Photo Gallery: Sophomore Knowles difference maker in Titans’ second-half comeback

West Hancock's Nolan Gooding, middle, is tied up by two players from KIPP Academy from St. Louis during Friday night's high school boys basketball game in the KHQA Superfan Shootout at the Pit. | David Adam

West Hancock’s comeback 58-56 victory over KIPP Academy of St. Louis on Friday night at the Pit was led by 6-foot-6 sophomore Cooper Knowles. He scored four points during a 12-4 run that got West Hancock within 44-42 at the end of the quarter, then scored the first three baskets in the fourth quarter —…

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Photo gallery: QND boys run winning streak to 11 with regional title victory at home over West Hancock

Quincy Notre Dame's Alex Connoyer grabs a loose ball in the lane in front of West Hancock's Nolan Hurt during the championship game of the Class 2A boys basketball sectional on Friday night at the Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team won the Class 2A regional championship on Friday night at the Pit with a 63-46 victory over West Hancock. It was the Raiders’ second victory over the Titans in the last 10 nights. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the images from the game.

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Photo Gallery: Scenes from West Hancock vs. QND in Class 2A regional semifinal

Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton dribbles past West Hancock's Alexis Lucie during Monday night's game. | David Adam

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team opened its quest for a second straight state championship with a 79-33 victory over West Hancock in the Class 2A regional semifinals Monday night at The Pit. MRN Editor David Adam captured images from the game.

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Moore never loses confidence, hits 3-pointer in final minute to help Central reach semifinals at Macomb

Central's Nick Moore drives to the basket while West Hancock's Gavin Grothaus defends in the second half of Wednesday's quarterfinal game in the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament in Western Hall. At left is Central coach James Barnett. | David Adam

MACOMB, Ill. — It’s a good thing Central’s Nick Moore has a short memory. His 3-pointer with 3:10 remaining in the fourth quarter cut West Hancock’s lead to 47-45. Thirty seconds later, Moore launched what could have been the go-ahead shot from the corner. Instead, the ball hit the support behind the backboard. “That wasn’t…

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Three-point barrage in fourth quarter falls just short in West Hancock’s upset bid

West Hancock's Alec Hymes pulls up for a shot during Wednesday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal game at Beardstown High School. | David Adam

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The West Hancock boys basketball team appeared to be primed for a massive upset when it got within 31-30 with 5:15 remaining to play in the third quarter. Five minutes of a leaky zone defense proved costly. The Titans gave up 16 of the game’s next 18 points, and not even a…

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