker room after the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s 59-56 loss to Vashon on Jan. 4 — the Blue Devils’ first setback of the season — the attention turned to how to move forward. Four seniors — Dom Clay, Bradley Longcor III, Kamren Wires, and Keshaun Thomas — stood up…
Read MorePhoto gallery: No. 1-ranked QHS overwhelms Alleman with array of offensive weapons
QUINCY — The top-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team scored the first 10 points Friday night and never let up in a 90-34 victory over Rock Island Alleman in Western Big 6 Conference play at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreSchuckman: No. 1 ranking is sign of respect, but doesn’t change Blue Devils’ approach to improving
QUINCY — Andy Douglas’ one-word response to learning the Quincy High School boys basketball team is the No. 1-ranked squad in the Associated Press state poll for the first time in more than four decades told a small part of the story. His reaction to what it means moving forward illustrated the bigger part. The…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils open 2025 as No. 1 team in Class 4A
CHICAGO — Here are the Associated Press boys basketball state rankings as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Quincy (6) (13-1) 90 T2 2. Kenwood (3) (14-1) 80 1 (tie) Rich Township (1) (9-4) 80 NR 4. Bolingbrook (15-2) 74…
Read MoreScouting the State: No. 1 boys basketball team in Illinois remains open to debate
QUINCY — Who is the No. 1 boys basketball team in the state of Illinois? A handful of candidates have tried to state their case. The Associated Press will release its first state polls of 2025 on Wednesday with Quincy High School potentially being the top-ranked team in Class 4A. There have already been two…
Read More‘They made more plays’: Blue Devils suffer first loss to top-ranked Wolverines at Highland Shootout
HIGHLAND, Ill. — There was optimism amid disappointment Saturday night, which is a sign the Quincy High School boys basketball team will be better because of this. For starters, the Blue Devils were adamant a single loss will not derail them. “We are still hungry and not satisfied where we are right now,” senior guard…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils push top-ranked Wolverines to final possession before losing
HIGHLAND, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team led four-time defending Missouri Class 4 state champion St. Louis Vashon with five minutes to play in Saturday’s marquee game of the Highland Shootout, but the Wolverines used a closing kick to secure a 59-56 victory. Freelance photographer Tim Vizer was courtside and put together…
Read MoreStart to finish, Blue Devils maintain command in first victory of new year
QUINCY — Mark this victory down as comfortably easy. The Quincy High School girls basketball team’s 63-42 victory over Springfield Southeast did not quite qualify as a blowout, but neither was it a nailbiter. “It felt a lot closer than a 21-point game, but at several points it seemed like we were going to blow…
Read MoreBlue Devils complete their mission to finally win title at Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Mission accomplished. After losing back-to-back years in the championship game of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic, the Quincy High School boys basketball players set a goal — actually they made it their mission — to win the title this season as a springboard into 2025. In fact, almost two months ago…
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