Flyin’ high: Determined Eagles take sting out of Hornets to advance to Class 1A state title game

Liberty's Reese Knuffman acknowledges the crowd after the Eagles beat Scales Mound 75-41 Thursday in the Class 1A state semifinals at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Greg Altmix was agitated, and he had no problem telling his Liberty boys basketball team why. The veteran head coach scanned the Class 1A all-state teams released Wednesday by the Associated Press and didn’t see any of his players on the first or second team despite their upcoming appearance in the final…

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Fear the mullet: Klingele’s game deserves as much attention as his choice of hairstyles

Liberty's Breiton Klingele goes up for a shot during the first half of Thursday's Class 1A state semifinal against Scales Mound at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Breiton Klingele’s hairstyle came down to a choice. Not a bet. Not a dare. Not anything other than a conscious decision to let it grow. “I just decided it one day, so I started growing it,” Klingele said. “No other reason. I just wanted a mullet.” The Liberty senior’s long, curly locks…

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‘You just don’t want it to end’: Raiders to play for state championship after confidence-soaring victory in semifinals over Panthers

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players celebrate after beating Pana 56-44 in the Class 2A state semifinals Thursday at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

NORMAL, Ill. — Redbird Arena can’t exactly be called cavernous, but the shooting background can create a need for an adjustment. Blair Eftink didn’t seem to mind, especially when 3-pointer after 3-pointer kept falling during warmups. “Abbey (Schreacke) was telling me the depth perception was a lot different than where we normally play,” Eftink said.…

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Schreacke beats buzzer twice, gives QND girls needed momentum in state semifinal victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Eryn Cornwell, right, celebrates with teammate Abbey Schreacke after Schreacke buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first quarter Thursday in the Class 2A state semifinals against Pana at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

NORMAL, Ill. — The ball ending up in Abbey Schreacke’s hands with the seconds ticking away didn’t come as a surprise. Neither did the fact she made the shot. Well, the first one wasn’t a shocker. The second made those inside Redbird Arena either jump for joy or drop their head into their hands. Schreacke,…

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State tournament notebook: Raiders to take advantage of extra day to prep for title game

Quincy Notre Dame assistant coach Bob Sheffield, left, and head coach Eric Orne, center, watch the final seconds tick off the clock on the 56-44 victory over Pana in the Class 2A state semifinals Thursday at Redbird Arena. Matt Schuckman photo

NORMAL, Ill. — A dramatic change in the way the Illinois High School Association schedules the boys and girls state basketball tournament games has completely altered the weekend plans. It’s a blessing in disguise for Quincy Notre Dame. After beating Pana 56-44 Thursday afternoon in the Class 2A girls state semifinals at Illinois State University’s…

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