Contagious behavior results in another victory for Bunte, Raiders and season sweep of Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame first baseman Morgan Zanger stretches to get the throw and force out Quincy High School's Ivy Winter during Monday night's game at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The word Caitlin Bunte sought to describe the manner in which the Quincy Notre Dame softball team is stringing victories together popped in her head in the middle of her answer. “Oh, contagious,” she said. “That’s it.” Winning is contagious. Hitting is contagious. Energy is contagious. “We have so many leaders who like…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS boys tennis team continues to pile up dual wins by handling QND in rivalry match

Quincy High School's Trevor Nelson sets up to return a forehand during his No. 1 singles match Monday against Quincy Notre Dame's Alex Strong at Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys tennis team traveled to the St. Louis metro east area last weekend and rolled him without losing a dual match. That momentum carried over to Monday. The Blue Devils wrapped up a dual victory over Quincy Notre Dame in the crosstown rivalry match at Reservoir Park by the…

Read More

Photo gallery: QND uses five-run inning to beat QHS in softball crosstown showdown

Quincy Notre Dame shortstop Alyssa Ley flips the ball to second baseman Lanie Fesler during Monday night's game against Quincy High School at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame softball players stayed patient at a pivotal juncture Monday night, drawing four consecutive walks to spark a five-run outburst in the third inning that carried them to a 7-1 victory over Quincy High School at the QHS field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening in center…

Read More

Maroons sweep Blue Devils in WB6 twinbill to stay atop league standings

Quincy junior outfielder Tykell Hammers slides safely into home plate during the second game of Saturday's Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader against Moline at QU Stadium. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team dropped both ends of a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader Saturday against league front-runner Moline at QU Stadium. The Maroons won the opener 5-3 despite getting outhit by the Blue Devils, while the nightcap turned into a rout as Moline won 14-1. In the first game, Quincy…

Read More

Determined Blue Devils showcase ability to never surrender in second half of loss to Senators

Quincy High School senior midfielder Rian Moore heads the ball toward the goal during the first half of Thursday night's game against Springfield at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer players are far too young to know the song “Never Surrender,” which was a top-five hit in 1985 sung by Corey Hart. But the classic rock tune could be the Blue Devils’ theme song. Down two goals and playing a person short for the final 17 minutes…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS, Springfield girls soccer teams square off at Flinn Stadium

Quincy High School senior forward Taylor Routh looks to make a run through the Springfield defense during the first half of Thursday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team woke up at halftime Thursday night and nearly pulled off an improbable comeback, losing 3-2 to Springfield at Flinn Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at the venerable facility and put together this photo gallery.

Read More

Bright lights, softball city: QND cashes in on scoring opportunities, shuts out QHS

Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Brooke Boden tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings Wednesday night against Quincy High School in the Raiders' 4-0 victory at The Backyard. | Matt Schuckman photo

Editor’s Note: Technological issues resulted in losing all of our images taken during the game. We apologize there will be no photo gallery to accompany this story. QUINCY — It may not have been Friday night lights, but it was pretty darn close. When the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School softball teams renewed…

Read More

Injection of life: Blue Devils build confidence ahead of WB6 showdown by ending Pirates’ seven-game win streak

Quincy High School second baseman Gavin Powell eats up a ground ball as the Blue Devils beat Hannibal 8-1 on Wednesday at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Rejuvenation became the name of the game. One team found it, the other now needs it — for decidedly different reasons. Back-to-back losses to begin the week, including an 11-run setback against Rock Island in Western Big 6 Conference play, made Wednesday’s 8-1 victory over Hannibal crucial for the Quincy High School baseball…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS, Hannibal baseball teams square off in middle of busy week

Hannibal first baseman Cooper Scott, left, throws the ball pack to the pitcher after Quincy High School's Kyle Taylor was safe on a pickoff attempt during Wednesday's game at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With no rain in sight, it’s time to play ball. And the Quincy High School and Hannibal baseball teams are playing as much as possible. Wednesday marked the third consecutive day with at least one game for both squads as the Blue Devils picked up an 8-1 victory at the QHS field. Muddy…

Read More

Storm warning: Budde’s first start ends in victory as Blue Devils make stellar defensive plays

Quincy High School third baseman Ivy Winter tags out Rock Island Alleman's Izzy Schneider in the sixth inning of Tuesday's Western Big 6 Conference game at the QHS softball field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A sun-splashed afternoon was a surprising setting for an unexpected Storm. Not even the Quincy High School softball player at the center of it saw it coming. When she arrived at the QHS field in advance of a Western Big 6 Conference matchup with Rock Island Alleman, junior Storm Budde learned she was…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS softball team earns WB6 victory over Alleman

From left, Quincy High School's Paige Kurfman, Ariana Adorno, Storm Budde and Ivy Winter exchange high-fives before the start of the seventh inning Tuesday against Rock Island Alleman. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School softball team found a way to manufacture a single run in four consecutive innings and junior right-hander Storm Budde made certain that was enough to secure a 4-2 victory over Rock Island Alleman on Tuesday in Western Big 6 Conference play at the QHS field. Muddy River Sports Editor…

Read More

Three-run first inning gives Saukees control in victory over Blue Devils

Pittsfield right-hander Brennan Tomhave worked five innings Monday against Quincy High School to earn the win in the Saukees' 5-3 victory in Pittsfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield baseball team wasted no time taking control. Run-scoring doubles by Brennan Tomhave, Konner Allen and Hayden Gratton in the bottom of the first inning Monday led to a three-run frame and catapulted the Saukees to a 5-3 victory over Quincy High School.  The Saukees’ Luke Archer led off the fourth…

Read More

Walking away a winner: Ritter’s single caps rally as Blue Devils split twinbill with Silver Streaks

Quincy High School's Nate Konrad slides safely into third base after tagging up and advancing on a sacrifice fly in the third inning of Saturday's game against Galesburg at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Mason Ritter’s water bottle shower was well earned. With two outs, the bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the seventh inning in the nightcap of Saturday’s western Big 6 Conference doubleheader, the Quincy High School baseball team’s sophomore catcher fouled off back-to-back pitches deep in the count to keep…

Read More

Photo gallery: Blue Devils earn split with Silver Streaks in WB6 doubleheader

From left, Quincy High School catcher Owen Zanger, pitcher Brady Lowe and first baseman Jansen Lawson stand at attention as first responders present the United States and state of Illinois flags before Saturday's Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader against Galesburg at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Stellar pitching performances, solid approaches at the plate and a seventh-inning rally enabled the Quincy High School baseball team to earn a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader split with Galesburg on Saturday at the QHS field. The Silver Streaks won the opener 4-0, while the Blue Devils rallied for a 5-4 victory in…

Read More

Blue Devils make two-goal lead last in winning first leg of crosstown series with Raiders

Quincy High School's Avery Morrison, right, tries to cut the ball back as Quincy Notre Dame defender Lauryn Peters charges during Friday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eight days without a game was one of the reasons why the Quincy High School girls players conceded they struggled to get in a groove in the first half Friday night. Hope Lenz pinpointed the other issue. “There’s obviously a lot of emotion that goes into this game,” the senior defender said. That…

Read More

‘It’s an adrenaline rush honestly’: Blue Devils’ Fohey stymies Raiders with series of saves

Quincy High School senior goalkeeper Taylor Fohey picks up a ball that rolled into the box off a shot from Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton during Friday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Having a 6-foot, athletic, talkative and charismatic goalkeeper is kind of like having a warm, cozy blanket the Quincy High School girls soccer team can find comfort in. The Blue Devils don’t take that for granted. “Taylor is a badass,” senior defender Hope Lenz said of her teammate, Taylor Fohey. “Obviously, I’m going…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS, QND girls soccer teams square off in first showdown of spring

Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller gives senior forward Taylor Routh a piggy-back ride to the bench after she cramped up late in Friday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The sun came out Friday just in time to make the weather more pleasant for the first of two meetings this spring between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer teams. The Blue Devils used a goal late in the first half and early in the second half to post…

Read More

Lawson’s two-hitter helps Blue Devils earn road victory over Warriors

Quincy High School right-hander Jansen Lawson tossed a two-hitter in Thursday's 4-1 victory over Granite City in non-conference action on the road. | Matt Schuckman photo

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Jansen Lawson locked in instead of locking out. The Quincy High School senior right-hander allowed the Granite City baseball team to tie Thursday’s game at 1 in the second inning when he hit back-to-back batters with two outs to force in a run. A groundout ended the inning, and Lawson was…

Read More

Blue Devils able to overcome Chargers’ success in sprint events to win Quincy Invitational boys meet

The Illini West relay team of Colin Curfman, Thomas Chandler, Ian Bentzinger and Isaiah Knotts won both the 4x100 and 4x200 races Saturday during the 73rd Quincy Invitational at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Dakota Lafferty

QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys track team’s strength in the distance events and overall depth enabled it to overcome Illini West’s sprinters and win the team title at the 73rd Quincy Invitational on Saturday at Flinn Stadium. The Blue Devils’ Cameron MacDonough won the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 6.59 seconds and Thomas…

Read More

Around the diamond: Mustangs rally in seventh, Blue Devils scored 11 in first, Saukees suffer first loss

MENDON, Ill. — Trailing by two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday, the Mendon Unity baseball team needed baserunners to even think about a rally. Six consecutive batters safely reaching did the trick. Ben McClelland and Sawyer Allen started the rally with back-to-back singles before the Mustangs’ patience kicked in. Three…

Read More

Pair of second-half goals lift Blue Devils to another road victory

Quincy High School's Avery Morrison scored the winning goal in Thursday night's 2-1 victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Travis Dinkheller said so long to his players. “I told them I’ll see you Monday,” he said. Following Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin — the Quincy High School girls soccer team’s fifth game in seven days — the Blue Devils coach wanted his players to get rest, get healed…

Read More

Resilient Blue Devils rally to beat Rockets and take winning record into WB6 opener at Sterling

Quincy High School center fielder Avery Hlubek connects for one of her three hits in Wednesday's 16-13 victory over Rushville-Industry at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The resiliency the Quincy High School softball team was forced to demonstrate inning after inning Wednesday should be the attribute that gives the Blue Devils the chance to chase victories all season. Despite allowing five runs in the first inning and trailing as they came to bat in five of the first six…

Read More

Photo gallery: Sixth-inning rally pushes QHS softball team past Rushville-Industry

Quincy High School's Aryauna Allen slides safely into second base under the tag Rushville-Industry's Brynna Shaw during Wednesday's game at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead and ultimately hold off Rushville-Industry for a 16-13 victory Wednesday at the QHS field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat in center field and put together this photo gallery:

Read More

Twice is nice: Quincy native Benjamin wins pair of NAIA indoor track and field national championships

Marian University's Arriana Benjamin, a 2017 graduate of Quincy High School, won the weight throw and the shot put at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championshps in Brookings, S.D. | Photo courtesy Marian athletics

INDIANAPOLIS — The wait was excruciating. “Extremely nerve-racking,” Arriana Benjamin said. The first to throw in the final round of the shot put at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships, the Quincy native and Marian University senior unleashed a season-best toss of 14.97 meters. It vaulted her from ninth place to first place…

Read More

Blue Devils come home from bitterly cold road trip with another conference victory

Quincy High School senior forward Taylor Routh scored the first goal in Tuesday night's 4-0 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference play in Moline, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MOLINE, Ill. — Playing in less-than-ideal conditions is something the Quincy High School girls soccer team has had to embrace. “We have to take the attitude that nothing bothers us,” Blue Devils coach Travis Dinkheller said. “We’re going to be tougher and we’re going to play harder than our opponent.” Once they got their feet…

Read More

Lowe’s stellar effort helps Blue Devils come away with split on final day in Memphis

Quincy High School senior Brady Lowe threw four hitless, scoreless innings in a 4-1 victory over Kenston (Ohio) on Tuesday in the USA High School Baseball Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. | Matt Schuckman photo

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The weather played havoc with the Quincy High School baseball team’s spring break trip, but the Blue Devils were still able to come away with a split on their final day playing in the USA High School Baseball Challenge. Senior right-hander Brady Lowe threw four scoreless innings Tuesday in a 4-1 victory…

Read More

QHS, Hannibal fit to be tied, while QND overwhelms West Plains on tourney’s first night

Hannibal's Abbie Martin drives the ball up the left sideline during Friday night's game against Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Friday night felt more like November football weather than the spring soccer season at Flinn Stadium with temperatures dipping close to the freezing mark and wind chills falling below 30 degrees. It didn’t put a chill on the fervor of a cross-river rivalry. The Quincy High School girls soccer team built a one-goal…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS, Hannibal, QND kick off weekend girls soccer tournament

Quincy High School senior midfielder Rian Moore directs the play off a throw-in during Friday night's game against Hannibal at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Hannibal girls soccer teams played to a 2-2 draw Friday night at Flinn Stadium, while Quincy Notre Dame beat West Plains (Mo.) 6-0 on the opening night of the QHS Kickoff Showcase. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time at Flinn Stadium and put together this photo…

Read More

Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Statistics, accolades and stellar play making Longcor one of QHS’s all-time greats

Quincy High School junior guard Bradley Longcor III is already the 12th leading scorer in Blue Devil history with 1,297 career points. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The disappointment on Bradley Longcor III’s face was present, but the determination trumped it all. When the Quincy High School boys basketball players took the court at 5:30 a.m. on the first day of practice, Longcor stayed on the sideline. An offseason knee injury left him working individually with a trainer instead of…

Read More

Blue Devils hope loss to Maroons serves as motivation to buckle down

Quincy High School third baseman Brady Lowe puts a tag on Belleville West's Jake Stedman after he safely reached the bag with a stolen base during the second inning of Tuesday's game at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Kyle Taylor sensed a lack of enthusiasm. “It felt like another Tuesday at the ballpark, not a game day,” the Quincy High School baseball team’s senior shortstop said. A five-run deficit after the first inning made it even worse. “When I looked across the diamond, there were guys with their heads down early,…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS squares off with Belleville West in baseball home opener

The Quincy High School baseball players stand at attention during the national anthem prior to Tuesday's game against Belleville West at the QHS field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Belleville West baseball team scored five runs in the first inning and hit three home runs on a somewhat blustery day to spoil Quincy High School’s home opener, winning 13-3 on Tuesday afternoon at the QHS field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman put together this photo gallery from the game:

Read More

Blue Devils bolt out of gate with 10-goal outburst to wallop Rocks in season opener

Quincy High School senior midfielder Bri Lannerd scored four goals in the Blue Devils' season-opening 10-1 victory at Rock Island on Tuesday night. | Matt Schuckman photo

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — One of the managers for the Quincy High School girls soccer team warned Blue Devils coach Travis Dinkheller when he watches the video footage of Tuesday night’s season opener he might hear a noticeable gasp or comment about the first goal. It happened so quickly, it took everyone by surprise. Off…

Read More

2023-24 Girls basketball all-area team: Freshmen emerge, juniors rise to occasion, seniors shine

QUINCY — From freshmen making an immediate impact to seniors leaving a lasting legacy, the area girls basketball scene featured remarkable individual performances that led to widespread team success. Eleven players earned all-state honors while six teams won at least 20 games with two regional titles, one district championship and two sectional crowns. It made…

Read More

Pair of QHS pitchers mow down QND to claim victory during head-to-head clash in SHG Slam

Quincy High School right-hander Brady Lowe struck out 12 in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Quincy Notre Dame at the SHG Slam in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The first crosstown showdown of the spring took place 110 miles from the Gem City, but it didn’t lack any down-to-the-last-out drama. With a runner on first base and the Quincy High School baseball team holding a two-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, right-handed reliever Jansen Lawson induced a…

Read More

Accountability playing key part in Blue Devils staying focused in pursuit of success

Quincy High School senior shortstop Kyle Taylor is one of several experienced players the Blue Devils will lean on in pursuit of postseason success. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Owen Zanger looks around the diamond and sees the bond the game has created among the Quincy High School baseball players. “We’re all great friends,” he said. “I think that comes with every successful team.” For this group, though, it doesn’t come with an air of indifference for those not performing or not…

Read More

Schuckman: IHSA eyeing target date to implement shot clock and other prep basketball notes

Zack Evans and the Winchester West Central boys basketball team won 15 consecutive games after playing in the Quincy Shootout and captured the Class 1A state championship. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Follow the bouncing ball as the high school basketball season enters its final week … • The shot clock is coming to Illinois and the Illinois High School Association appears to have a target date for implementing it into the state tournament series. Kurt Gibson, the IHSA associate executive director who oversees basketball,…

Read More

QHS’s Longcor receives IBCA first-team all-state plaudits, Thomas earns third-team honors

Quincy High School junior guard Bradley Longcor III was named a Class 4A first-team all-stater by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — During a season in which he became the 23rd player in the history of the Quincy High School boys basketball program to reach 1,000 career points, junior guard Bradley Longcor III showcased why a vast number of college coaches are interested in his services. He has poise, precision and presence. Longcor has a…

Read More

Schuckman: Strength of character shows in how Wires, Buehler handled adversity

Quincy High School senior guard Ralph Wires displayed character and maturity in how he handled the season-ending loss to Normal Community in the Class 4A sectional championship game in Pekin, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Adversity doesn’t build character. It reveals it. That adage, originally coined by 19th century American novelist James Lane Allen, and variations of it have been used endlessly. But as I sat here mulling over what already has transpired this basketball postseason, that adage kept coming to mind. The toughest moments have shown us…

Read More

From ecstasy to misery in four seconds: Turnover on inbounds pass leads to bitter season-ending loss for QHS

Bradley Longcor III rests his head on teammate Keshaun Thomas' back in dejection after the Quincy High School boys basketball team lost 44-43 in the Class 4A sectional final on Friday night in Dawson Hawkins Gymnasium in Pekin, Ill. | David Adam photo

PEKIN, Ill. — Four seconds was all that separated the Quincy High School boys basketball team from one of its most inspirational and dramatic victories in many seasons. Instead, the Blue Devils walked off the floor at Dawson Hawkins Gymnasium bewildered and shocked moments later. An inbounds pass along the baseline from Tyler Sprick was…

Read More

Breaking down the final four seconds of the Quincy High School vs. Normal Community Class 4A sectional final

Quincy High School's Ralph Wires throws the ball back toward the basket while falling out of bounds during Friday night's Class 4A sectional game at Dawson Hawkins Gymnasium in Pekin. Defending the play is Normal Community's Braylon Roman. | David Adam photo

PEKIN, Ill. — It seemed so simple, right?  Get the ball inbounds, let Normal Community foul, make a couple of free throws and force the Ironmen to take a desperation heave at the end. However, the Ironmen didn’t allow for the baseline inbounds play with 4.3 seconds left to be simple for the Quincy High…

Read More

Photo gallery: Blue Devils trail by as many as nine in first half before rallying to take lead

Quincy High School's Bradley Longcor III dribbles to the basket during the Class 4A sectional boys basketball game on Friday night at Dawson Hawkins Gymnasium in Pekin, Ill. | David Adam photo

PEKIN, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team fell behind 17-8 in the first half but rallied to take the lead on multiple occasions in the second half before losing 44-43 to Normal Community on Friday night in the Class 4A sectional at Dawson Hawkins Gym in Pekin. Quincy turned up the defensive…

Read More

Charges dropped against former QHS all-state running back accused in Iowa State gambling probe

Former Iowa State University running back Jirehl Brock, a Quincy High School all-stater and the Blue Devils' all-time leading rusher, had gambling charges against him dismissed Friday by a judge in Story County, Iowa. | Photo courtesy Iowa State athletics

AMES, Iowa — Jirehl Brock no longer has to worry what a conviction on a tampering of records charge might entail. Friday, the former Quincy High School all-state running back learned the charges against him and three other former Iowa State University athletes were being dismissed by a Story County judge after evidence showed the…

Read More

Game Night Guide: Quincy High School to face Normal Community for sectional title

Ralph Wires' ability to distribute, score and apply on-the-ball defensive pressure will benefit the Quincy High School boys basketball team in Friday night's Class 4A sectional championship game against Normal Community in Pekin, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

Class 4A Pekin Sectional Championship Quincy High School (31-3) vs. Normal Community (29-5) Where: Dawdy Hawkins Gym, Pekin High School When: 7 p.m. Friday Livestream: Pekin Community High School YouTube page Radio: WGEM 105.1 FM Scouting the Blue Devils: Led by the inside-outside combo of junior forward Keshaun Thomas and junior guard Bradley Longcor III…

Read More

CSE’s Miller receives second-team all-state honors, three others earn honorable mention

Central-Southeastern junior forward Lauren Miller, who was named a Class 2A second-team all-stater by the Illinois Media, led the Panthers to a 29-3 record and a super-sectional berth. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Lauren Miller’s game is drawing interest from NCAA Division I and II women’s basketball coaches throughout the Midwest. For good reason. The Central-Southeastern junior forward was named a Class 2A second-team all-stater this week by the Illinois Media. She is the only area girls player to be named all-state in any of the…

Read More

Schuckman: Intriguing possibilities abound, but hiring athletic director to move needle and push QHS forward needs to be priority

QUINCY — Over the past 20 years, the Quincy High School athletic department has been led by four different directors who each previously had been a coach at some level within the school district. Will the next athletic director have a similar background? Wednesday night, the Quincy School Board approved Superintendent Todd Pettit’s recommendation that…

Read More

Getting back to farm roots part of QHS athletic director’s decision to shift roles

Quincy High School athletic director Matt McClelland, left, hands former QHS basketball player Reid O'Brien the championship trophy following the QHS Thanksgiving Tournament in 2022 at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Matt McClelland’s roots are in the dirt. He feels it’s about time he got back to it. After spending more than 20 years teaching and coaching in the Quincy Public Schools, including the past three as the Quincy High School athletic director, McClelland will become the next director of the West Central Region…

Read More

‘Phenomenal’ second-quarter blitz helps QHS rout Belleville West to reach sectional championship game

Bradley Longcor, left, receives an ovation from the Quincy High School fans while being congratulated by his teammates after being taken out of Tuesday night's Class 4A sectional semifinal game in the Panther Dome at O'Fallon Township High School. | David Adam photo

O’FALLON, Ill. — Bradley Longcor III believes he and his Quincy High School boys basketball teammates have more quarters in them like the second quarter of Tuesday night’s game. After Belleville West’s Jordan Lacey hit a 10-foot jump shot to tie the score at 16 on the first possession of the second quarter, the Blue…

Read More

With a wink and a smile: Longcor’s buzzer beater to end first half also shuts up teasing teammate

Quincy High School's Bradley Longcor III launches a 3-point shot over Belleville West's Daylen Byrd as the final second ticks off the clock in the second quarter of Tuesday night's Class 4A boys basketball sectional semifinal in the Panther Dome at O'Fallon Township High School. | David Adam photo

O’FALLON, Ill. — With four seconds left in the first half and his team leading 42-22, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas took Bradley Longcor III off the floor to prevent him from picking up his second foul. However, after Belleville East had an over-and-back violation, leaving one second on the clock, Douglas…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Four Blue Devils score in double figures in dominant performance over Belleville West

Quincy High School's Dom Clay, left, stares downm Belleville West's Jordan Lacey during Tuesday night's boys basketball game in the Class 4A sectional semifinal in the Panther Dome at O'Fallon Township High School. | David Adam photo

O’FALLON, Ill. — Junior guard Bradley Longcor III scored 28 points in a 74-46 victory for the Quincy High School boys basketball team on Tuesday night over Belleville West in the Class 4A sectional semifinal in the Panther Dome at O’Fallon Township High School. Dom Clay scored 11 points, and Ralph Wires and Keshaun Thomas…

Read More

‘Everything was big in that fourth quarter’: Blue Devils rally to keep season alive with regional championship

Quincy High School senior point guard Ralph Wires, right, accepts the Class 4A Edwardsville Regional championship plaque following Friday night's 49-42 victory over O'Fallon at Edwardsville, Ill. | Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. —  A hand injury has limited Ralph Wires’ ability to shoot the ball, but that didn’t stop the Quincy High School point guard from producing two of the biggest baskets Friday night. Wires made a pair of slashing drives to the lane on back-to-back possessions to ignite a game-closing 14-3 run for the…

Read More

Blue Devils’ Longcor is named WB6 MVP, Thomas joins him on all-conference first team

Quincy High School junior guard Bradley Longcor III was named the Western Big 6 Conference MVP by the league's coaches after leading the Blue Devils to the conference crown. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III’s performance in the final two games of the Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball title chase elevated Quincy High School to its 25th league crown and pushed the junior guard to the forefront as the league’s top player. Thursday, the WB6 coaches confirmed that. Longcor was named the conference MVP…

Read More

Improvisational skills: Wires sets up Thomas for game-winning basket on busted play as Blue Devils find way to survive

Quincy High School's Ralph Wires holds onto the basketball after making a steal with 25 seconds remaining in regulation against Alton in Wednesday night’s Class 4A Edwardsville Regional semifinal inside Lucco-Jackson Gymnasium in Edwardsville, Ill. | Photo courtesy Matt Kamp, Edwardsville Intelligencer

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — It wasn’t exactly how the Quincy High School boys basketball team drew up the final seconds of the Class 4A Edwardsville Regional semifinal against Alton, but it worked. Ralph Wires found a wide-open Keshaun Thomas in the post for the go-ahead basket with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation to send the second-seeded…

Read More

Blue Devils head into postseason facing gauntlet of formidable foes

The Quincy High School boys basketball team opens postseason play at 6 p.m. Wednesday against sixth-seeded Alton in the Class 4A Edwardsville Regional. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Let the gauntlet commence. Wednesday night, regional play begins in the Class 4A Pekin Sectional, which is arguably one of the toughest boys basketball postseason paths from top to bottom. Of the 16 teams split into two sub-sectionals, 14 have winning records and every team has at least 11 victories. There are seven…

Read More

‘I kind of got my swagger back’: Uppinghouse rebounds to take third, make QHS wrestling history with second state medal

Quincy High School's Owen Uppinghouse reacts to beating St. Charles East's Anthony Gutierrez in the third-place match at 165 pounds at the Class 3A state tournament Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Owen Uppinghouse admitted the sting wasn’t easy to shake. The Quincy High School 165-pound senior wrestler went to the Class 3A state tournament undefeated with his sights set squarely on becoming the fifth state champion in program history. A quarterfinal loss Friday morning to LaGrange Lyons’ Gunnar Garelli ruined that. Although he…

Read More

Uppinghouse, two QND grapplers still chasing spots on podium at state wrestling tourney

Quincy High School's Owen Uppinghouse, left, battles LaGrange Lyons' Gunnar Garelli in the Class 3A state quarterfinals at 165 pounds Friday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Owen Uppinghouse’s dream of becoming just the fifth Illinois High School Association state wrestling champion in Quincy High School history was dashed Friday morning. Yet his chance to make history still exists. The senior who entered the Class 3A state tournament undefeated and ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds suffered a 5-1…

Read More

‘I think it came down to toughness’: Blue Devils’ strong second half carries them to WB6 crown

Quincy High School senior Tyler Sprick, left, and junior Keshaun Thomas helped the Blue Devils beat Rock Island 48-46 Thursday night in Rock Island, Ill., to capture the Western Big 6 Conference championship. | Muddy River Sports file photo

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Nobody can say Quincy High School didn’t earn the 2023-24 Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball championship. The state’s Class 4A fifth-ranked Blue Devils beat Rock Island for the second time in three days on Thursday evening, using a similar script to Tuesday’s home victory. Getting enough offense at the right…

Read More

Uppinghouse, Newbold end first day of state wrestling tourney alive in winner’s bracket

Quincy High School's Bryor Newbold sets up a move during his 175-pound opening-round match in the Class 3A state tournament at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Owen Uppinghouse’s title pursuit started with a flourish. Bryor Newbold’s began with a tussle. Both still have a shot at glory. The Quincy High School wrestlers opened the Class 3A state tournament at State Farm Center with first-round victories and will grapple in the quarterfinals Friday morning. Meanwhile, Quincy Notre Dame wrestlers…

Read More

Opportunity to stay with defending state champs eludes Blue Devils in regional championship loss

Quincy High School freshman forward Jada Brown, left, gets in position for a rebound during Thursday's Class 4A regional championship against O'Fallon in O'Fallon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photos

O’FALLON, Ill. — Brad Dance could feel how much the missed opportunities hurt. The Quincy High School girls basketball team trailed defending state champion O’Fallon 15-10 in the first quarter of Thursday night’s Class 4A regional championship, but had it not been for squandering a couple of offensive chances, the Blue Devils could have been…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS girls see 25-win season come to end in regional title loss to O’Fallon

Quincy High School guard Leila Dade, left, wipes her eyes after the Blue Devils suffered a 55-40 loss to O'Fallon in Thursday night's Class 4A regional champiosnhip game in O'Fallon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photos

O’FALLON, Ill. — The Class 4A sub-sectional the Quincy High School girls basketball team was assigned proved to be as challening as expected. The third-seeded Blue Devils suffered a 55-40 loss to second-seeded O’Fallon in Thursday night’s regional championship, ending Quincy’s season with a 25-7 record. Freelance photographer Paul Baillargeon put together this photo gallery…

Read More

Prairie State Profile: Five area wrestlers ready to chase state championships

Quincy High School's Bryor Newbold, center, and Quincy Notre Dame's Bradi Lahr, right, are two of the five area wrestlers who will compete in the Illinois state championhips this weekend in Champaign, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Illinois state wrestling tournament begins at noon Thursday with five area wrestlers having qualified to grapple at State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign.  Wednesday, they had the opportunity to visit the Illini wrestling facility in Huff Hall, get a workout in and prepare for the pursuit of…

Read More

Blue Devils clamp down on high-scoring Rocks, force winner-take-all WB6 championship game on Thursday

The defensive presence of Quincy High School junior forward Keshaun Thomas helped the Blue Devils dispatch Rock Island 58-49 on Tuesday night at Blue Devil Gym. | Muddy River Sports file photo

QUINCY — To take advantage of the switching man-to-man defense used by the Quincy High School boys basketball team, Rock Island tried to isolate K.J. Lamonte, its top scorer, on Keshaun Thomas, the Blue Devils’ 6-foot-5 junior forward. Every time Lamonte tried to slash to the basket in the first half, Thomas forced him to…

Read More

Strong start propels Blue Devils into rematch with Panthers for regional championship

Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier, left, and Myley Longcor trap Belleville East's Taylor Smith during Monday night's Class 4A regional semifinal at O'Fallon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photos

O’FALLON, Ill. — The Quincy High School girls basketball players didn’t get caught up in the scouting report or overly concern themselves with how Belleville East would attack. “They just want to go out and play and do what’s expected of them,” Quincy coach Brad Dance said. And they expected to earn a spot in…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS girls blitz Belleville East to reach regional title game

Quincy High School's Taylor Fohey, right, looks to get to the basket during Monday night's Class 4A regional semifinal against Belleville East at O'Fallon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photos

O’FALLON, Ill. — The Quincy High School girls basketball team scored the game’s first 17 points and rolled to a 68-30 victory over Belleville East in Monday night’s semifinals of the Class 4A O’Fallon Regional. The Blue Devils (25-6) will face O’Fallon at 7 p.m. Thursday for the regional championship. Photographer Paul Baillargeon of Archview…

Read More

‘In my mind, I’m the best in the state’: Uppinghouse keeps perfect record intact at sectional

Referee Ray Eickelschulte raises Owen Uppinghouse's hand after his 3-0 victory in the championship match of the 165-pound division at the Class 3A sectional on Saturday at Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. Owen Uppinghouse believes he’s the man to beat at 165 pounds in Illinois. Uppinghouse won three matches this weekend in the Class 3A sectional in Blue Devil Gym to remain undefeated after 54 matches. The most important victory was a 3-0 decision over…

Read More

Blue Devils shoot plenty of layups while sharing ball in commanding road victory over Jacksonville

Quincy High School guard Kamren Wires helped the Blue Devils rebound from Friday's loss at Moline with a 27-point victory at Jacksonville on Saturday night. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — How easy was it for the Quincy High School boys basketball team to score against a porous Jacksonville defense on Saturday night? One play in the second quarter provided a perfect example. Blue Devils guard Kamren Wires was about to be trapped by two Jacksonville defenders in front of the Quincy bench,…

Read More

Marooned in Moline: Blue Devils fall out of first place in WB6 with loss at Wharton Field House

Quincy High School junior guard Bradley Longcor III scored 19 points in Friday night's 42-41 loss to Moline at Wharton Field House in Moline, Ill. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

MOLINE, Ill. — How a game of such magnitude elicited such minimal energy from his players left Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas as dumbfounded as it did irritated. “There was just a different look on their face than we’ve seen out of the group,” he said. It wasn’t a good look. Facing…

Read More

Back home again: Quincy girls start fast en route to 58-28 thumping of Hannibal

Quincy High School's Leila Dade tries to stop Hannibal's Alyson Falconer from shooting during Wednesday night's girls basketball game at the QHS gymnasium. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Leah Chevalier’s reasoning was understandable. Slightly flawed, maybe, but completely understandable. “This win allowed us to finish unbeaten at home,” said the Quincy High School girls basketball team’s senior point guard following Wednesday night’s 58-28 victory over Hannibal in front of a crowd of about 550 at the QHS gym. But … ummm…

Read More

Killday’s first recruiting class at QU features local ties, building blocks in trenches

Quincy High School linebacker Ty Douglas, left, and wide receiver Adon Byquist are key components of the Quincy University football team's recruiting class. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Having spent the past 14 years recruiting the I-55 corridor between Chicago and St. Louis, Quincy University football coach Jason Killday understands there is a wealth of talent between the two metro areas. You just have to look. “You have to be able to dig in the dirt a little bit and find…

Read More

Illinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils move back to No. 3 in Class 4A

The Quincy High School boys basketball team moved back to No. 3 in the Class 4A state poll with a 25-2 record. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHICAGO — Here are the Illinois boys prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Homewood-Flossmoor (9) 25-3 132 1 2. Curie (4) 25-2 130 2 3. Quincy 25-2 108 4 4. Downers North 22-4 73 6 5. Bolingbrook 21-4 67 8…

Read More

Photo gallery: Blue Devils celebrate Senior Night by finishing 9-0 in QHS gym

Quincy High School's Taylor Fohey wrestles for possession of the basketball with Hannibal's Katelynn Ferguson-Minor during Wednesday night's girls basketball game in the QHS gymnasium. | David Adam

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team led 21-3 after the opening eight minutes and went on to defeat Hannibal 56-26 at the QHS gymnasium. The game had a celebratory feel to it, despite the Blue Devils (23-6) coming off a loss on Saturday in Blue Devil Gym to United Township. QHS coach…

Read More

Blue Devils’ chase of WB6 crown comes down to three-game gauntlet after dispatching Pioneers

Quincy High School junior guard Dom Clay throws down a dunk in the first half of Tuesday night's game against Rock Island Alleman at Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — A slight rewrite to the lyrics of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes” might be apropos for the Quincy High School boys basketball team heading into the homestretch of the Western Big 6 Conference season. “Well, it’s one for the chance, two for the show, Three for the glory, now go, Devils, go.“ Tuesday…

Read More

Photo Gallery: QHS stays perfect at Blue Devil Gym with victory over Alleman

Quincy High School guard Bradley Longcor III drives to the basket during Tuesday night's game against Rock Island Alleman at Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — A perfect season at home is one victory away. The Quincy High School boys basketball team improved to 12-0 at Blue Devil Gym this season with Tuesday night’s 78-33 victory over Rock Island Alleman in Western Big 6 Conference play. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the action.

Read More

‘Owen’s just a special kid’: Uppinghouse clears first hurdle to state tournament with regional title

Quincy High School's Owen Uppinghouse flexes in celebration of winning the Class 3A regional wrestling championship in the QHS gymnasium Saturday afternoon. | David Adam

QUINCY — Phil Neally has worked with many successful teams and wrestlers during his 20 years as the head coach at Quincy High School, but as the 2023-24 season winds down, he knows his time to witness true greatness is dwindling. Neally has had a ringside seat for Owen Uppinghouse’s dominating senior season. The QHS…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Newbold, Roberts capture regional crowns as Blue Devils send nine to sectional

Quincy High School's Eli Roberts puts pressure on the head of top-seeded Antoine Phillips from Alton during their championship match at 150 pounds during the Class 3A wrestling regional Saturday afternoon in the QHS gymnasium. | David Adam

Joining Owen Uppinghouse as a regional champion on Saturday were Quincy High School’s Bryor Newbold at 175 pounds and Eli Roberts at 150 pounds. Also advancing to the Class 3A sectional, to be held at Blue Devil Gym next weekend, was Hugh Sharrow (third at 113 pounds), Wyatt Boeing (second at 120 pounds), Evan Wakefield…

Read More

Quincy girls held to lowest point total since 2017, lose WB6 showdown with United Township

Quincy High School's Jada Brown looks to shoot while United Township's Lorena Awou defends during Saturday's high school girls basketball game in Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam

QUINCY — The knockout punch came early, and it was impressive. Unlike recent United Township victories over the Quincy High School girls basketball team, when the outcome was in doubt until the final seconds, Saturday’s verdict was never in question from about midway through the second quarter. With 6-foot-5 Lorena Awou — a North Carolina…

Read More

Thomas’ toughness on full display as Blue Devils ground Flyers in Shootout victory

Quincy High School junior forward Keshaun Thomas scores two of his game-high 28 points during Saturday's victory over East St. Louis in the Midwest Crossroads Shootout at Normal West High School in Normal, Ill. | Samantha Carmean photo

NORMAL, Ill. — Nothing is going to keep Keshaun Thomas down. With 1 minute, 55 seconds remaining in the first half of Saturday’s game against East St. Louis in the Midwest Crossroads Shootout, the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s junior forward was knocked to the floor, forcing a pause in the action and the…

Read More

Quincy Public Schools take action against parent following incident at girls basketball game

QUINCY — Officials with the Quincy School District have taken action against a spectator who was involved in an incident involving a referee during Tuesday night’s girls basketball game between Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame. However, the school district is not saying what that action is.  Mike Dade was attending the game as…

Read More

Defensive dominance in first quarter allows Blue Devils to keep pace with Rock Island in WB6

Quincy High School's Tyler Sprick defends United Township's Caeden Terrell during the first half of Friday night's boys basketball game at Blue Devil Gym in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team forced United Township to burn nearly a minute off the clock on its opening possession Friday night before finally yielding a pull-up jumper from the left baseline by Dominic Rhoden. It was a harbinger of things to come. Quincy’s suffocating defense forced six turnovers and seven…

Read More

Phpto Gallery: Longcor leads QHS boys with 17, Kamren Wires provides spark in reserve role

Bradley Longcor III weaves his way through traffic during Quincy High School's boys basketball game on Friday night against United Township in Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam

Bradley Longcor III scored 17 points to lead the Quincy high School boys basketball team to a 65-32 Western Big 6 Conference victory over United Township on Friday night. Junior guard Kamren Wires came off the bench in the second quarter to provide an offensive spark. He tipped in a missed shot, drilled a 3-pointer…

Read More

QHS boys at No. 4 in Associated Press Class 4A state poll; Central slides in at No. 10 in Class 1A

Keshaun Thomas goes up for a shot during Quincy High School's boys basketball game against Batavia on Saturday, Jan. 27, in Blue Devil Gym. | Contributed photo

Here are the Associated Press boys prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4ASchoolW-LPtsPrv1. Homewood-Flossmoor (10)22-211722. Curie (1)23-210913. Waubonsie Valley (1)22-09144. Quincy22-27735. Lisle (Benet Academy)20-36576. Downers North20-44887. Normal Community22-44458. Bolingbrook18-33899. Collinsville23-330610. Gurnee Warren22-413NR Others receiving votes: Kenwood 9. Glenbrook North 8. Moline 5. New Trier 3. Rock…

Read More

QHS girls climb one spot in Associated Press Class 4A poll; C-SE rises one spot in 2A, QND drops one spot in 3A

Quincy Notre Dame's Lauren Wiewel tries to block a shot by Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier during Tuesday night's girls basketball game at the Pit. | David Adam

Here are the Associated Press girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (4) 29-0 66 1 2. Alton (3) 25-1 64 2 3. Bolingbrook 21-2 55 3 4. Nazareth 21-3 38 5 5. Maine South 25-1 37 4 6.…

Read More

One off the checklist: Blue Devils lead wire to wire in victory over cross-town rival Raiders

Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier reaches back to grab a rebound during Tuesday night's girls basketball game against Quincy Notre Dame at the Pit. | David Adam

QUINCY — How well is the Quincy High School girls basketball team playing at the moment? “I think we’re probably playing the best ball we have all season right now,” senior center Taylor Fohey said following Tuesday night’s 47-24 victory over rival Quincy Notre Dame at The Pit. It would be difficult to dispute Fohey’s…

Read More

Victory over defending state champs moves QHS boys into first-place tie in Western Big Six

Quincy High School's Camden Brown goes past Moline's Trey Taylor, left, and Vinablo Adjahoungbeta during Tuesday night's boys basketball game at Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam

QUINCY – A couple of explosive offensive spurts and a lockdown defense proved to be a winning formula. Three consecutive 3-pointers by Bradley Longcor III that created separation in the second quarter, and nine straight points in 92 seconds in the third period, were enough to carry the Quincy High School boys basketball team to…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Longcor’s marksmanship in second quarter propels Blue Devils to home-court victory

Quincy High School's Bradley Longcor shoots a 3-pointer during the second half of Tuesday night's basketball game in Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam

Three consecutive 3-pointers by Bradley Longcor III created separation in the second quarter, giving the Quincy High School boys basketball team at 24-9 lead in its way to a 54-37 victory over Moline Tuesday night in Blue Devil Gym. Longcor finished with 19 points. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the action from the…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Fohey, Brown combine for 31 points, 17 rebounds for QHS girls

Quincy High School's Laila Dade, right, drives to the basket while Quincy Notre Dame's Ari Buehler, left, defends during Tuesday night's girls basketball game at the Pit. | David Adam

The Quincy High School girls basketball team, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A, led wire-to-wire in a 47-24 victory on Tuesday night at the Pit. The Blue Devils held Quincy Notre Dame, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, to its lowest offensive output in 97 games, dating to late in the 2020-21 season when the…

Read More

Ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizes donors for video screen in Quincy High School gymnasium

The video screen was added to the gym as a way to help the girls’ basketball, volleyball and wrestling programs increase their program capacity by generating increased advertising revenue.  | Photo courtesy of Heidi Lanier

QUINCY – The Quincy Public Schools Foundation had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor community donors who made the video screen in the Quincy High School gymnasium possible at halftime of the girls basketball game versus Galesburg on Jan. 25. Donors recognized on the project were the Dot Foods Charitable Giving Program and the family of…

Read More

Uppinghouse builds mark to 44-0, leads QHS to third place at 32nd QND Wrestling Invitational

Palmyra's Tyler Spicknall picks up Quincy Notre Dame's Cale Hilbing during their semifinal match in the 132-pound weight class during the QND Wrestling Invitational on Saturday at the Pit. Spicknall won the match and eventually placed second. | David Adam

QUINCY — Quincy High School’s Owen Uppinghouse had every right to be exhausted. And make no mistake about it, he most certainly was. Uppinghouse wrapped up the 165-pound championship Saturday in the 32nd annual Quincy Notre Dame Wrestling Invitational, and what followed was not so much a raised fist in the air signifying another win…

Read More

Blue Devils bounce back from road loss, blanket Batavia defensively to stay unbeaten at home

Quincy High School's Bradley Longcor splits Batavia defenders on his way to two of his 18 points during Saturday night's victory at Blue Devil Gym. | Contributed photo

QUINCY — The longest road trip in the Western Big Six Conference seemed to last forever Friday night after a surprising loss to Sterling. “Man, that hurt,” Quincy High School junior Dom Clay said. “It was really quiet (on the bus).” The Blue Devils lost for only the second time in 22 games on a…

Read More

Sterling provides wake-up call as Klaver’s game-winning 3-pointer knocks Blue Devils from top of WB6

Quincy's Keshaun Thomas, right, rips a rebound away from Sterling's Andre Klaver during Friday night's high school boys basketball game at Homer Musgrove Fieldhouse in Sterling. | Photo courtesy of Alex Paschal, Shaw Media

STERLING, Ill. – The Western Big Six Conference race just got a little tighter. Sterling guard Andre Klaver buried a contested 3-pointer from deep on the left wing with 5.6 seconds remaining Friday night to stun third-ranked Quincy High School 65-62 in Homer Musgrove Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils, who beat the Golden Warriors 66-41 at…

Read More

Blue Devils shoot 68 percent from field, win impressively in battle of state-ranked conference foes

Quincy's Jada Brown goes up for a shot while Galesburg's Syriah Boyd tries to defend during Thursday night's girls basketball game at the QHS gymnasium. | David Adam

QUINCY — It isn’t supposed to look that easy. The inside scoring of Jada Brown … the perimeter shooting of Myley Longcor … the post passing from the perimeter … the defensive pressure on Galesburg’s guards … it all came together on Thursday night in a masterful performance. A game between two state-ranked girls basketball…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Freshman Brown contributes 28 points, nine rebounds in victory over Silver Streaks

Quincy's Leah Chevalier, right, dribbles to the baseline while Galesburg's Kiarra Kilgore defends. | David Adam

QUINCY — Freshman Jada Brown scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the Quincy High School girls basketball team defeat Galesburg 62-43 in a Western Big Six Conference game Thursday night at the QHS gymnasium. The Silver Streaks led 2-0, and the Blue Devils quickly grabbed the lead and never relinquished it. MRN…

Read More

QHS boys stay at No. 3 in Class 4A, but three of top six teams in poll suffered losses Tuesday night

From left, Camden Brown, Bradley Longcor, Ralph Wires and Tyler Sprick | Muddy River News file photo by Matt Schuckman

The Quincy High School boys basketball team remains at No. 3 in the Associated Press Class 4A basketball poll. The top two teams in the poll lost on Tuesday — Homewood-Flossmoor was beaten 65-61 by Bradley-Bourbonnais, and Curie lost 73-66 to Lindblom. No. 6 Collinsville also lost 62-57 to Highland in overtime. However, voters turned…

Read More

QHS girls stay at No. 8 in Class 4A poll, while QND girls move up one spot to No. 3 in Class 3A

Quincy Notre Dame's Eric Orne talks to his team during a timeout in a game at John Wood Community College in December. | Muddy River News file photo by Addi Sanger

Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (7) 27-0 106 1 2. Alton (3) 24-1 92 T2 3. Bolingbrook (1) 20-2 88 T2 4. Maine South 22-1 75 4 5. Nazareth 18-3 61 5 6. Normal…

Read More

Blue Devils create energy level necessary to maintain momentum against Silver Streaks

Quincy High School guard Ralph Wires runs the offense during Tuesday night's Western Big 6 Conference game against Galesburg at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Challenge accepted and met. Coming off Saturday’s high-octane, high-profile victory over Imhotep Charter of Philadelphia in the marquee game of the Quincy Shootout, the Quincy High School boys basketball team was tasked with rekindling that energy Tuesday to face Galesburg, which it beat by 52 points in early December. “Our pregame speech tonight…

Read More

Photo gallery: QHS boys basketball team easily dispatches Galesburg in WB6 battle

Quincy High School's Bradley Longcor III pressures Galesburg's Jackson Crock Sibbing during Tuesday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Galesburg boys basketball team scored the first five points of Tuesday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game at Blue Devil Gym. Quincy High School did the rest, rolling to a 77-35 victory to improve to 20-1 overall. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:

Read More