Posts Tagged ‘Quincy High School’
‘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…
Read MoreHoliday notebook: Blue Devils head into new year undefeated for first time since 1991-92 season
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The fifth Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic championship the Quincy High School boys basketball team won has some striking similarities to one of the previous four. In 1991, the Blue Devils waltzed to the title, beating four opponents by an average of 15.5 points and hammering Jacksonville 55-40 in the championship game.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils win fifth title in 40-year history of Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team won its first Christmas holiday tournament championship since 1997, beating The Woodlands Christian Academy (Texas) 68-47 on Sunday night in the title game of the 40th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Photographer Tim Vizer put together this photo gallery from the…
Read More‘We stay locked in’: Blue Devils handle foul trouble with right approach as Wires, Thomas lead way to semifinal victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — When a timeout was called midway through the third quarter Saturday night, Kamren Wires gathered his Quincy High School boys basketball teammates and delivered an important message. Let it go, he told them. “He brought all the guys in and was like, ‘Hey, quit complaining about fouls. Quit whining to the officials.…
Read MorePinpoint passing leads to sharp shooting as QHS girls wrap up Classic with impressive victory
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The first three quarters of Saturday afternoon’s game at the Shirk Center in the State Farm Holiday Classic showed just how good the Quincy High School girls basketball team can be. One moment halfway through the fourth quarter showed how fragile that success is. The Blue Devils posted a 61-42 victory over…
Read MorePhoto gallery: State-ranked QHS wins pair of games to reach title tilt at Collinsville
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team, ranked second in Class 4A, will play in the championship game of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic for a third straight year when the Blue Devils face The Woodlands Christian (Texas) at 8 p.m. Sunday at Vergil Fletcher Gym. The Blue Devils reached the…
Read MoreWorkmanlike effort gets Blue Devils through first round without worry at Collinsville
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — By now, the Quincy High School boys basketball players have discovered how much of a challenge it is to make reality match increasingly high expectations. The Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic has taught them that. This is the fourth consecutive season the Blue Devils have reached Christmas either undefeated or with just…
Read MoreWolfpack’s perimeter shooting holds Blue Devils at bay in quarterfinal loss in Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — No matter what the Quincy High School girls basketball team did, Chicago St. Ignatius always had an answer. Typically, it was in the form of a 3-pointer. Sally Kennedy’s 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer Friday night gave the Wolfpack a four-point halftime edge, while Reganne Reardon bookended a tide-turning 10-2 run in…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team opens with 22-point victory at Collinsville tourney
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The pursuit of its first holiday tournament championship in nearly 30 years is well underway after the Quincy High School boys basketball team dispatched McCluer (Mo.) North 68-46 on Friday afternoon in the 40th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Freelance photographer Tim Vizer set up courtside and put…
Read MoreBlue Devils clamp down defensively in third quarter to separate themselves from Tigers
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — If the State Farm Holiday Classic organizing committee had chosen to incorporate the shot clock for this year’s tournament, the Quincy High School girls basketball team’s nine-point halftime lead Thursday night could have been substantially more. “I bet we force another four or five turnovers,” QHS coach Brad Dance said. “Our defense…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ mission is simple: Win elusive Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic title
QUINCY — Following an emotionally charged weekend that saw the Quincy High School boys basketball team win a pair of games to improve to 9-0, the Blue Devils were given Sunday off to rest and recharge. Not that any of them planned to take advantage of it. “I know guys are already talking about being…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS quarterback Bradyn Little discusses record-setting season earning him Player of the Year
QUINCY — Bradyn Little’s name is littered all over the record books. The Quincy High School senior quarterback established new single-season records in every passing category this fall, throwing for 4,130 yards with 263 completions and 47 touchdowns. Each one of those marks ranks among the top 10 single-season performances in Illinois High School Association…
Read MoreSchuckman: Thomas takes place among QHS legends by rising to top of rebounding charts
QUINCY — Keshaun Thomas discovered remaining stoic was no easy chore. Prior to the tip of Saturday night’s game against Quincy Notre Dame at Blue Devil Gym, the Quincy High School boys basketball coaching staff decided to honor the 6-foot-6 senior forward for becoming the school’s all-time leading rebounder, a mark established 44 seasons ago…
Read More‘You can’t stop it’: QHS goes on second quarter tear to turn crosstown showdown into rout
QUINCY — Anyone who caught sight of Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas on the sideline after the Blue Devils forced a turnover on Quincy Notre Dame’s third possession of Saturday night’s game might have been a little perplexed. Douglas stomped his left foot, slammed his right fist into his left hand and…
Read More‘They’re just really good’: Raiders learn firsthand why Blue Devils are among state’s top-ranked teams
QUINCY — There wasn’t much Quincy Notre Dame’s Beau Etink could say about the Raiders’ crosstown counterparts other than the painstakingly obvious. “It’s quite simple. They’re just really good,” Eftink said. The few words Eftink used to describe the state-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team couldn’t have been more accurate. After a relatively back-and-forth…
Read MoreBlue Devils secure 200th victory of Dance’s coaching career by dominating Pirates
QUINCY — Brad Dance is a proven success as a girls basketball coach. As a math wiz, however, Dance may need to sharpen his skills. Moments after his Quincy High School team had dominated Boonville 55-29 on Saturday during the final day of the week-long 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND boys basketball teams square off in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball, ranked second in Class 4A, showed its well deserving of a high ranking as it steamrolled Quincy Notre Dame in the second quarter Saturday night at cruised to a 70-40 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this…
Read MoreSecond-half turnaround carries second-ranked Blue Devils to WB6 road victory
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Andy Douglas laughingly joked the Quincy High School boys basketball program may be financially responsible for any locker room damages that occurred Friday night, insinuating there had been an uproar at halftime. Neither the Blue Devils’ head coach nor any of his staff took out any shower heads or locker doors,…
Read MoreBlue Devils find nice rhythm offensively, answer every one of Bearcats’ challenges
QUINCY — Brad Dance is finding himself in the holiday spirit, and he wants the stockings of all of the Quincy High School girls basketball players to be filled with good vibes. “I told the girls we have to start finding the positives in things,” the Blue Devils coach said. Friday night, there was nothing…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND girls and Monroe City boys win Rumble on the River matchups
QUINCY — The Monroe City boys basketball team made sure Friday night wasn’t an Illinois sweep. After the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball teams earned victories in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center, Monroe City dispatched Payson Seymour 66-50 in the nightcap. Muddy…
Read MoreStrong second half defensively gets Blue Devils back to .500 mark in conference play
QUINCY — The first half was far from a masterpiece, but the final product looked significantly better. The Quincy High School girls basketball team put the pedal to the metal in the second half of Thursday’s Western Big 6 Conference tilt with United Township, outscoring the Panthers 36-10 in the final 16 minutes on its…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils move to No. 2 in Class 4A, Titans climb to No. 8 in Class 2A
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Association Press boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the state. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (8) (8-0) 88 1 2. Quincy (1) (7-0) 69 3 (tie) Bolingbrook (8-1) 69 4…
Read More‘It’s a pretty special thing’: Thomas breaks single-game rebounding record as Blue Devils roll
STERLING, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Ryan Brown set forth a challenge for senior forward Keshaun Thomas heading into Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling. Brown implored Thomas to come away with 20 points and 20 rebounds. “When he told me, I took it to heart to go out…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ offense goes quiet as Silver Streaks build big enough lead to survive WB6 battle
QUINCY — The offense went silent for too long. The Quincy High School girls basketball team staked itself to a seven-point lead in Thursday night’s showdown with state-ranked Galesburg midway through the second quarter before everything went awry. The Blue Devils scored just two points over the final 5 minutes, 24 seconds of the first…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils bump to No. 3, Titans hang in at No. 10
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Associated Press Illinois boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the stat. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (4) (5-0) 112 3 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (6) (7-0) 97 2 3. Quincy (6-0) 81…
Read MoreSluggish start, stellar finish defensively enables Blue Devils to dispatch Bombers
QUINCY — Quincy High School’s girls basketball team received the perfect wake-up call Wednesday night. A bit painful, but perfect. “We came out flat, and Macomb punched us right in the mouth,” Blue Devils coach Brad Dance said. Macomb dominated the first quarter, racing to a 16-9 lead, but those opening eight minutes wound up…
Read MoreBlue Devils continue to inch closer to putting together complete ‘A’ effort
QUINCY — If that was the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s B — or even C — game, the rest of the Western Big 6 Conference must be shaking in their boots at the thought of the Blue Devils bringing their A game. The state-ranked Blue Devils led by as many as 50 points…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils overwhelm Silver Streaks to improve to 2-0 in WB6 play
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team took care of one of its mid-week chores Tuesday night, dispatching Galesburg 82-39 in the first Western Big 6 Conference game at home this season. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read More‘We weren’t frustrated’: Slow start doesn’t deter Blue Devils from steamrolling another opponent
QUINCY — There were no alarms sounding, no distress flags being raised. The Quincy High School boys basketball team needed a full first quarter Saturday night for its offense to find a comfortable second gear, but once it did, it became obvious — and rather quickly — it was not a matter of if the…
Read MoreLast-second shot doesn’t fall, but struggles throughout fourth quarter doom Blue Devils
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team executed the play. The shot just did not go in. The Blue Devils trailed Sterling 48-46 with six seconds left during Saturday’s Western Big 6 Conference clash at the QHS gym. On an inbounds play underneath the Sterling basket, Quincy sophomore guard Myley Longor got the…
Read MoreBlue Devils navigate first road trip with no issues, start WB6 play with lopsided victory
GENESEO, Ill. — Although he has a veteran starting lineup, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas understood the first road trip for a new varsity roster could present some challenges. “The schedule is just different and you don’t know how guys will react,” Douglas said. The Blue Devils handled it like pros. Quincy…
Read MoreSimple is as simple does: Blue Devils settle in, take care of business against Maple Leafs
QUINCY — Once the Quincy High School girls basketball team quit trying to do too much, it proved to be too much for Geneseo. The Blue Devils scored two quick baskets before turning the ball over five times in the opening 3 minutes, 19 seconds of Thursday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game at the…
Read MoreSchuckman: Roberts offers encouragement, mentorship to youthful QHS wrestlers
QUINCY — Eli Roberts isn’t ready to commit to a coaching career. “Might be a little too early to say that,” he said with a smile. But it’s not a stretch to think the Quincy High School senior wrestler could be the next to join the ranks of former Blue Devils who have ventured into…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: QHS sits at No. 4 in Class 4A, West Hancock No. 8 in Class 2A
CHICAGO — Here is a look at the first Illinois Associated Press boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sports writers and sportscasters from throughout the state: Class 4A Rank School Total Points 1. Gurnee Warren (5) (4-0) 76 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (2) (4-0) 67 3. Kenwood (2-0) 63 …
Read MoreFreshmen set tone, veterans follow their lead as QHS wrestlers dominate Fort Madison in home dual
QUINCY — As the newcomers picked up victory after victory in quick and efficient fashion Tuesday night, the old guard on the Quincy High School wrestling team knew the pressure was on to perform. “I can’t get outdone out here,” senior Eli Roberts said with a chuckle. “I have to keep that line moving and…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS wrestlers enjoy success up and down lineup in lone home dual
QUINCY — The energy from a sizable crowd mimicked the energy and enthusiasm the Quincy High School wrestlers brought to the mat Tuesday night in their 64-15 victory over Fort Madison (Iowa) in the Blue Devils’ lone home dual of the season. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat matside and put together this photo…
Read More‘We played as one’: Blue Devils feed off each other to win fifth consecutive Thanksgiving title
QUINCY — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas burned a timeout only 2 minutes, 45 seconds into Saturday night’s championship game of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament for two reasons. Stem the tide and send a message. Burbank St. Laurence scored the game’s first seven points and was emotionally gaining steam before the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils beat Vikings to win 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND induct newest members into Halls of Fame during Saturday ceremonies
QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame athletic departments held their Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Saturday night during their respective Thanksgiving weekend basketball tournaments. Inducted into the QHS Hall of Fame were Zach Burry, Kadi Fauble, Tom Lepper, Tiffany Terwelp-Smith and the 1994 boys soccer team. Inducted into the QND Hall…
Read MoreFlip the switch: Thomas, Blue Devils dominate inside to roll past Eagles and into title showdown
QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys basketball team reviewed the film from Thursday’s season-opening victory, Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas offered a critique that struck a nerve with senior forward Keshaun Thomas. The 6-foot-6 Thomas needed to be more aggressive chasing rebounds. “It turns a switch on for me,” Thomas said. “I have…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils power past Eagles and set up championship matchup at Blue Devil Gym
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…
Read More2024 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: Tom Lepper
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Tom Lepper spent more than half…
Read More2024 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: 1994 boys soccer team
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — The stingiest team in the history…
Read MoreBlistering start, pedal-to-the-metal finish enable Blue Devils to earn season-opening victory
QUINCY — The beginning and ending of the script the Quincy High School boys basketball team wants to follow played out almost flawlessly Thursday night. It’s the middle part that needs a rewrite. A scintillating start in which Bradley Longcor III scored the game’s first seven points, bookending the flurry with dunks, allowed the Blue…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team outlasts Lindblom in tourney opener
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:
Read MoreBlue Devils expect to see different styles, different challenges during 53rd Thanksgiving Tournament
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…
Read More2024 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: Tiffany Terwelp-Smith
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — The most dominant rebounder in the…
Read MoreSchuckman: As curtain rises on QHS basketball season, there’s an angel looking over these Devils
QUINCY — The laughs shared in a calm moment between practice drills Tuesday afternoon were a small sign healing has begun. It may take all season — or longer even — for the Quincy High School boys basketball players and coaches to fully embrace the fact a voice they listened to and cherished hearing has…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: Experience will help Blue Devils meet heightened expectations
Coverage of the QHS boys basketball team is brought to you by: QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball players don’t shy away from harboring state championship aspirations. “That’s my goal every time I play,” 6-foot-3 senior guard Bradley Longcor III said. Still, becoming preoccupied with that title pursuit is the last thing the…
Read MoreBrown, Blue Devils put together can’t-miss effort in opening WB6 play by crushing Rocks
QUINCY — For nearly 28 minutes of game time, Jada Brown could not miss. The Quincy High School sophomore forward scored the Blue Devils’ first nine points, made her first 12 shots and poured in 31 points in the Blue Devils’ 64-42 victory over Rock Island in Tuesday’s Western Big 6 Conference opener at the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls basketball team opens WB6 play against Rock Island
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball players are finding the comforts of home much to their liking. The Blue Devils beat Rock Island 64-42 Tuesday night in their Western Big 6 Conference opener and improved to 2-0 at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this…
Read More2024 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: Kadi Fauble
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Arguably the most dominant girls tennis…
Read More2024 Quincy High School Hall of Fame Inductee: Zach Burry
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 53rd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Zach Burry is one of just…
Read MoreSchuckman: Lepper was big man with big heart, big laugh and big personality
QUINCY — When Tom Lepper stepped away from his role as an assistant coach with the Quincy High School boys basketball program two seasons ago due to health concerns, a number of people asked if a story would follow. The only way I’d write one, I continuously reiterated, was if he wanted to talk about…
Read MoreEnergetic and efficient, Blue Devils open season by deflating Crimsons with defense
QUINCY — At the time the Quincy High School girls basketball players went into the locker room to prepare for their varsity tilt, enough of a crowd had filtered into the QHS gym for them to know it might get a little loud. When they re-emerged, the Blue Devils had to do a double-take. The…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls basketball team is dominant in winning season opener
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team never gave Jacksonville a chance. The Blue Devils scored the game’s first 18 points, didn’t allow a field goal for the first 12 minutes and rolled to a 62-20 victory Tuesday night at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put…
Read MoreCountdown to tipoff: QHS girls see unselfish play, camaraderie going hand-in-hand with success
Coverage of the QHS girls basketball team brought to you by: QUINCY — No one expects it to translate to vintage “Run, Devils, Run,” but the manner in which the Quincy High School girls basketball team plays defense suggests there is a chance the Blue Devils will score often in transition. A lanky, athletic roster…
Read MoreTide turns in third quarter as Mustangs end Blue Devils’ historic run in Class 7A state quarterfinals
CHICAGO — Arguably the most anticipated season in Quincy High School football history lasted more than 14 weeks and surpassed 500 minutes of game time before coming to an abrupt halt in a matter of 12 minutes Saturday afternoon. With all of that in mind, Rick Little knew a five-minute postgame huddle wasn’t going to…
Read MoreDropping the Hammers: QHS wide receiver puts ‘second talent’ to use in record-setting fashion
QUINCY — The God-given talents are clear to see. Speed, strength, shiftiness and power give Tykell Hammers an edge against any defensive back who lines up opposite Quincy High School’s most celebrated wide receiver. Yet, it’s what Hammers refers to as his “second talent” that makes him elite. He catches the ball with his hands,…
Read MorePlayoff primer: QHS takes on Chicago Catholic League power St. Rita
QUINCY — Here is a closer look at the Quincy High School football team’s matchup with Chicago St. Rita: When: 3 p.m. Saturday What: Class 7A state quarterfinal Where: Doyle Stadium, Chicago Records: Quincy High School — 11-0 (6-0, first in the Western Big 6 Conference). St. Rita — 9-2 (2-1, tied for first in…
Read MoreRecord-setting efforts of QHS’s Little, QND’s Scott earn IHSFCA all-state honors
QUINCY — The most prolific passer in the history of the Quincy High School football program and the most prolific tackler Quincy Notre Dame has ever produced share common ground. One of Camp Point Central’s most acclaimed two-way players shares it, too. They are back-to-back first-team all-state selections. QHS senior quarterback Bradyn Little received all-state…
Read MoreCrim: Intriguing matchups await area football teams still alive in postseason play
QUINCY — It’s getting down to nitty-gritty time in the high school football postseason. Now that preliminary playoff rounds are out of the way, three area teams have advanced to the quarterfinals in Illinois and three Missouri teams will play for district championships this week. Reigning Illinois Class 1A champion Camp Point Central has been…
Read More‘Every drive is a touchdown’: Blue Devils bury Maroons with offensive onslaught late in first half
QUINCY — All Bradyn Little and the Quincy High School football team’s offense could do was wait. Five minutes into the second quarter of Friday night’s Class 7A second-round playoff game, 15th-seeded Moline had chewed up more than 13 minutes of possession and limited second-seeded Quincy to one possession in a game tied at 7…
Read MoreSchelp, Smith team up to create tide-turning fumble as Blue Devils seize momentum
QUINCY — As Ben Schelp sized up the situation, he realized every Moline offensive lineman was preoccupied. “They were taking all of our defensive linemen, which left me free off the edge,” said Schelp, the Quincy High School junior linebacker. “It gave me a really easy shot at him.” That’s the last thing Moline quarterback…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS cross country runners discuss qualifying for state meet
QUINCY — Their destination is Detweiller Park, a place the Quincy High School boys cross country team has not collectively visited in two decades. That changes Saturday. The Blue Devils qualified as a team for the Class 3A state championships, marking the first time the Blue Devils have advanced out of sectionals as a group…
Read MorePlayoff primer: QHS tackles Moline, while Missouri squads battle for spots in district title games
QUINCY — The second round of the postseason is here, which means Illinois squads are vying for spots in the state quarterfinals and Missouri teams are looking to reach district championship games. Here’s a look at what’s on tap Friday night: Moline at Quincy High School What: Class 7A second-round playoff game When: 7 p.m.…
Read MoreWB6 champion Blue Devils load up with all-conference football selections
QUINCY — The Western Big 6 Conference football coaches didn’t go as far as to say Quincy High School’s high-scoring offense deserved every starter on the all-conference team, but they certainly came close. The Blue Devils snared six of the 11 first-team All-WB6 spots offensively and had eight members of the offense honored overall. Meanwhile,…
Read MoreQHS boys cross country team qualifies for state for first time since IHSA went to three-class system
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys cross country team has weekend plans in Peoria. For the first time since the Illinois High School Association went to a three-class system for postseason action in 2007, the Blue Devils qualified as a team to compete at the Class 3A state cross country meet at Detweiller Park…
Read MoreBlue Devils lock down Argonauts, roll into second round of Class 7A playoffs with matchup against WB6 foe Moline looming
QUINCY — In what proved to be another record-setting day for the Quincy High School football team’s offense, it was the defense that stood tall. Summit Argo was able to muster only one first down and was held to a minus-15 yards of total offense against the Blue Devils’ swarming and smothering defense through the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS stays undefeated with first-round whitewashing of Summit Argo
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — The Quincy High School football team improved to 10-0 with Saturday’s 49-7 victory over Summit Argo in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs at Flinn Stadium. The Blue Devils will play host to Western…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Taking inside look at first-round matchups for Illinois prep football teams
QUINCY — The first round of the Illinois High School Association football playoffs provides lengthy road trips, rematches and the start of title defenses. Six area teams qualified for the postseason with four earning first-round home games. Here is a look at each of the six games on top for Muddy River Sports area schools.…
Read MoreDefinition of determination: Wires overcomes pair of ACL surgeries to become factor at heart of Blue Devils’ defense
QUINCY — Every step Max Wires takes is one closer to leaving the past behind. Saturday may be his final stride. That’s when, for the first time in his prep football career, Wires will walk onto the Flinn Stadium turf for a playoff game. Injuries to both knees — the senior linebacker suffered a torn…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS volleyball team falls in straight sets to O’Fallon in regional title tilt
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School volleyball team saw its season end with a 25-20, 25-18 loss to O’Fallon on Thursday night in the championship of the Class 4A Collinsville Regional in Vergil Fletcher Gym. Photographer Tim Vizer was there and put together this photo gallery for Muddy River Sports:
Read MoreOpportunity to play at home gives Adams County football programs edge in postseason
QUINCY — The road to Normal runs through Adams County. The football teams from three schools within the county borders learned Saturday night their postseason paths begin with first-round home games, and since all three are seeded second or third in their respective brackets, home games deeper in the playoffs are a legitimate possibility. Overall,…
Read MoreQHS cross country teams take third in regionals with Kuhl winning girls race at Bob Mays Park
QUINCY — Consistency was the name of the game for the Quincy High School cross country teams at Saturday’s Class 3A Quincy Regional at Bob Mays Park. The Blue Devils boys and girls teams both finished third to qualify for the sectional meet in Normal. Freshman Peyton Kuhl won the girls race with a time…
Read MoreInside the IHSA playoffs: Brackets for all eight classes of Illinois prep football
Blue Devils face adversity with tough chin in finishing back-to-back undefeated regular seasons
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Quincy High School football team had faced little adversity in breezing past its first eight opponents by an average of nearly 37 points per game. The Blue Devils showed Friday night they could take a punch and answer with a counterpunch of their own. Three times Quincy, which had never…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Week 9 prep football matchups and livestream links
QUINCY — Week 9 of the prep football season is upon us and with it comes opportunities to make history, punch playoff tickets and gain needed momentum heading into the postseason. And we will discuss all of that on Muddy Night Lights, powered by Farm & Home Supply, when we go live from 10 p.m.…
Read MoreIllinois state football rankings: QND is new No. 1 in Class 2A, while QHS sits at No. 2 in Class 7A
CHICAGO — Here are the Associated Press state rankings for Illinois high school football as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 8A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Lincoln-Way East (14) 8-0 140 1 2. Naperville Central 8-0 112 2 3. Lyons 8-0 103 4 4.…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ resilient effort not enough as Tigers score pair of daggers in regional semifinal victory
QUINCY — Andrew Brown understood what the quiet walk across the Flinn Stadium turf meant. He was saying goodbye. “A lot of these guys, I’ve played with my whole childhood,” said Brown, a senior midfielder and co-captain of the Quincy High School boys soccer team. “Going to college and after this season moving on to…
Read MoreRaiders rely on strong start to create momentum in sweeping Blue Devils in crossdown showdown
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Danielle White’s suit was fit for the occasion. So was the Raiders’ performance. The Raiders blitzed Quincy High School in the first set and staved off a late Blue Devils rally in the second set to win 25-16, 25-22 on Monday at the QHS gym. White took Pink…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND square off on volleyball court during Pink Night
To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team roared to a double-digit lead in the first set and never let up Monday night, beating Quincy High School 25-16, 25-22 at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane…
Read MoreCrim: Playoff positioning, record-setting efforts add intrigue to final week of regular season
QUINCY — The final week of the high school football regular season has arrived. Quincy High School, Quincy Notre Dame and Camp Point Central have all clinched league championships in Illinois and are on the cusp of securing home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Clarence Cannon Conference title is still…
Read MoreQHS’s Reddy upends pair of seeded Moline players to win sectional singles championship
MOLINE, Ill. — The Moline girls tennis team threw everything it had at Quincy High School’s Anika Reddy and still couldn’t stop her championship drive. Reddy won the singles championship of the Class 2A Moline Sectional, catapulting herself to the state tournament following a remarkable run to the title as the No. 3 seed. Having…
Read MoreRaiders rebound with solid effort, Chargers’ Murphy finishes in top 15 at state golf tourney
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Brian Hendrian has come to learn one bad day for the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team rarely if ever devolves into two. That’s why the QND coach believed the Raiders could erase a 12-stroke deficit and play themselves into contention for a top-three finish on the second day of the Class…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ second straight undefeated run through WB6 is ‘something we’re very proud of’
GENESEO, Ill. — Rick Little had a surprise awaiting the Quincy High School football players during their postgame huddle Friday night. The head coach unfurled a 2024 Western Big 6 Conference champions banner. “It’s something we’re very proud of,” Little said. The Blue Devils punctuated back-to-back undefeated WB6 crowns with a 55-18 victory over Geneseo.…
Read MoreSweep of Alleman on Senior Night continues to show revitalization of QHS volleyball program
QUINCY — The end is near. Of the regular season, that is. And the Quincy High School volleyball team feels it is in a good place as the stretch run beckons. The Blue Devils dispatched Rock Island Alleman in straight sets on Thursday night, raising their overall record to 22-10 and Western Big 6 Conference…
Read MoreYouthful area golfers set to embrace opportunity state tournament play provides
QUINCY — Why wait to be great? Throughout the prep golf season, with the Quincy Notre Dame and Illini West boys golf teams battling for supremacy and the QND girls team consistently showcasing its depth, comments regarding each team’s youthful lineup focused on the future instead of the present. One of the more common refrains…
Read MoreSchuckman: State football rankings generate debate, but have no bearing on playoff brackets
QUINCY — There are three main points of emphasis high school football fans needs to understand in regards to the state rankings, which have created considerable interest and conjecture following Wednesday afternoon’s reveal of this week’s votes. One, the polls are discussion points and conversation starters. They provide some clarity on which teams could be…
Read MoreIllinois prep football rankings: Chicago Mt. Carmel leapfrogs QHS for top spot, QND drops to No. 4 despite victory
CHICAGO — Here are this week’s Illinois Associated Press state football rankings, as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 8A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Lincoln-Way East (11) 7-0 110 1 2. Naperville Central 7-0 86 2 3. Oswego 7-0 79 3 4. Lyons 7-0…
Read MoreSchuckman: Italian horseshoes and football chatter make for perfect corner market lunch
COLCHESTER, Ill. — A sense of nostalgia grabbed hold pulling up in front of the small corner market, even for those who had never been there before. For Brigham John, it hit him with full force. As he explained while sitting at a table of six waiting to eat a late lunch, he longed for…
Read MoreCrim: Little, Blue Devils setting ‘sky’s the limit’ standard
QUINCY – Of all the eye-popping statistics the Quincy High School football team has produced, and the choices are many considering its video game-like offense, one stands above the rest. This senior class has been involved in more victories (30) in the last three-plus seasons than the program achieved in the 1980s (16), 1990s (20)…
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