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

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

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

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Moline becomes third WB6 program to win boys basketball state championship

The Moline boys basketball team and cheerleaders pose for a team photo after the Maroons won the Class 4A state championship Saturday night at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Submitted photo

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A coach once labeled as “just a Class A coach” showed his true wares on the state’s biggest stage against the state’s biggest competition. A team that faced one of the toughest schedules of any Class 4A squad this season proved it could handle any challenge with poise and precision. And a…

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Moline to play for Class 4A state title, looks to give WB6 its third champion since league’s inception

Moline boys basketball coach Sean Taylor shouts instructions to his team during Friday's Class 4A state semifinal victory over Downers Grove North at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Moline boys basketball coach Sean Taylor delivered one final message to his team in the locker room Friday night before the Maroons left State Farm Center and headed back to their hotel. “We didn’t come here to get second,” he said. The Maroons earned the chance to make that reality. A sizzling…

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Schuckman: High fives and hugs for Taylor punctuate Moline’s run to Class 4A final four

Moline boys basketball coach Sean Taylor, who spent 11 seasons coaching at Quincy High School, will coach the Maroons in the Class 4A final four this weekend in Champaign, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The high five was perfectly unscripted and unabashedly enthusiastic. The hug and the fist bump were, too. As the Moline boys basketball team soaked in the moment Monday night — the Maroons had just beaten Oswego East 59-55 to win the Class 4A Normal Super-Sectional and advance to the state final four for…

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