QHS’s Schuering reaches final in 800, will run twice on final day of state track championships

Quincy High School's Anna Schuering competes in the 800-meter run during Friday’s preliminaries at the Class 3A girls state track and field championships in Charleston, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media

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…

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Walk-off Joe delivers again as QHS baseball team earns WB6 split with Galesburg

Quincy High School's Joe Schroeder delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning Tuesday in a 6-5 victory over Galesburg in the first game of a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader at the QHS field. Matt Schuckman file photo

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…

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Second-half goal pushes Edwardsville past Quincy in Class 3A regional semifinals

Quincy High School junior Anna Morrison, right, pushes the ball forward against Edwardsville during Tuesday's Class 3A Collinsville Regional semifinal at Kahok Stadium. Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

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…

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Savage effort by Blue Devils leaves them feeling Rose-y after WB6 championships

From left to right, Quincy High School's Jett Rose, Ethan Reinhart, Drew Tipton-Hicks and Reid Savage won the 4x100-meter relay at the Western Big 6 Conference championships in Sterling, Ill.

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…

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Dancing in the dark: Raiders showcase energy, enthusiasm and bling while sweeping season series from Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame's Denver Bryan slides safely into second base with a stolen base in the second inning of Monday's game against Quincy High School at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND, QHS baseball teams meet for third time this season in crosstown showdown

The Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams met for the third time this season Monday night at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘Major League’ speed: Hernandez-Jones’ journey around bases in seventh inning allows Raiders to beat Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Lindsey Fischer sets up to receive a pitch during Monday night's matchup with Quincy High School at The Backyard. Photo courtesy Max Bennett

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…

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Schroeder’s seventh-inning heroics allow Blue Devils to split WB6 doubleheader

Quincy High School's Joe Schroeder singled through the right side of the infield to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Geneseo. Matt Schuckman photo

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,…

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QHS’s Rose sprints to pair of victories in sectional preview at Collinsville

Quincy High School's Jett Rose won both the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the Collinsville Invitational on Saturday. Photo courtesy Max Bennett

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,…

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QHS’s Schuering completes distance trifecta, winning three titles at WB6 girls track meet

Quincy High School senior Anna Schuering won three individual titles Friday at the Western Big 6 Conference girls track and field championships. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Blue Devils rally to gain split of WB6 doubleheader with Pioneers

Quincy High School catcher Luke Mettemeyer went 6 for 8 at the plate in Monday's Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader split with Rock Island Alleman. Matt Schuckman file photo

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…

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Harbin, Cook shut down Golden Warriors as Blue Devils earn WB6 doubleheader sweep

Quincy High School right-hander Noah Harbin tossed a one-hit shutout Friday against Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action. Matt Schuckman file photo

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…

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Support system: QHS runners put chemistry, camaraderie on display during Quincy Invitational

Quincy High School's Sadiya Hodges, right, and Unity's Delanee Schulte, left, race in the 100-meter dash during the 71st Quincy Invitational at Flinn Stadium on Wednesday. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Prep 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…

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Slap happy: Schertel’s ability to get on base gives Raiders edge in victory over Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame's Laela Hernandez-Jones puts the ball in play during Monday's game against Quincy High School. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

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Raiders’ Cucuk shows state tournament form, while Blue Devils capture crosstown dual

Quincy Notre Dame's Marko Cucuk returns a shot during the No. 1 doubles match against Quincy High School on Monday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Schisler shuts out Blue Devils as Raiders run win streak to seven straight with victory at The Ferd

Quincy Notre Dame shortstop Alex Connoyer, left, checks Quincy High School's Grayson Cook, who was leading off second base during Saturday's game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Central’s Thompson sets new marks, while QHS boys and girls win team titles at invitational

The Quincy High School boys and girls track teams celebrate their team titles at Saturday's Rob Garcia Invitational at Rushville, Ill. Submitted photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Quincy Notre Dame, Quincy High School square off in baseball at The Ferd

Quincy High School's Joe Schroeder watches a pitch during Saturday's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

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:

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Corner kick connection pushes Blue Devils another victory closer to WB6 championship

Quincy High School sophomore midfielder Bri Lannerd, center, and her teammates celebrate after she headed in Rian Moore's corner kick for the game-winning goal in Tuesday night's 2-1 victory over Geneseo at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Taking over reins of Palmyra baseball program allows QHS’s Crisp more quality time with family

Quincy High School baseball coach Brandon Crisp, left, will resign at season's end to take the heading coaching position at Palmyra, where he and his family live. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Liquor Booth Shot of the Game: Blue Devils’ Cook hits grand slam to crumble Rocks

Quincy High School third baseman Grayson Cook hit a grand slam to punctuate a 6-1 victory over Rock Island in the Blue Devils' Western Big 6 Conference opener. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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No longer fit to be tied, Raiders sweep season series from Blue Devils with Quintero’s late goal

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer players celebrate Lia Quintero's goal with 6:06 remaining in regulation that pushed the Raiders to a 1-0 victory over Quincy High School on Monday night at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Boys Basketball Player of the Year: QHS’s Talton puts character, maturity and joy on display

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton is the Muddy River Sports Player of the Year after a record-setting season leading the Blue Devils to the Class 4A super-sectionals. Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

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…

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QHS Hall of Famer Bruce Douglas to be featured speaker at FCA banquet in May

Bruce Douglas, one of the greatest players in the history of the Quincy High School boys basketball program, will be the featured speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet May 1 at Quincy University's Pepsi Arena. Photo courtesy QHS Hall of Fame

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…

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Blue Devils seize scoring opportunities, finish Kickoff Classic with pair of victories

The Quincy High School girls soccer team celebrates its 2-0 victory over Ladue Horton Watkins on Saturday afternoon at Flinn Stadium. Photo courtesy Travis Dinkheller

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…

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Lannerd drives free kick over Pirates’ defense, carries Blue Devils to victory at Flinn Stadium

Quincy High School's Bri Lannerd gets hugged by teammate Rian Moore after scoring on a free kick with 21:30 remaining in the second half of Friday night's game against Hannibal. Quincy's Anna Morrison, right, joins in the celebration. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Collegiate connections to QHS hoops program continue to be far ranging

Quincy High School graduate Gary Phillips, left, became an All-American at the University of Houston and led the Cougars to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 1961. Photo courtesy University of Houston athletics

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…

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Efficient and effective, Raiders dispatch Blue Devils as part of two-win opening day

Quincy Notre Dame first baseman Dalton Miller stretches to grab a throw and force out Quincy High School's Noah Harbin during Saturday's game at the Ferd. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Raiders shift into another gear in second half, rally to beat Blue Devils in season opener

Quincy High School's Mariah Crist gets challenged by Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton as Lia Quintero, left, provides help during Wednesday's season opener at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

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,…

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Walk-off victory allows Blue Devils to earn split in season-opening event at GCS Ballpark

Quincy High School's Evan Sohn slides safely into second base with a stolen base during Wednesday's game against Belleville West at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. Photo courtesy Paul Baillaergon, Archview Photo

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…

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Blue Devils’ Talton named Western Big 6 MVP, joined on all-conference first team by Longcor

Quincy High School's Jeremiah Talton was named the Western Big 6 Conference MVP, as voted on by the league's coaches. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Missing the mark: QHS boys struggle shooting in second half, see lead evaporate in super-sectional loss to Bolingbrook

From left to right, Quincy High School's Terron Cartmill, Sam Mulherin and Dominique Clay watch as the final minute ticks away on a 49-42 loss to Bolingbrook in the Class 4A Normal Super-sectional on Monday night at Redbird Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Schuckman: Blue Devils’ Douglas pours every beat of his heart into love for his players

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas goes through his final pregame preparations before the Blue Devils played Bolingbrook on Monday night in the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional at Redbird Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Quincy High School vs. Bolingbrook in Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, right, embraces senior forward Jeremiah Talton as he exits the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional with 10 seconds remaining in the 49-42 loss to Bolingbrook on Monday night. Matt Schuckman photo

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.

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Sweet to Elite: Blue Devils upend third-ranked Ironmen for first sectional title since 2000

The Quincy High School boys basketball players celebrate their 56-51 victory over Normal Community in the Class 4A Collinsville Sectional championship game Friday night at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Photo courtesy Matthew Kamp

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…

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Clutch performances from Blue Devils’ supporting cast lead to sectional semifinal victory

Quincy High School's Reid O'Brien smiles after making a defensive play during the first half of Tuesday's Class 4A sectional semifinal game against Collinsville at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Wreck it, Ralph! QHS sophomore guard’s game-winning layup ends Kahoks’ win streak, sends Blue Devils into sectional title game

Quincy High School's Jeremiah Talton, left, and Ralph Wires react after Wires made a layup as time expired to give the Blue Devils a 34-32 victory over Collinsville in the Class 4A sectional semifinals Tuesday night at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

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.…

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Blue Devils toughen up in second half, rally to knock off Panthers for Class 4A regional crown

The Quincy High School boys basketball team celebrates winning the Class 4A Alton Regional championship Friday night with a 56-49 victory over O'Fallon. Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photo

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…

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Schuckman: Journey back to prosperity has been emotional ride for Blue Devils’ Douglas

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas has guided the Blue Devils to a 24-5 record and the Western Big 6 Conference championship one year after going 3-12. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Big game in the Big Easy: Quincy’s Talton commits to the University of New Orleans

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton verbally committed to the University of New Orleans on Friday. Photo courtesy Paul Baillaergon, Archview Photo

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?”…

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Liquor Booth Shot of the Game: Talton’s dunk brings Blue Devil Gym to life

Quincy High School senior Jeremiah Talton ignited the Blue Devil Gym crowd twice during the victory over Galesburg with a pair of two-handed dunks. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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The Devils made him do it: Talton powers QHS to outright WB6 championship with determined effort

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton scored a game-high 29 points Tuesday night in leading the Blue Devils to a 65-57 victory over Galesburg that clinched the Western Big 6 Conference championship. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball regionals: QND fends off Plains in second half, QHS cannot stop Alton’s run

Quincy High School sophomore forward Taylor Fohey, center, looks for room to score against Alton in the Class 4A Edwardsville Sectional semifinals Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

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…

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Blue 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…

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‘This is our team up on the wall’: Blue Devils finish off Rocks to guarantee themselves share of WB6 championship

The Quincy High School boys basketball team and the the student cheering section celebrate on the Blue Devil Gym floor after beating Rock Island 49-47 Friday night to earn no worse than a share of the Western Big 6 Conference championship. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Schuckman: Former QHS standout finds his happiness and his game with basketball in his hands

Former Quincy High School standout Jaeden Smith is enjoying his redshirt freshman season with the Maryville men's basketball team. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Illinois boys basketball state rankings: Liberty stays in middle of Class 1A’s top 10, QHS still receiving votes

Liberty coach Greg Altmix, right, and the Eagles are the area's only team ranked in the Illinois boys basketball state polls. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Blue Devils find footing after first quarter, figure out way to finally beat Statesmen

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton led the Blue Devils with 18 points in Saturday night's 62-54 victory over Webster Groves (Mo.) at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Regional wrestling: Blue Devils push four wrestlers through with Garrett, Bringer as runners-up

Quincy High School's Kayden Garrett, right, finished as the runner-up at 170 pounds in the Class 3A Quincy Regional held Saturday at the QHS gym. Photo courtesy Libby Phelps, Quippi Staff

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…

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Wharton wipeout: Blue Devils’ opportunity to go undefeated in WB6 ends with loss to Maroons

Moline freshman forward Trey Taylor, right, scores the first basket of Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game while being defended by Quincy High School's Sam Mulherin. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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QND Invitational: Pins and third-place finish give Blue Devils’ Newbold boost before regionals

Quincy High School's Bryor Newbold pins Kirkwood's Ethan Gjelvik in the 182-pound third-place match Saturday at the QND Invitational. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Defensive-minded Devils shut down Golden Warriors, increase lead in WB6 title chase

Quincy High School sophomore point guard Ralph Wires scored five points Friday night against Sterling and was dynamic defensively in the 60-32 victory. File Photo

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…

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Blue Devils gain confidence with second straight victory over 17-win opponent

Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier, right, attempts to score during Thursday night's Western Big 6 Conference game against Galesburg at the QHS gym. Photo courtesy Stacie Niffen, Quippi Staff

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…

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Illinois boys state basketball polls: Liberty receives first-place vote in Class 1A

The Liberty boys basketball team remains the only area school ranked in the state polls, which were released Wednesday. Matt Schuckman photo

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.…

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Shooting down records: Talton breaks Douglas’ single-season 3-point mark as Blue Devil romp

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton made seven 3-pointers in the first half Tuesday night against Alleman and in the process broke the single-season 3-point record with 69 made treys. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Had Andy Douglas wanted to keep his single-season 3-point shooting record just a little while longer, he could have benched Jeremiah Talton after the senior sharpshooter made his fifth trey Tuesday night. “I should have,” Douglas said with a laugh. “That would have been hilarious.” Even if Douglas had taken Talton out, he…

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Schuckman: Roar after Wells’ shot is reminder he is small part of Blue Devil tradition now and forever

Quincy High School senior forward Wil Wells, right, puts up a shot during the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's game against Rock Island Alleman at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The clamor began as soon as Wil Wells stood up and made his way to the scorer’s table to check in to Tuesday night’s game against Rock Island Alleman. He knew it wouldn’t stop until he scored. “It’s a little bit of pressure, I have to admit,” Wells said. A senior forward on…

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Harmann’s return to Blue Devil Gym is enjoyable, memorable experience

Chris Harmann, a 2003 Quincy High School graduate who coached in the QHS boys basketball program for 10 years, works the sideline during last Saturday's game against Liberty at Blue Devil Gym in the Quincy Shootout. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — As Chris Harmann strolled out of the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s locker room and onto the Blue Devil Gym court last Saturday morning, instincts took over and guided him toward the home team’s bench. Then reality set in. He wasn’t supposed to be sitting on the north end of the gym.…

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Quincy Shootout: Kramer adds to family legacy in Blue Devil Gym by taking down Blue Devils

SLUH senior guard Nick Kramer, right, laughs about a call before Quincy High School's Reid O'Brien gets ready to inbound the ball during Saturday night's Quincy Shootout game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The son of a Blue Devil legend did all he could to keep a current Quincy High School boys basketball standout carving his own legacy from adding a Quincy Shootout victory to his resume. By doing so, Nick Kramer made the trip down memory lane unforgettable. Kramer, the St. Louis University High senior…

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Quincy Shootout: Blue Devils discover needed energy in fourth quarter, stay undefeated in WB6 by beating Panthers

Quincy High School's Terron Cartmill, left, pressures United Township's Mahki Johnson during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III nodded at the suggestion it had been a week filled with low-energy practices for the Quincy High School boys basketball team. “It wasn’t the best,” the freshman guard admitted. Junior guard Reid O’Brien was a little more blunt. “We didn’t have any good practices all week long,” O’Brien said. So…

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Inside the Shootout: Nationally ranked teams, Power 5 conference recruits highlight Quincy Shootout field

Chicago St. Rita sophomore forward Morez Johnson, right, has committed to the University of Illinois and coach Brad Underwood. Submitted photo

The fourth Quincy Shootout takes place this weekend with games being played Friday night at Quincy High School’s Blue Devil Gym and Quincy Notre Dame’s The Pit. Saturday, all eight games will be played at Blue Devil Gym. Here is a look at the teams and top players who will be worth the price of…

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Defensive pressure, QND’s scoring duo too much for QHS to overcome in rivalry game

Quincy Notre Dame guard Sage Stratton, left, applies pressure to Quincy High School guard Leah Chevalier during the first quarter of Tuesday night's game at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team didn’t score off the opening tip Tuesday night like it so often does. The Raiders didn’t convert on their opening possession either, which negated their ability to jump into a full-court press and create havoc for Quincy High School’s backcourt. It took 52 seconds for all…

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Raiders’ Eftink gets last laugh after shooting prowess helps take down Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame guard Blair Eftink, left, looks for a path to attack while being hounded by Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier during Tuesday night's game at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The raucous, creative and comical Quincy High School students who packed the bleachers behind the girls basketball team’s bench Tuesday night need to check their schedules. Their presence is requested at future games. “Tell them to come out there and get me fired up,” Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Blair Eftink said with…

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Sharrow, Miller beat box their way to individual titles as QHS captures championship of own wrestling invite

Quincy High School's Max Miller, top, gains control of Troy Triad's Sam Wheeler in the championship match of the 160-pound class at the Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym. Photo courtesy Libby Phelps, Quippi Staff

QUINCY — Hugh Sharrow’s academic standing says freshman, but he’s obviously wiser — and talented — well beyond his years. “He’s legendary,” Quincy High School wrestling coach Phil Neally said through a wry smile. Neally likes to talk as much about Sharrow’s beat-boxing abilities as he does his skills on the mat. Both were in…

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Talton finds rhythm, Blue Devils avenge loss at Roy S. Anderson Gym by barraging Railsplitters

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton made the second-most single-game 3-pointers in program history by making eight in Saturday night's 45-25 victory at Lincoln. Photo courtesy Paul Baillaergon, Archview Photo

LINCOLN, Ill. — Jeremiah Talton could tell during pregame warmups Saturday night the right ankle he had tweaked 24 hours prior wasn’t going to be an issue. “It’s actually feeling pretty good,” the Quincy High School senior swingman said. “As soon as I got out there, I wasn’t feeling anything.” He also knew he had…

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Halfway home: Blue Devils reach midpoint of WB6 season in first place after fending off Silver Streaks

Quincy High School freshman Bradley Longcor III shoots and scores on a short jumper during the Blue Devils' 55-53 Western Big 6 Conference win over host Galesburg on Friday night at John Thiel Gym. Photo courtesy Steve Davis

GALESBURG, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball Andy Douglas believes his players deserve a nomination for an Emmy or an Academy Award. Leading Galesburg by two points with 8.5 seconds remaining in regulation Friday night at John Thiel Gym, Douglas instructed the Blue Devils during a timeout called by the Silver Streaks to act…

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QHS, Central, Palmyra wrestlers ready to vie for championships at Quincy Invitational

Quincy High School had five wrestlers finish undefeated in Friday night's action in pool format and position themselves to challenge for individual championships Saturday during the Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym. Photo courtesy Libby Phelps, Quippi staff

QUINCY — Weather may have altered the brackets and forced some teams to decline making the trip to compete in the Quincy Invitational, but Friday night’s opening rounds of the long-time wrestling tournament showed the cream always rises to the top. Quincy High School had five wrestlers go unbeaten during Friday’s action, while Central had…

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Blue Devils adapt, adjust and apply pressure to keep WB6 win streak going

Quincy High School's Terron Cartmill, center, and Reid O'Brien, right, knock the ball away from Geneseo's Bristol Lewis after trapping him along the sideline during the first half of Tuesday night's game at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Leave it to COVID-19 to disrupt the rhythm of the night. Still, the Quincy High School boys basketball team adapted. Due to positive COVID tests within its freshman team, Geneseo was forced to cancel Tuesday night’s preliminary game. So instead of watching the underclassmen play before going to the locker room to get…

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Unselfish play, clutch shooting carries Blue Devils to weekend sweep

Quincy High School freshman guard Dominique Clay led the Blue Devils with 16 points in Saturday night's victory at Springfield. File photo courtesy Paul Baillaergon

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bradley Longcor III caught the ball in a position to take a shot he’s been knocking down consistently all season. And he passed it up. Nothing could have made Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas any happier. After Terron Cartmill snared a defensive rebound on the first possession of Saturday…

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Wrestling roundup: Blue Devils’ Garrett wins individual crown as QHS takes third overall

Quincy High School wrestler Kayden Garrett shows off the team trophy the Blue Devils won Saturday at the 60th Murdale Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. Photo courtesy QHS wrestling

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kayden Garrett’s individual championship helped the Quincy High School wrestling team finish third among 25 teams in the 60th Murdale Invitational at Carbondale High School. Garrett, a senior wrestling at 170 pounds, won his first two matches in pool play with a second-period pin and a 21-6 technical fall. In the championship…

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‘It sucked the life right out of Rocky’: Back-to-back 3-pointers propel Blue Devils to top of WB6 standings

Rock Island's Terrmell Akers, left, and Quincy's Bradley Longcor III go after a loose ball during the first half of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game at Rock Island, Ill. Photo courtesy Gary Krambeck, Dispatch/Argus

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Over the course of a six-minute span of the second half Friday night in which the Quincy High School boys basketball team chiseled a 13-point deficit down to one, Rock Island never lost its energy or its swagger. That is until Jeremiah Talton and Ralph Wires took it away. The senior…

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Another slow start spells doom for Blue Devils in third-place game at Collinsville

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — A trend developed in the three days the Quincy High School boys basketball team spent at the 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic that has Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas legitimately concerned. His team keeps stumbling out of the blocks. It happened again Wednesday night in the third-place game against Collinsville. The…

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Blue Devils turn over chance to play for title, lose to Generals in overtime in tourney semis

Quincy High School freshman guard Bradley Longcor III, left, looks to make a pass to the low block to teammate Keshaun Thomas during Tuesday night's game against Decatur MacArthur. Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photos

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Faced with a setback for only the second time this season and denied a shot at a tournament championship for the first time, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas both understood and appreciated the Blue Devils’ reaction. They were disappointed, not despondent. The Blue Devils squandered a two-point lead with…

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Blue Devils rally in fourth quarter to beat Railsplitters, will face Generals in semifinals

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Whew. That was the collective reaction from the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s bench and the throng of Blue Devil backers inside Vergil Fletcher Gym on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Devils were held scoreless the first four minutes of the second half of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic semifinal against…

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Blue Devils change course at halftime, return energetic in blowing past Crusaders

Jeremiah Talton drives to the basket during the first half of the Quincy High School boys basketball team's opening-round game against Belleville Althoff in the 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic at Vergil Fletcher Gym in Collinsville, Ill. Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photo

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Sam Mulherin understands good things happen if you put yourself in the right position. Necessary things happen, too. Mulherin’s energetic pursuit of offensive rebounds helped the Quincy High School boys basketball team shake its first-half slumber and ignited a 31-point third quarter against Belleville Althoff on Monday afternoon at Vergil Fletcher Gym.…

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Holiday tournament guide: 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic

Quincy High School freshman guard Bradley Longcor Jr. is averaging 14.2 points per game. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Which team is considered the favorite in the 37th annual Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic? Take your pick. “There are a lot of really good teams in the field,” Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas said. “I don’t know if there is a team that is head and shoulders better than…

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Beyond the Boxscore: Talton adjusts to physical defense, Blue Devils regain series control, Raiders look to rebound quickly

Quincy High School’s Jeremiah Talton, left, shoots while being challenge by Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Connoyer during Saturday night’s game at the Pit. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton hurt. Understandably so. Friday night, in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s 63-49 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference play at Blue Devil Gym, the Maroons chose to defend the league’s leading scorer by putting a defender chest-to-chest with the 6-foot-6 swingman. Talton got bumped on every cut…

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‘That hole is 6 feet deep and we’re buried in it’: Blue Devils’ offensive execution in second half flattens Raiders

From left to right, Quincy High School freshmen Bradley Longcor III, Keshaun Thomas and Dominique Clay celebrate as the clock runs out on the Blue Devils 59-37 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Saturday night at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Andy Douglas didn’t need to be boisterous with his halftime speech Saturday night. The Quincy High School boys basketball coach didn’t have to say much at all. “The guys were already talking about what we needed to do before I got in the locker room,” Douglas said. “A lot of it was said…

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Fresh approach: Trio of youngsters play with no fear in shouldering scoring load as Blue Devils knock off Maroons

Quincy High School freshman forward Keshaun Thomas, left, celebrates with freshman guard Bradley Longcor III after Longcor made a 3-pointer with 1:59 to play in regulation to propel the Blue Devils to a 63-49 victory over Moline on Friday night at Blue Devil Gym. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The innocence of youth and the confidence of experience. It’s a lethal combination a trio of Quincy High School freshmen seem to possess, and their brashness, play-making ability and no-fear attitude is creating problems for the rest of the Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball teams. Friday night, Moline discovered how devastating those…

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Liquor Booth Shot of the Game: Jeremiah Talton finishes alley-oop dunk

Quincy High School's Jeremiah Talton throws down the second of his two dunks last weekend against Sterling at Blue Devil Gym. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton’s breakaway, one-handed dunk in the third quarter last Friday night against Sterling added the punctuation mark to another blowout by the Quincy High School boys basketball team. Yet, it was his alley-oop dunk in the second quarter that kickstarted the rout. The Blue Devils led 26-17 when the Golden Warriors called…

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Blue Devils survive Bulldogs’ 3-point barrage to finish perfect week

Quincy High School freshman guard Bradley Longcor III scores during the first half of Saturday night’s game against Batavia at Blue Devil Gym. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — How much has the Quincy High School boys basketball team improved from a season ago? Quincy’s 64-61 victory over Batavia on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym completed a 3-0 week that also included wins over Sterling and Rock Island Alleman. Three victories, five days. Those three wins match the Blue Devils’ victory…

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King of the treys: Talton eclipses Smith’s record as QHS’s career leader in 3-pointers

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton rises to throw down a one-handed dunk during the third quarter of Friday night's 68-40 victory over Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action at Blue Devil Gym. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Each milestone Jeremiah Talton reaches and record he breaks serves as incentive for his younger teammates to shoot to surpass him. It won’t be easy. One game after becoming the 22nd player in the history of the Quincy High School boys basketball program to score 1,000 career points, the 6-foot-6 swingman reached another…

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