Posts Tagged ‘Quincy High School’
QHS tennis team sweeps away Jacksonville to stay undefeated in duals
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls tennis team wanted to make sure it remained primed for some challenging and entertaining duals looming in the coming weeks. Sweeping away Jacksonville on Thursday afternoon did the trick. The Blue Devils lost only eight games total, winning 9-0 as four singles players and one doubles team didn’t…
Read MoreQHS girls tennis team showcases depth with singles, doubles titles at Moline Invite
MOLINE, Ill. — Friday’s dual match victory over Moline gave the Quincy High School girls tennis team some welcome momentum heading into Saturday’s Moline Invitational. The Blue Devils used it to seize the day. Quincy won championships at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles and shared first place at No. 1 doubles when rain…
Read MorePlayground bullies: Blue Devils dominate Redbirds up front to open season with back-to-back victories
QUINCY — Quincy High School senior Gregory Quince wasn’t too surprised to see the Blue Devils bully Alton on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. “We watched film and our defensive line and offensive line were really looking forward to the game,” the QHS wide receiver/defensive back said. The big guys up front on both sides…
Read MoreConnection to history: Evans sets up Anderson for record-breaking, game-winning goal in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — Consider it intuition or a sixth sense if you will, but some sort of extrasensory perception enables Brock Evans to know where, when and how to get Tanner Anderson the ball. “Every time Tanner yells, I know where he’s going to be even if I don’t see him,” the Quincy Notre Dame senior…
Read MoreCheck out the highlight video from the QHS vs. QND boys soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field
Schuck on a Truck: QND’s Tanner Anderson discusses record-breaking, game-winning goal against QHS
QUINCY — With the game tied at 3 and less than five minutes remaining in regulation, the ball found Tanner Anderson’s foot. From there, it found the back of the net. The Quincy Notre Dame senior forward scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory over Quincy High School on Thursday night at Advance Physical…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND beats QHS in first of two crosstown showdowns
QUINCY — The first crosstown showdown of the fall provided the intrigue and competitive grit that has made the Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer rivalry so intense for the better part of the last four decades. The Raiders won 4-3 on Tanner Anderson’s goal with four minutes remaining in regulation at…
Read MoreBlue Devils meet challenge of Rocks’ physical style, stay undefeated in WB6 play
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys soccer team retaliated the way it should. The Blue Devils locked down. Tasked with handling Rock Island’s physical style in Tuesday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game, QHS parlayed Carter Venvertloh’s goal two minutes into the second half and two critical saves by goalkeeper Lucas Shepherd in the…
Read MoreRaiders win Early Bird Tournament title, while Blue Devils find footing after two tough losses
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team refused to be denied, while the Quincy High School squad got over the hump. That made the day-long QHS Early Bird Invitational Tournament a success on all fronts. The Raiders swept five consecutive matches and overcame a five-point deficit in the second set of the title match…
Read MoreRaiders finish weekend undefeated, capture championship of own soccer tournament
QUINCY — The tournament bookends defensively might not have been ideal, but the persistence and aggressiveness with which the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team attacked in between those moments led to a championship effort. The Raiders finished 3-0 and won the title of the 33rd annual QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field,…
Read MoreRaiders, Blue Devils open play in QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament with victories
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team was forced to show some wherewithal to survive its opening game in the QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Trailing Ladue Horton Watkins 2-1 after Rams junior forward Dailyn Tate scored twice, the Raiders tied the game 11 minutes before halftime and scored four…
Read MoreTwice is nice for Rice: Sophomore tailback scores two TDs to lead QHS past QND in season opener
QUINCY — Jeraius Rice plopped himself down at midfield Friday night, looking as happy as someone seeing their first snow. Rice and several of his Quincy High School football teammates made “snow angels” at Advanced Physical Therapy Field to celebrate the Blue Devils’ 21-13 victory over crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame. Rice, a sophomore tailback,…
Read MoreSchuckman: Crowd, atmosphere elevate QHS-QND rivalry game to community celebration
QUINCY — A game of two-hand touch played by a gaggle of kids wearing their Junior Raiders football jerseys unfolded beneath the large oak and blaze maple trees casting shade across the uneven grassy space near the tennis courts in South Park. Kickoff for the season-opening showdown between Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame…
Read More2022 Friday Night Lights prep football preview section
Here is the Muddy River Sports preview of the 15 high school football teams in our coverage area. For mobile users, click on “Friday Night Lights” below to open the PDF.
Read MoreQHS boys soccer team takes care of business on road in season opener
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The pursuit of another Western Big 6 Conference championship got started on the right foot for the Quincy High School boys soccer team. The Blue Devils opened their season Tuesday night with a 5-1 victory over Rock Island Alleman. Senior midfielder Carter Venvertloh, the Blue Devils’ top returning scorer, picked up…
Read MoreSteady play leads Liberty’s Arnold to second-place finish at Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — Blake Arnold has figured out how to eliminate the chaos, keep things simple and avoid the kind of mistakes that can derail a solid round of golf. Only one player was better at it Saturday. Springfield’s Peyton Woods shot 1-under on both nines at Westview Golf Course to post a 2-under 69 and…
Read MoreGolf roundup: Saukees win own invitational, Blue Devils third in loaded field, Bombers take second
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield boys golf team took advantage of playing on its home course Saturday, posting three scores in the 80s to capture the team championship of the Pittsfield Invitational at Old Orchard Country Club. The Saukees shot a 345, followed by Illini West at 351 and Rushville-Industry at 381. Illini West’s Nolan…
Read MoreDepth of QHS girls tennis team provides options, strong start at Ottawa showcases it
QUINCY — After a few days of practice, Quincy High School girls tennis coach Mike Terry likes what he sees. “We have a bunch of options,” he said. “So, we’ve got a lot of flexibility in both singles and doubles.” It starts with the four returning letterwinners. Senior Audra Cain, juniors Lily and Phoebe Hayes…
Read MoreBlue Devils score seven-stroke victory at Redbird Classic with Gold, Geisendorfer in top three
METAMORA, Ill. — The Quincy High School girls golf team appears ready to make another run at a state tournament berth. The Blue Devils posted two of the top three individual scores and took first place Wednesday in the ninth annual Redbird Classic at Metamora Fields. QHS posted a 320 team score to distance itself…
Read MoreGolf roundup: Bombers place third in back-to-back tournaments
PEORIA, Ill. — The Macomb boys golf team seems to be finding a groove. The Bombers finished third back-to-back days in invitationals in Peoria and Normal. Macomb posted a 304 on Monday in the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational at Kellogg Golf Course to take third, while Quincy Notre Dame finished fifth with a 309. Connor…
Read MoreCraven leads QND boys golf team to victory in quadrangular at Spring Lake Country Club
QUINCY — Blustery conditions beneath a bright sun turned Spring Lake Country Club’s 18-hole golf course into a challenging track Saturday afternoon. Quincy Notre Dame’s Konnor Craven posted his second straight solid round, shooting a 2-over 74 to earn medalist honors in a quadrangular in which only three golfers broke 80. The Raiders won the…
Read MoreBlue Devils look to be patient, yet aggressive in attacking third to generate more offense
QUINCY — While watching his older brothers enjoy stellar high school soccer careers, Carter Venvertloh dreamed of the moment he’d be front and center in Quincy High School’s attack. That time is now. A four-year varsity player who was an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-sectional selection as a junior, Venvertloh has watched the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Scenes from the start of fall sports practices
Johnson saves best for last, earns NCAA Division I All-American honors in process
QUINCY — University of Minnesota thrower Kaleb Siekmeier’s reaction to Jordan Johnson’s throw made the Quincy native do a double take. Following his final throw in the discus at the NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championships last Friday in Eugene, Ore., Johnson watched the scoreboard for his distance and was admittedly slightly disappointed…
Read MoreQND lands three juniors on girls soccer all-sectional list, two QHS sophomores earn spots
QUINCY — The front-to-back, middle-of-the-field trio that carried the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team to a state championship earned some worthy postseason honors. So did Quincy High School’s dangerous sophomore connection. Raiders forward Lia Quintero, midfielder Avery Keck and sweeper Eva Dickerman — they are all juniors — received all-sectional plaudits from the Illinois…
Read MoreSearch for right fit leads QHS all-stater Talton to JWCC to continue basketball career
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton wanted to play for a college basketball coach he could build a relationship with beyond the court and a program that would help his game mature. He didn’t have to leave town to find the right combination. The Quincy High School all-state swingman signed his national letter of intent with John…
Read MoreQHS’s Talton de-commits from University of New Orleans, seeks ‘place that really, really fits me’
QUINCY — The lure of an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship led Jeremiah Talton to make a hasty decision. He vows not to make the same mistake twice. The Quincy High School all-state swingman and Muddy River Sports Player of the Year received a release from his national letter of intent with the University of…
Read MoreJetting to a state title: QHS’s Rose wins 200-meter dash at Class 3A state championship
CHARLESTON, Ill. — Jettason Rose fulfilled the promise of his name. The Quincy High School sprinter became the ninth individual state track and field champion in school history Saturday, jetting past the field to win the 200-meter dash at the Class 3A state championships at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium. Rose finished in 22.04 seconds,…
Read MoreEdwardsville’s powerful lineup knocks QHS baseball team out in regional championship game
ALTON, Ill. — Powered by the top three hitters in its lineup, the Edwardsville baseball team outmuscled Quincy High School in Saturday’s Class 4A Alton Regional championship. Grant Huebner, Spencer Stearns and Riley Iffrig went a combined 8 for 11 with two home runs, three doubles and six RBIs to send the top-seeded Tigers to…
Read MoreRose jets way into state track finals, posts top preliminary time in 200-meter dash
CHARLESTON, Ill. — Jettason Rose is in prime position to finish his prep track career on top of the podium. The Quincy High School senior sprinter posted the fastest time in the preliminaries of the 200-meter dash during the Class 3A boys state track and field championships Friday at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Schroeder doesn’t wait until seventh to deliver game-winning RBI single
ALTON, Mo. — Walk-off Joe didn’t get the opportunity to end the Quincy High School baseball team’s regional victory in heroic fashion So junior second baseman Joe Schroeder settled for a game-winning hit an inning earlier. Following Noah Harbin’s two-out triple in the sixth inning of Thursday’s Class 4A Alton Regional semifinal at Lloyd Hopkins…
Read MoreSuccess on pitch, baseball diamond leads to All-WB6 honors for Blue Devils
QUINCY — To the winner go the spoils. So it’s only fitting the Quincy High School girls soccer team landed the most players of any program on the All-Western Big 6 Conference teams. The Blue Devils placed three on the first team, two on the second team and five on honorable mention after they went…
Read MoreQHS’s Schuering reaches final in 800, will run twice on final day of state track championships
CHARLESTON, Ill. — Anna Schuering’s celebrated cross country and track career will end with two races on the final day of the season. The Quincy High School senior deserves that last hurrah. Schuering qualified for the 800-meter finals at the Class 3A state track and field championships Friday at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois…
Read MoreRose, Savage sprint and hurdle their way into the Class 3A state track field
O’FALLON, Ill. — First came the lightning. Then came the thunder. Two Quincy High School athletes earned their spot in the field for the Class 3A boys state track and field championships by sprinting faster than nearly everyone before thunderstorms and tornado warnings forced the O’Fallon Sectional to be suspended. The final four events will…
Read MoreWalk-off Joe delivers again as QHS baseball team earns WB6 split with Galesburg
QUINCY — That boy’s just a walk-off Joe. For the second time in Western Big 6 Conference play, Quincy High School junior Joe Schroeder delivered a walk-off hit, this one coming in the ninth inning of the QHS baseball team’s 6-5 victory over Galesburg in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday at the QHS…
Read MoreSecond-half goal pushes Edwardsville past Quincy in Class 3A regional semifinals
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — As the scoring chances continued to pile up despite no change in the scoreboard, Edwardsville freshman Mea Hook said the team wasn’t panicking. “It wasn’t frustrating. We weren’t mad about it. It was more aggravating,” Hook said. The aggravation turned to celebration when Hook scored the game’s lone goal in the 53rd…
Read MoreSavage effort by Blue Devils leaves them feeling Rose-y after WB6 championships
STERLING, Ill. — Jett Rose made it a clean sweep yet again. Reid Savage nearly followed his teammate’s lead. They shared in a championship moment, too. Rose, a senior sprinter on the Quincy High School boys track and field team, repeated as the Western Big 6 Conference champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes during…
Read MoreString of singles victories allows QHS boys tennis team to rally to knock off QND
QUINCY — Mike Terry reminded the bottom four players in the Quincy High School boys tennis team’s singles lineup just how valuable their efforts could be. “I called them in and said, ‘We need these four matches,’” the veteran coach said. “I knew we’d have a rough time at Nos. 1 and 2, not because…
Read MoreDancing in the dark: Raiders showcase energy, enthusiasm and bling while sweeping season series from Blue Devils
QUINCY — Mason Winking’s part-time job at Farm & Home Supply afforded him the opportunity last weekend to pick up some new home run bling for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. Little did the Raiders know how significant the upgrade would be. Winking purchased — he used his employee discount, an important fact for…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, QHS baseball teams meet for third time this season in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — A barrage of hits and runs in the first two innings of Monday night’s crossdown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams ended, and the game became a battle of zeroes until the lights went out with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Sports Editor…
Read More‘Major League’ speed: Hernandez-Jones’ journey around bases in seventh inning allows Raiders to beat Blue Devils
QUINCY — Eric Orne’s knowledge of sports films came in handy Monday evening. The veteran Quincy Notre Dame softball coach matter-of-factly referenced Raiders left fielder Laela Hernandez-Jones to the fictional Willie Mays Hayes in the classic 1989 baseball movie “Major League.” “Laela is our fastest player, just like Willie Mays Hayes,” Orne said. “She got…
Read MoreSchroeder’s seventh-inning heroics allow Blue Devils to split WB6 doubleheader
QUINCY — Joe Schroeder played the hero in the first game of Saturday’s Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader. The Quincy High School baseball team needed another one in the nightcap. The Blue Devils took the opener against Geneseo 2-1 as Schroeder delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the nightcap,…
Read MoreQHS’s Rose sprints to pair of victories in sectional preview at Collinsville
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Jett Rose showed he’s ready to run with the best. The Quincy High School senior sprinter got a glimpse of what the Class 3A O’Fallon Sectional field will be like during Saturday’s Collinsville Invitational, and he put himself in prime position to be chased. Rose won the 100-meter dash in 10.89 seconds,…
Read MoreQHS’s Schuering completes distance trifecta, winning three titles at WB6 girls track meet
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Anna Schuering’s reign over the distance races in the Western Big 6 Conference is complete. The Quincy High School senior was named the league’s co-MVP after winning the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs Friday at the WB6 girls track and field championships at Rock Island Stadium. Schuering also won the WB6…
Read MoreBlue Devils rally to gain split of WB6 doubleheader with Pioneers
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The momentum a game-tying, seventh-inning run should have produced could have been lost when Rock Island Alleman walked off in the bottom of the inning with a 5-4 victory in the first game on Monday’s Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader. The Quincy High School baseball team refused to let that be…
Read MoreHarbin, Cook shut down Golden Warriors as Blue Devils earn WB6 doubleheader sweep
STERLING, Ill. — A pair of shutdown pitching performances kept the Quincy High School baseball team in the thick of the Western Big 6 Conference race. Noah Harbin authored a one-hit shutout as the Blue Devils opened Friday’s WB6 doubleheader with an 11-0 victory over Sterling. Grayson Cook followed with a three-hitter as the Blue…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Incredible performances highlight Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Mathew Kirby captured images of many of the pivotal moments and remarkable performances that took place Friday at the Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays at Porter Stadium. Check out this collection of his photos:
Read MoreSupport system: QHS runners put chemistry, camaraderie on display during Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — With each pass of the baton, a sprint ensued. The final two events of the 71st Quincy Invitational, held Wednesday at Flinn Stadium, were the boys and girls 4×400-meter relays, and collectively, the Quincy High School track and field athletes wanted to lend support and encouragement to their teammates. So on each of…
Read MoreSecond-half goal leads to WB6 victory for Blue Devils and guarantees share of league title
QUINCY — The Western Big 6 Conference championship was within reach. The Quincy HIgh School girls soccer team simply had to grab it. A more spirited effort in the second half of Tuesday night’s game against Rock Island Alleman allowed the Blue Devils to do that. A ball that ricocheted into the goal off a…
Read MorePrep baseball scoreboard for Monday, April 25
Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 4, Unity 0: Ben Kasparie tossed five shutout innings, and Tucker Tollerton followed with two scoreless frames as the Raiders ran their winning streak to eight straight games. Kasparie allowed two hits while striking out four and walking none. Tollerton allowed three hits…
Read MoreSlap happy: Schertel’s ability to get on base gives Raiders edge in victory over Blue Devils
QUINCY — Haley Schertel was not always a slapper. “In eighth grade, (the Quincy Notre Dame softball coaching staff) switched me from being a right-handed hitter to a (left-handed) slapper,” Schertel said. The rest, as they say, is history. Schertel’s development as a slapper was in full view Monday evening at Quincy High School when…
Read MoreRaiders’ Cucuk shows state tournament form, while Blue Devils capture crosstown dual
QUINCY — Less than a month exists until Marko Cucuk discovers if his dreams of returning to the Illinois boys state tennis tournament become reality. So now is not the time to relax. “There’s no stopping,” Cucuk said. “You just have to work every single day.” Monday, that meant dealing with conditions that have become…
Read MoreSchisler shuts out Blue Devils as Raiders run win streak to seven straight with victory at The Ferd
QUINCY — The circumstances which led to the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams scrambling to find replacements for Saturday’s scheduled matchups were unfortunate. The final outcome was something both programs can appreciate — another well-pitched, well-played chapter in the city rivalry. Raiders junior right-hander Jake Schisler outdueled Blue Devils senior Noah…
Read MoreCentral’s Thompson sets new marks, while QHS boys and girls win team titles at invitational
RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Ezra Thompson’s leaping ability, Jettason Rose’s speed and LaMarrio Rodgers’ strength were the highlights of the 19th Rob Garcia Invitational, which featured 17 prep track and field teams. Central’s Thompson shattered his personal best in the triple jump, winning the event with a leap of 12.45 meters. He also set a new…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy Notre Dame, Quincy High School square off in baseball at The Ferd
QUINCY — Because of scheduling conflicts with their scheduled opponents, the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams both were searching for an opponent for Saturday. So they played each other at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action and here’s a gallery of his images:
Read MoreCorner kick connection pushes Blue Devils another victory closer to WB6 championship
QUINCY — Bri Lannerd called Rian Moore’s corner kick the perfect ball. “You can’t get better than that,” Lannerd said. Moore had a pretty good idea what the end result of it would be. “I can tell when Bri has her eyes on a ball,” Moore said. “She saw it, it was right at her…
Read MoreTaking over reins of Palmyra baseball program allows QHS’s Crisp more quality time with family
QUINCY — Brandon Crisp hoped to find the best of both worlds. The Palmyra School district is affording him that. The Quincy High School baseball coach informed his staff and players Wednesday he is resigning at season’s end to become the head baseball coach and an elementary school physical education teacher at Palmyra. The Palmyra…
Read MoreLiquor Booth Shot of the Game: Blue Devils’ Cook hits grand slam to crumble Rocks
QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team got the Western Big 6 Conference portion of its schedule off with a bang. A big bang. Leading Rock Island 2-0 in the first game of last Saturday’s doubleheader, QHS senior third baseman Grayson Cook added the knockout blow by hitting a grand slam to left field…
Read MoreBlue Devils open WB6 baseball slate with doubleheader sweep of Rocks
QUINCY — Two big swings and two quality pitching performances gave the Quincy High School baseball team a leg up in the first Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader of the spring. The Blue Devils swept Rock Island on Saturday, winning the opener 6-1 behind Grayson Cook’s fifth-inning grand slam and completing the sweep with a…
Read MoreNo longer fit to be tied, Raiders sweep season series from Blue Devils with Quintero’s late goal
QUINCY — The thought of playing to another draw became increasingly aggravating. “We just knew we couldn’t tie again, not after tying in each of our past three games,” said Grace Bertram, a junior defender on the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team. “We just couldn’t.” Yet, through 73 minutes of Monday night’s crosstown showdown…
Read MoreBoys Basketball Player of the Year: QHS’s Talton puts character, maturity and joy on display
QUINCY — So much of what Jeremiah Talton accomplished throughout his senior season boiled down to character and commitment, and his maturity as a player and a leader came to the forefront. Yet, there was still a kid in him, just the way it should be. Never was that more evident than after a Tuesday…
Read MoreQHS Hall of Famer Bruce Douglas to be featured speaker at FCA banquet in May
QUINCY — One of the top prep basketball players in the history of the state of Illinois and an icon from the greatest era in the storied tradition of the Quincy High School boys basketball program is coming home to speak at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet. Hall of Fame point guard Bruce Douglas…
Read MoreBlue Devils seize scoring opportunities, finish Kickoff Classic with pair of victories
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team capitalized when it had the opportunities. Quincy Notre Dame and Hannibal did not. Thus, the Blue Devils exited the weekend with a pair of shutout victories, having taken a couple of significant steps in their journey to be a postseason contender. In the final game of…
Read MoreArea track athletes climb podium at Illinois Top Times indoor championships
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — It turned out to be a medal-filled weekend for area track athletes at the Illinois Top Times indoor championships at the Shirk Center on the Illinois State University campus. Jettason Rose led a trio of Quincy High School runners into the finals by placing in the top five in two events in…
Read MoreLannerd drives free kick over Pirates’ defense, carries Blue Devils to victory at Flinn Stadium
QUINCY — Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller’s preachings in practice rattled around in Bri Lannerd’s head as she stood over a 30-yard free kick. “I knew if I put it on frame it had a chance,” Lannerd said. “I tried to just give it a chance.” She might have to do that…
Read MoreCollegiate connections to QHS hoops program continue to be far ranging
QUINCY — How many roads intersect with the Quincy High School boys basketball program? Quite a few it turns out. For example, the University of Missouri men’s basketball program’s newest coach, Dennis Gates, was a starting guard on the Chicago Whitney Young powerhouse that beat the Blue Devils in the semifinals of the Class AA…
Read MoreEfficient and effective, Raiders dispatch Blue Devils as part of two-win opening day
QUINCY — Theoretically, Quincy Notre Dame baseball coach Ryan Oden wouldn’t have wanted either of Saturday’s starting pitchers to throw more than 50 pitches in their first outings of the season. Neither Alex Connoyer nor Jake Schisler exceeded that limit by much, but their ability to stay in the strike zone and work efficient innings…
Read MoreRaiders shift into another gear in second half, rally to beat Blue Devils in season opener
QUINCY — The suggestion that having her long blonde hair pulled into a bulb atop her head was reminiscent of the Flintstones’ character Pebbles gave Lia Quintero the opening to explain what the hairstyle actually is. “It’s the gearshift,” she said. Varying levels of power come with it. “It’s good for speed, too,” said Quintero,…
Read MoreWalk-off victory allows Blue Devils to earn split in season-opening event at GCS Ballpark
SAUGET, Ill. — It took a few innings to get the offense rolling, but once that happened, the Quincy High School baseball team was able to come away with a season-opening split Wednesday afternoon. Three Collinsville pitchers limited the Blue Devils to three hits in a 5-0 loss in the first game of the Kickoff…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Talton named Western Big 6 MVP, joined on all-conference first team by Longcor
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton’s impact on the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s success went far beyond points scored and 3-pointers made. Every coach in the Western Big 6 Conference felt that. It made it easy for them to vote for Talton, the 6-foot-6 senior swingman, as the WB6 most valuable player, the first season…
Read MoreMissing the mark: QHS boys struggle shooting in second half, see lead evaporate in super-sectional loss to Bolingbrook
NORMAL, Ill. — If you took time to actually measure the measurables — the height of the rim, the distance to the 3-point stripe, the length and width of the court — you’re bound to find both ends of the Redbird Arena court meet the same specifications.. The Quincy High School boys basketball players might…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils’ Douglas pours every beat of his heart into love for his players
NORMAL, Ill. — Restless nights tend to accompany the calendar flip, when January rolls into February and high school basketball coaches worry about how to prepare for and sustain postseason success. When the nights grow shorter and sleep is a struggle in the middle of October rather than the middle of the season, something other…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy High School vs. Bolingbrook in Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured some of the action, reaction and atmosphere in photos during Monday night’s Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional between the Quincy High School and Bolingbrook boys basketball teams. Check out a gallery of his images below.
Read MoreSweet to Elite: Blue Devils upend third-ranked Ironmen for first sectional title since 2000
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas’ heart nearly sank. Fortunately for Douglas and the Blue Devils, Normal Community’s Zach Cleveland’s potential game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds left didn’t fall either. “It did everything but go in. It hit the backboard then rimmed out. It takes a little bit of luck…
Read MoreClutch performances from Blue Devils’ supporting cast lead to sectional semifinal victory
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Reid O’Brien dared the Collinsville boys basketball team to do it again. “If you leave me open, I’m going to make it,” he said with a smirk and a shrug. The Kahoks left him wide open twice. The Quincy High School junior guard made them both times. Tied at 17 at halftime…
Read MoreWreck it, Ralph! QHS sophomore guard’s game-winning layup ends Kahoks’ win streak, sends Blue Devils into sectional title game
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Any aspect of the final sequence — the split, the bounce or the bucket — could have been negated by a whistle. Ralph Wires prayed he wouldn’t hear one. With time evaporating rapidly and overtime looming, the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s sophomore point guard found himself in a now-or-never situation.…
Read MoreBlue Devils toughen up in second half, rally to knock off Panthers for Class 4A regional crown
ALTON, Ill. — Quincy High School senior Jeremiah Talton identified the problem in a first half that saw the Blue Devils heavily outrebounded and settling for outside shots. “We were playing soft,” Talton said. “We weren’t playing our brand of basketball.” Talton put Quincy back on brand, scoring 13 of his 18 points in the…
Read MoreTotal team mentality: Blue Devils rely on scoring balance to carry them to regional title tilt
ALTON, Ill. — Presented with intel the Quincy High School boys basketball team had its two leading scorers fail to reach double figures in the same game for the first time this season, junior guard Reid O’Brien shrugged it off. The Blue Devils, in his eyes, are the epitome of a team. “We have winners,”…
Read MoreSchuckman: Journey back to prosperity has been emotional ride for Blue Devils’ Douglas
QUINCY — His voice quivered. His eyes glistened. And the words Andy Dougals felt best described the agony and ecstasy that bookended the past year were difficult to utter. “Damn, I didn’t know I’d get this emotional,” he said. So Douglas took off his glasses, dabbed at the corner of his eyes and took a…
Read MoreBig game in the Big Easy: Quincy’s Talton commits to the University of New Orleans
QUINCY — Cameron Bergman knew what was potentially transpiring as Jeremiah Talton chatted with University of New Orleans assistant basketball coach Kris Arkenberg following Tuesday night’s game against Galesburg. So Bergman, a senior on the Quincy High School boys basketball team, waited around to find out if there was any news. “Did you get it?”…
Read MoreLiquor Booth Shot of the Game: Talton’s dunk brings Blue Devil Gym to life
QUINCY — Trying to find the right footing during the regular season finale against Galesburg on Tuesday night at Blue Devil Gym, the Quincy High School boys basketball team needed a jolt. Jeremiah Talton provided it. Trailing 11-9 with less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Talton contested a shot by the Silver…
Read MoreThe Devils made him do it: Talton powers QHS to outright WB6 championship with determined effort
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton decided to act a little devilish. Envious of those who made winning a Western Big 6 Conference championship a point of pride within the Quincy High School boys basketball program and greedy enough to want to win the first WB6 crown of his career outright, Talton took that as inspiration and…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball regionals: QND fends off Plains in second half, QHS cannot stop Alton’s run
The difference between the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team advancing to a regional championship and Quincy High School falling short of that goal is a matter of minutes, not so much a matter of points. The Raiders shut down Pleasant Plains long enough to survive. The Blue Devils needed 90 seconds of timely stops…
Read MoreBlue Devils maintain focus, Talton finds rhythm, and momentum is building following victory over Crimsons
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — With a monumental conference victory in its rear view and an outright championship to fight for looking ahead, the Quincy High School boys basketball team could have been caught lollygagging through Saturday night’s game. That didn’t happen. The Blue Devils scored the game’s first 15 points, held Jacksonville scoreless for the first…
Read More‘This is our team up on the wall’: Blue Devils finish off Rocks to guarantee themselves share of WB6 championship
QUINCY — To leave a legacy within Quincy High School’s tradition-rich boys basketball program, you have to put a number on the wall. Jeremiah Talton finally gets that opportunity. Bradley Longcor III and his classmates may end up doing it multiple times. Friday night, these Blue Devils earned the right to be part of history…
Read MoreBlue Devils taking straightforward approach into postseason after upending Rocks in WB6 finale
QUINCY — Four years ago as a freshman, Laci Novosel was scared to even look at the basket. In her final regular season game in the QHS gym on Thursday night, the senior caught the ball at the free-throw line, attacked off the dribble and scored at the rim like a seasoned veteran, providing 10…
Read MoreSeeds for IHSA boys basketball postseason create intriguing matchups and potential showdowns
QUINCY — An opponent the Quincy High School boys basketball team missed out on seeing during the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic could be the one that stands between the Blue Devils and a regional championship. Meanwhile, Liberty and Southeastern are on a collision course for an epic showdown — if both can survive. The…
Read MoreSchuckman: Former QHS standout finds his happiness and his game with basketball in his hands
QUINCY — The ball seemed so much more comfortable in his hands — certainly coming off his hands it was picturesque — than it ever did on his foot. Jaeden Smith knew it, but he needed to embrace it. Once he did, it made his happiness complete. A two-sport standout at Quincy High School who…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Liberty stays in middle of Class 1A’s top 10, QHS still receiving votes
QUINCY — The Moline boys basketball team’s victory over Quincy High School last Friday night at Wharton Field House vaulted the Maroons into the Class 4A state rankings, while the Blue Devils remain among the others receiving votes. Liberty is still the only area team ranked, although the Eagles dropped one spot to No. 5…
Read MoreDevilishly good: Talton outscores, outshoots Geneseo in first half as QHS inches closer to WB6 crown
GENESEO, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team dropped its first Western Big 6 Conference game last Friday night, but the Blue Devils made sure to put Tuesday’s league contest out of reach by halftime. Geneseo lost control early and things quickly got out of hand as Quincy cruised to a 71-32 victory.…
Read MoreBlue Devils find footing after first quarter, figure out way to finally beat Statesmen
QUINCY — Coming off of its first Western Big 6 Conference setback of the season Friday night against Moline, the Quincy High School boys basketball team had less than 24 hours to wipe the memory clean. It turns out a few extra minutes were needed. Like eight extra. A slow first quarter offensively pinned the…
Read MoreRegional wrestling: Blue Devils push four wrestlers through with Garrett, Bringer as runners-up
QUINCY — The Quincy High School wrestling team is sending four wrestlers to the Class 3A Granite City Sectional after the Blue Devils finished fourth as a team Saturday in the regional at the QHS gym. The Blue Devils’ Kayden Garrett and Gage Bringer each finished as the runner-up in their respective weight class, while…
Read MoreWharton wipeout: Blue Devils’ opportunity to go undefeated in WB6 ends with loss to Maroons
MOLINE, Ill. — Momentum began to teeter in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s direction Friday night when back-to-back baskets preceded the third quarter mask timeout. All the Blue Devils needed was a defensive stop or two when play resumed to sustain it. “(Assistant coach Bruce Bonness) mentioned that if we’re going to go…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: WB6 clash, SuperFan Shootout, wrestling regionals highlight weekend
QUINCY — A colossal conference clash. A cross-river showdown of state-ranked teams. A collegiate matchup with first place in the conference on the line. And champions to be crowned. It’s going to be quite a weekend. The madness starts Friday night when the Quincy High School boys basketball team travels to Moline with the chance…
Read MoreBlue Devils find way to heat up offense, rally in second half to beat Panthers in WB6 play
QUINCY — Brad Dance didn’t have an explanation for the Quincy High School girls basketball team’s inability to make a shot the first 10 minutes, 35 seconds of Thursday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game. He figures the snow might be the case. “We had a shootaround this morning, basically a light practice for about…
Read MoreQND Invitational: Pins and third-place finish give Blue Devils’ Newbold boost before regionals
QUINCY — A weekend of travel, multiple matches and relentless effort could have left Quincy High School wrestler Bryor Newbold a little weary. It actually has him energized. Newbold, a sophomore wrestling at 182 pounds, finished third in both Friday’s Western Big 6 Conference championships and Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Invitational, providing the jolt of…
Read MoreDefensive-minded Devils shut down Golden Warriors, increase lead in WB6 title chase
STERLING, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s effort last weekend against United Township resulted in a victory, but it was anything but perfect. Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas might describe it as imperfect. “There wasn’t a defensive possession in the first quarter where we didn’t make a mistake,” Douglas said. So he…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: QHS Hall of Famer Kyle Cartmill
QUINCY — As a kid, Kyle Cartmill chose to be the Blue Devil mascot for his Halloween costume. His passion for the Quincy High School boys basketball program has never waned, no matter where life’s road has taken him. Cartmill, a 1995 QHS graduate, became a Hall of Fame player who enjoyed a solid career…
Read MoreBlue Devils gain confidence with second straight victory over 17-win opponent
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team just might be peaking at the perfect time. The Blue Devils’ 40-25 Western Big 6 Conference victory Thursday night over a 17-win Galesburg club was the second straight win over a quality opponent, evening Quincy’s record at 8-8. Earlier this week, the Blue Devils downed Springfield…
Read MoreIllinois boys state basketball polls: Liberty receives first-place vote in Class 1A
QUINCY — Respect is growing for the Liberty boys basketball team. The Eagles remained No. 5 in the Class 1A state poll released Wednesday, but they received a first-place vote as the top of the Class 1A poll remains stacked. Four teams received first-place votes with No. 2 Yorkville Christian receiving the most with seven.…
Read More