Posts Tagged ‘Quincy High School’
QHS’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 MoreShooting down records: Talton breaks Douglas’ single-season 3-point mark as Blue Devil romp
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…
Read MoreSchuckman: Roar after Wells’ shot is reminder he is small part of Blue Devil tradition now and forever
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…
Read MoreHarmann’s return to Blue Devil Gym is enjoyable, memorable experience
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.…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Kramer adds to family legacy in Blue Devil Gym by taking down Blue Devils
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…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Blue Devils discover needed energy in fourth quarter, stay undefeated in WB6 by beating Panthers
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…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Talented teams, top-notch players to heat up Quincy gyms during Quincy Shootout
QUINCY — It’s cold outside. Like really cold. Like your truck doesn’t want to start and whines when you do start it kind of cold. That’s OK. It’s warm in Blue Devil Gym and the Pit and a myriad of high school venues around the area where some of the best basketball is taking place…
Read MoreInside the Shootout: Nationally ranked teams, Power 5 conference recruits highlight Quincy Shootout field
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…
Read MoreDefensive pressure, QND’s scoring duo too much for QHS to overcome in rivalry game
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…
Read MoreRaiders’ Eftink gets last laugh after shooting prowess helps take down Blue Devils
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…
Read MoreSharrow, Miller beat box their way to individual titles as QHS captures championship of own wrestling invite
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…
Read MoreTalton finds rhythm, Blue Devils avenge loss at Roy S. Anderson Gym by barraging Railsplitters
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…
Read MoreHalfway home: Blue Devils reach midpoint of WB6 season in first place after fending off Silver Streaks
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…
Read MoreQHS, Central, Palmyra wrestlers ready to vie for championships at Quincy Invitational
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…
Read MoreMaple Leafs respond to Blue Devils’ challenge, win 30th consecutive game
QUINCY — Geneseo’s 30th consecutive girls basketball victory further legitimized its ranking as the No. 1 Class 3A team in the state. The Maple Leafs emerged from a one-point halftime deficit to hit Quincy High School with a 16-0 blitzkrieg at the outset of the third quarter. Following that outburst, it was not a matter…
Read MoreBlue Devils adapt, adjust and apply pressure to keep WB6 win streak going
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…
Read MoreUnselfish play, clutch shooting carries Blue Devils to weekend sweep
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…
Read MoreWrestling roundup: Blue Devils’ Garrett wins individual crown as QHS takes third overall
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…
Read MoreSaturday Rewind: Quincy, Galesburg on collision course next week in WB6 play
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team finds itself in a place the program has always thrived. At the top. Friday night’s 61-57 victory at Rock Island gave the Blue Devils sole possession of first place in the Western Big 6 Conference a week before the league hits the midpoint of its season.…
Read More‘It sucked the life right out of Rocky’: Back-to-back 3-pointers propel Blue Devils to top of WB6 standings
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…
Read MoreAnother 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…
Read MoreBlue Devils turn over chance to play for title, lose to Generals in overtime in tourney semis
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…
Read MoreBlue 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…
Read MoreBlue Devils change course at halftime, return energetic in blowing past Crusaders
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.…
Read MoreHoliday tournament guide: 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic
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…
Read MoreBeyond the Boxscore: Talton adjusts to physical defense, Blue Devils regain series control, Raiders look to rebound quickly
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…
Read More‘That hole is 6 feet deep and we’re buried in it’: Blue Devils’ offensive execution in second half flattens Raiders
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…
Read MoreFresh approach: Trio of youngsters play with no fear in shouldering scoring load as Blue Devils knock off Maroons
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…
Read MoreTurnover woes cost Blue Devils opportunity to upend Maroons in WB6 play
QUINCY — For a nine-minute stretch spanning the end of the second quarter and the start of the third quarter Thursday night, the Moline girls basketball team didn’t score. Quincy High School didn’t chisel away at the deficit either. The Blue Devils trailed 28-14 after the Maroons’ Caroline Hazen scored off a drive down the…
Read MoreLiquor Booth Shot of the Game: Jeremiah Talton finishes alley-oop dunk
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…
Read MoreBlue Devils survive Bulldogs’ 3-point barrage to finish perfect week
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…
Read MoreSaturday Rewind: Rocks win battle of unbeatens, sit atop WB6 with Blue Devils
QUINCY — The boys basketball title chase in the Western Big 6 Conference has a clear favorite and a surprising contender, and the league slate hasn’t reached Christmas yet. Rock Island established itself as the team to beat, going to Moline’s Wharton Field House on Friday night and winning a battle of unbeatens with its…
Read MoreKing of the treys: Talton eclipses Smith’s record as QHS’s career leader in 3-pointers
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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