Schuckman: Devilishly good decade coming to end for trio of QHS basketball teammates

Three Quincy High School teammates — Cam Brown, left, Ralph Wires, second from right, and Tyler Sprick, right — will play their final game together Saturday in the third annual Muddy River Showcase at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Before the Lil’ Devils program brought them together, before they spent 10 consecutive winters running side-by-side, there were games in the YMCA basketball league where Ralph Wires, Tyler Sprick and Cam Brown were on opposite sides. “I tore them apart per usual,” Wires said with a mischievous, sarcastic grin. His ability to dart…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Chartering a new course: Victory over nationally respected Imhotep could vault QHS to No. 1 in state poll

Quincy High School guard Bradley Longcor III reacts to scoring while being fouled during the first half of Saturday night's game against Imhotep Charter in the Quincy Shootout in Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The loudest statement in front of the loudest crowd could have the loudest impact. The Quincy High School boys basketball team may find itself as the No. 1-ranked team in Illinois this coming week. Toppling a team with a nationally respected resume like Imhotep Charter Prep could do that. Playing with the most…

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Hot Wires-d: Tenacious play of QHS guard sets tone for dynamic defensive effort

Quincy High School senior guard Ralph Wires defense Imhotep Charter's Ahmad Nowell during Saturday night's game in the Quincy Shootout at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The pain was worth it. “Of course,” Ralph Wires said. With three minutes remaining in Saturday night’s marquee game of the Quincy Shootout, the Quincy High School senior guard was fouled, knocked to the floor and struggled to get to his feet because of the cramping in his left calf. Eventually, Wires made…

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Reality check: Blue Devils react to Wildcats’ second-half run with strong closing kick

Quincy High School point guard Ralph Wires looks to pass during the first half of Thursday night's 69=58 victory over Chicago Phillips in the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A quick glance at the scoreboard told the Quincy High School boys basketball players all they needed to know. A boat race had become a dogfight. “It woke us up to reality,” junior forward Keshaun Thomas said. The Blue Devils had nearly doubled up Chicago Phillips three minutes into the second half Thursday…

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Quarter century of memories: Wires’ buzzer-beater sinks Kahoks in sectional semifinal

Quincy High School guard Ralph Wires, right, reacts to making the game-winning shot at the buzzer in the Class 4A sectional semifinals against Collinsville in 2022. | Matt Schuckman photo

Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman began covering the Quincy High School boys basketball program during the 1998-99 season, and since he recently wrapped up his 25th season following the Blue Devils, he put together a list of his 25 most memorable games. Here is today’s installment: March 1, 2022 — Quincy 34, Collinsville 32 QUINCY —…

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Blue Devils close regular season, pull away in second half to avoid upset at Galesburg

Ralph Wires, shown handling the basketball in a game last month against Lincoln, led Quincy with 14 points in Tuesday night's game against Galesburg. | David Adam

GALESBURG, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s fourth straight victory was accompanied by an emphatic stamp midway through the second half. The Blue Devils strung together 12 straight points at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth to pull away from upset-minded Galesburg and register a 66-55 Western…

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‘These are the games we need’: Brown’s three-point play highlights late comeback by Blue Devils

Quincy High School's Camden Brown goes up to score the game-tying basket with 22 seconds remaining in Saturday night's game against Lincoln at Blue Devil Gym. Brown was fouled on the play by Payton Cook, and he made a free throw to put the Blue Devils ahead for good. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Playing the Lincoln Railsplitters is about as entertaining for the Quincy High School boys basketball team as shaving your head with a cheese grater. “I think anybody will say that Lincoln is like the least fun team to play all year long,” junior guard Ralph Wires said. “We want to run, but they…

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