Photo gallery: Central puts itself in position to win regional championship

Unity’s Caleb Kasparie, left, and Central’s Carter Eyler fight for possession of the ball during Wednesday night’s boys basketball game in the Class 1A regional at Central High School in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central boys basketball team is taking advantage of playing the Class 1A regional on its home floor, knocking off Unity 63-47 in Wednesday’s semifinals. The Panthers will face Bushnell-Prairie City at 7 p.m. Friday in the championship. Camp Point photographer Mike Pritchard shared this photo gallery of the Panthers’ victory:

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: Four area teams sit in top five in final regular-season poll

Brown County coach Dave Phelps and the Hornets check in at No. 3 in the final Class 1A regular-season state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Fremd (4) 27-2 65 1 2. Bolingbrook (1) 24-3 62 2 3. Alton (1) 27-1 56 4 4. Geneva (1) 24-3 55 3 5. Kenwood 25-4 39 5 6. O’Fallon 27-4 33…

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Raiders earn opportunity to rest and recover after winning fourth game in five-day span

MENDON, Ill. — An overloaded stretch of games came at an opportune time for the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team. Now that a four-games-in-five-days binge is complete — the Raiders won all four of those games — they’ve earned the chance to recover, regroup and re-energize themselves for another barrage of challenges heading into…

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Photo gallery: Scenes from Saturday’s Superfan Shootout at The Pit

South Shelby coach Luke O'Laughlin implores his defense to challenge Quincy Notre Dame guard Abbey Schreacke during the second half of Saturday's game in the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit in Quincy. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent Saturday inside Quincy Notre Dame’s The Pit watching the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout unfold. Here are some of the images he captured throughout the day:

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Unity pulls away in second half of Shootout victory behind senior guard’s Barry good performance

Unity senior guard Kylee Barry accepts the trophy after being named the most outstanding player in the Mustangs' 68-41 victory over Cairo (Mo.) Northeast on Saturday in the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Unity girls basketball coach Brad Begeman was paying senior Kylee Barry a compliment. Honest, he was. “I like to call her our Rodman, after Dennis Rodman,” Begeman said. Rodman was the controversial, but oh-so-effective part of three NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. Barry is hardly a controversial figure…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, CSE, Brown County, Unity all remain in polls

Central-Southeastern's Lauren Miller and the Panthers have moved to No. 6 in the Class 2A state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Fremd (3) 24-2 55 2 2. Bolingbrook (2) 22-3 51 4 3. Geneva (1) 21-3 50 3 4. Alton 25-1 48 1 5. Kenwood 23-4 33 8 6. O’Fallon…

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Illinois girls state basketball rankings: Brown County, Unity sit back-to-back at Nos. 4 and 5

Brown County coach David Phelps has guided the Hornets to the No. 4 spot in this week's Associated Press Class 1A state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Alton (7) 24-0 79 2 2. Fremd 22-2 69 3 3. Geneva (1) 19-3 59 4 4. Bolingbrook 21-3 58 1 5. Normal Community 23-2 37 6 6. Whitney Young…

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Mustangs get back on track by overwhelming Chargers in third-place game of Lady Panther Classic

Unity guard Caroline Knox, right, pushes the pace during Saturday night's third-place game of the Lady Panther Classic against Illini West in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Ashlynn Arnsmann felt Saturday night’s mission was simple. “We knew we had to bounce back,” the Unity senior center said. And bounce back the Mustangs did. Rather impressively, too. Arnsmann scored 17 points, reeled in seven rebounds and blocked two shots to help power the Unity girls basketball team to an…

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Hornets end frustrating skid against Mustangs, earn spot in Lady Panther Classic title game

The Brown County girls basketball players celebrate at the end of their 47-43 victory over Unity on Thursday night in the semifinals of the CSE Lady Panther Classic in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Similar script, different ending. Much, much different. The Brown County girls basketball team put the brakes on a five-game losing streak to Unity when the Hornets pulled off a surprising 47-43 come-from-behind victory Thursday night in the semifinals of the 30th Lady Panther Classic at Central High School. Brown County, ranked…

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Photo gallery: Semifinals of CSE Lady Panther Classic set up epic championship game

Central-Southeastern guard Brilyn Lantz, left, fends off Illini West's Rylee Reed during Thursday night's semifinal in the CSE Lady Panther Classic. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Brown County girls basketball team handed Unity consecutive losses for the first time this season, while Central-Southeastern continued its winning ways as both teams battled their way into the championship game of the CSE Lady Panther Classic. Brown County, ranked fifth in Class 1A, knocked off second-ranked Unity 47-43 in…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND stays atop Class 2A, Unity and Brown County in top five

Senior guard Blair Eftink and the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team continue to be the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A. | Matt Schuckman photo

Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points: Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Geneva (5) 14-2 72 2 2. Fremd (2) 17-1 67 1 3. Bolingbrook (1) 14-1 62 4 4. Alton 17-0 61 6 5. Normal Community 18-0 38 5 6. Maine South…

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Central-Southeastern’s closing kick cements victory over Unity in Lady Panther Classic pool play

Central-Southeastern's Brilyn Lantz attacks the basket during the Panthers' game against Unity on Tuesday in pool play in the CSE Lady Panther Classic in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill — Lauren Miller never broke a sweat, let alone panicked. “We knew it was going to be a long game,” the Central-Southeastern sophomore said. Long and grueling. Miller and her CSE girls basketball teammates were not rattled when Unity bolted to a sizable advantage in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s showdown…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: Unity climbs to No. 2 in Class 1A, QND stays atop Class 2A poll

Ashlynn Arnsman, center, and the Unity girls basketball team are ranked No. 2 in the Class 1A state poll, which was released Wednesday. | Matt Schuckman photo

Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Fremd (1) 15-1 91 3 2. Geneva (5) 12-2 89 10 3. Hersey 15-3 78 1 4. Bolingbrook (2) 13-1 77 4 5. Normal Community (2) 16-0 54 8 6. Alton (1)…

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Dieker guides Payson Seymour to MVIT championship

MENDON, Ill. — Maybe it was the tournament championship his team had just won. Or the appreciative response he was hearing from those who packed the gym at Unity High School. Or just possibly it was him soaking in all that is good about high school athletics on a warm December night.  “This is what…

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Call it payback: Unity buries Illini West in fourth quarter, will play for tourney title at Beardstown

Unity senior guard Kylee Barry scored 15 points Wednesday night to guide the Mustangs to a 15-point victory over Illini West in the semifinals of the Lady Tiger Classic at Beardstown, Ill. | Matt Schuckman file photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — This time, the roles were reversed. When the Unity girls basketball team defeated Illini West 50-35 in Wednesday night’s semifinals of the 40th Lady Tiger Classic at Beardstown High School, the victory helped exorcise at least some of the memories from a year ago. “(Illini West) beat us three times last season,…

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Unity adds three to Hall of Fame during ceremonies on first night of MVIT

MENDON, Ill. — The Unity Athletic Hall of Fame added three members Monday night as the Class of 2022 was inducted during ceremonies between games of the Mississippi Valley Invitational Tournament. The induction class includes: Brian and Julie McAllister, athlete and supporters; Ken Ellerbrock, athlete and supporter; and Mike Myers, athlete. The Unity Athletic Hall…

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Rumble on the River: Mustangs sweep Panthers behind two stout defensive efforts

Monroe City's Myra Jones, left, looks to pass before getting trapped by Unity's Ashlynn Arnsman, center, and Sophia Shaffer during Tuesday night's game in the Rumble on the River at JWCC's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Nick Maynard made two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining in regulation Tuesday night to help the Unity boys basketball team seal a 45-41 victory over Monroe City in the 15th annual Rumble on the River. It also completed a sweep for the Mustangs, as the Unity girls, ranked third in Class 1A,…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Unity’s Arnsman sets sights on carrying success from Unity to QU

Unity forward Ashlynn Arnsman has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Quincy University. | Matt Schuckman photo

MENDON, Ill. — Ashlynn Arnsman sees her future with a clear view. For those whose sights are a little more murky, she has a plan to help them, too. The Unity multi-sport standout who recently signed a national letter of intent with the Quincy University women’s basketball team plans to study biology and use her…

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Defending state champion QND opens as No. 1 team in Class 2A, Unity starts No. 3 in Class 1A

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team opens the 2022-23 season ranked No. 1 in the initial Class 2A state poll. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The initial Associated Press state basketball rankings set up an intriguing showdown in just two days. The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team — the defending Class 2A state champion — opens the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the state. The Raiders are 5-0 going into Thursday’s game at West Hancock…

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Crusaders get bounce back, knock Mustangs out in Class 1A sectional championship match

WHITE HALL, Ill. — The Unity volleyball team just couldn’t put it together on Wednesday night. Unforced error after unforced error piled up for the Mustangs in their Class 1A sectional championship match against Springfield Lutheran. The Mustangs made 10 unforced errors in the first set and followed that with four service errors in the…

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Mustangs’ stellar play at net carries them into sectional championship match

WHITE HALL, Ill. — The senior members of the Unity volleyball team have been to the sectional three times during their prep careers. The first two times, the Mustangs were shown the door in the semifinals.  Ashlynn Arnsman, one of four Unity seniors, is intent on making this final ride a long one. “It was…

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Mustangs finish with flourish to sweep Hornets and advance to Class 1A sectional

The Unity volleyball team won the Class 1A Unity Regional championship with a 25-11, 25-21 victory over Brown County on Thursday night in Mendon, Ill. | Submitted photo

MENDON, Ill. — Maybe, just maybe, the Unity volleyball team needed a wake-up call. The Mustangs, who won the first set against Brown County with relative ease Thursday night, eventually needed a fast-and-furious finish in round two to deliver a knockout punch. “I think we got a little ahead of ourselves after that first game,”…

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Photo gallery: Unity, Brown County advance to regional volleyball championship

The Unity volleyball team swept Western in two sets Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Class 1A Unity Regional in Mendon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Max Bennett

MENDON, Ill. — The Unity volleyball team launched its pursuit of a Class 1A state tournament berth with a flurry. Brown County did the same. Now the two must go head-to-head to see who survives. The Mustangs and Hornets won Class 1A Unity Regional semifinals Wednesday night in straight sets, propelling them to the regional…

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The Rundown: QND soccer beats SHG, Unity and Macomb volleyball sweep, Miller tosses one-hitter

Check out the news and notes from a busy Tuesday on the prep sports scene … • Trailing an unbeaten opponent by a goal midway through the first half, the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team trusted in its attack to adequately answer. The Raiders roared back for a 4-1 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin…

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Carothers, Mustangs sweep way to championship of Lady Suns Classic

AUGUSTA, Ill. — Kyra Carothers and the Unity volleyball team made a statement Saturday. The Mustangs elevated themselves to the team to beat in Class 1A in West-Central Illinois. Behind an MVP performance from Carothers, the senior outside hitter, Unity swept a pair of matches in the championship pool and won the title of the…

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Girls just want to have fun: Raiders start season with two-set victory over Mustangs

Quincy Notre Dame senior libero Faith Kientzle, right, reacts to winning a point against Unity during Wednesday night's season-opening match at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Faith Kientzle’s smile never fades. Why should it? Volleyball season is officially here. “It’s supposed to be fun,” said the Quincy Notre Dame senior libero, who has already verbally committed to Lincoln Land Community College. “And that’s what Coach told us. Just go out there and have fun and the other stuff will…

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Lucky 13: Mustangs knock Wolves out in regional semifinals by surviving 13-inning marathon

Unity's Taylor Goudschaal, left, hugs teammate Kylee Barry in the center of the infield after the Mustangs upset second-seeded Pleasant Hill 4-0 in a 13-inning marathon in the Class 1A Central Regional semifinals Wednesday in Camp Point, Ill. Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Don’t worry about Brooklynn Howell being ready to pitch come Saturday. Fortunately, the Unity sophomore right-hander will have a couple of days to recover from what was a marvelous — albeit taxing — effort Wednesday afternoon at Central High School. Howell pitched the seventh-seeded Unity softball team to a 4-0, 13-inning…

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Photo gallery: Pritchard captures softball action from Class 1A Central Regional

The Liberty softball players celebrate their 5-4 victory over Central in Wednesday's semifinals of the Class 1A Central Regional in Camp Point, Ill. Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Photographer Mike Pritchard found himself behind the lens of his camera for two epic softball games Wednesday in the Class 1A Central Regional with seventh-seeded Unity upsetting second-seeded Pleasant Hill 4-0 in a 13-inning marathon and fifth-seeded Liberty outlasting third-seeded Central 5-4. Here is a gallery of images Pritchard captured from…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Mustangs’ Schaffnit puts heart and soul into community service

Unity senior Annabelle Schaffnit, who plays catcher and outfield for the Mustangs, has paved a path to college with her extracurricular activities. Submitted photo

MENDON, Ill. — Annabelle Schaffnit started to be apologetic for her answer. What the Unity senior softball player didn’t realize in the moment was how much her answer resonated. After chatting a little about the Mustangs and their ongoing season, Schaffnit was asked about how much her life revolves around sports. “I’ll be honest,” she…

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Schuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Millikin standout and Unity graduate Jordan Hildebrand

Jordan Hildebrand, a 2017 Unity graduate, earned honorable mention All-American honors for the Millikin women's basketball team in her final season playing for the Big Blue. Photo courtesy Millikin Athletics

Jordan Hildebrand’s decision to stay at Millikin University for an extra year of eligibility, pursue a master’s degree and help the Big Blue women’s basketball team chase NCAA glory turned out to be a wise move. Not only will Hildebrand walk away later this year with two degrees in her hip pocket, but the 6-foot…

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Healthy Arnsman scores 30 points, guides Mustangs to Class 1A regional championship

BIGGSVILLE, Ill. — The winter storm that forced a 24-hour postponement of the Class 1A Biggsville Regional championship game might have been a blessing in disguise for the Unity girls basketball team. Abingdon-Avon must have felt like it was a curse. Tuesday night, prior to the regional semifinal victory over Monmouth United, Mustangs junior forward…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND heads into postseason No. 1 in Class 2A

Quincy Notre Dame guard Blair Eftink, left, and the Raiders will head into the postseason as the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In the final state rankings before the Illinois girls basketball postseason begins, not much changed for the area teams. Quincy Notre Dame remains ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and Illini West is No. 3, although the Chargers are now tied with Pana, which is enjoying a 29-1 season and has not lost…

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Raiders able to breathe life into their attack, get back on track with victory over Mustangs

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Wallingford, left, and Unity's Ryle Duke battle for rebounding position during the second half of Tuesday night's game at The Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Take a breath. Such a simple directive, but it’s one the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players needed to hear and follow. Back-to-back losses to state-ranked Jacksonville Routt and 20-win Southeastern made Tuesday night’s game at The Pit against Unity a must win in the words of Raiders coach Kevin Meyer. But instead…

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50 After 50: No. 29 Mustangs became epitome of sharing glory and banding together to make history

Front row, from left to right, Seth Bruenger, Dylan Shaffer, Will Klusmeyer, Alex Blickhan, Mark Jansen, Dawson Moore, Cory Miller, Clayton Thompson. Back row, from left to right, manager Jordan Fuller, assistant coach Richard Klusmeyer, head coach Keith Carothers, Adam Donley, Nick Dorethy, Lane Davis, Thomas Fielding, Brennan Begeman, assistant coach Greg Hildenbrand, assistant coach Ken Gray, manager Aspen Justice. Submitted photo

The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike and Hancock…

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Chargers beat Mustangs for third time in 17 days, win CSE Classic championship

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Grant Surprenant knows there is nothing easy about playing and beating the same team three times in one season, let alone within a 17-day stretch. That’s why the Illini West girls basketball coach was giddy with how the Chargers played down the stretch Saturday night. Illini West limited Unity to one…

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Schuckman: Knox, Begeman linked by free throws and unwavering support and belief they both received in crunch time

From left to right, Unity assistant coach Kevin Conry and the Mustangs' Hayden Frankel, Delanee Schulte, Brooklyn Stiefel and Kylee Barry watch as Caroline Knox makes the first of two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation Thursday night in the 46-45 victory over Brown County. Matt Schuckman photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Brad Begeman calls it his Al Bundy moment. Caroline Knox doesn’t know who Al Bundy is. Yet, the Unity girls basketball coach and his senior guard are forever linked by the memory of the clutch free throws they made in the same gym at the same basket sitting on the same…

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Mustangs, Chargers to renew acquaintances once again, this time for title of CSE Classic

Unity coach Brad Begeman gives Caroline Knox a hug after she made two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation to beat Brown County 46-45 in the semifinals of the CSE Classic on Thursday night in Camp Point, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Here we go with round three. Caroline Knox did her part to make it happen with two clutch free throws. The Illini West girls basketball team’s defense held up its end of the equation. Now, two state-ranked foes will meet for the third time in 17 days and the second time…

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Central-Southeastern Classic: State-ranked teams roll through first two games

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The three state-ranked teams in the Central-Southeastern Classic field showed why they are so highly regarded with a pair of victories apiece on the tournament’s opening day. The host school showed it belongs in the conversation, too. Illini West, ranked fourth in Class 2A and the tournament favorite after winning the…

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Chargers’ strong closing kick carries them to victory in battle of state-ranked teams

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Caydee Kirkham’s confidence in herself is equal to her confidence in her teammates. Wednesday night, they showed why. Trailing state-ranked Unity by four points with four minutes remaining in regulation, the fourth-ranked Illini West girls basketball team went on a 10-2 run with four field goals coming from players not named Kirkham…

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Holiday Tournament Roundup: Chargers run gauntlet to Beardstown title, Hornets finish third

The third-seeded Illini West girls basketball team beat the No. 1 and 2 seeds to win the Lady Tiger Classic championship. Photo courtesy Grant Surprenant

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — It didn’t take long for Grant Surprenant to realize Caydee Kirkham had a different demeanor Thursday night. “She had that look that she was in attack mode,” the Illini West girls basketball coach said of his senior point guard. Nothing Unity tried altered that. Kirkham delivered an MVP performance in the championship…

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Holiday Tournament Roundup: Top-seeded Mustangs, third-seeded Chargers to meet for championship

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Unity girls basketball coach Brad Begeman needed to see how his players reacted to being in a dogfight. Their first foray was successful. The next one is already on tap. Forced to go to overtime against Brown County in Wedneday night’s semifinals of the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic, Unity’s Taylor Nichols made…

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Raiders fend off Mustangs with clutch free throws, win battle of state-ranked teams

MENDON, Ill. — A game-opening 17-3 run tends to break a lot of team’s spirit. The Unity girls basketball team refused to be broken, and that nearly led to a comeback for the ages. Then came the realization Abbey Schreacke is wearing a Quincy Notre Dame uniform. Having watched the Mustangs whittle the deficit to…

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Scoreboard for Tuesday, August 17

Boys Golf Alton Redbird Invitational at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Quincy High School finishes fifth at 313. Breese Mater Dei wins the title with a 306, followed by Edwardsville (307), O’Fallon (311) and Springfield (312). Cameron Bergman leads the Blue Devils with a 76 to finish 10th individually, and Brady Walker posts a 77.…

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