Muddy River Showcase: Players with postseason pedigree dot Illinois boys all-star roster

The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general admission.

QUINCY — Greg Altmix understands there is a challenge with taking high school basketball players who spent their winters being rivals and asking them to come together as a cohesive unit for an all-star game.

When bragging rights are on the line, though, it changes things.

“The willingness to put aside their differences and battle together to beat Missouri or vice versa is special,” the Liberty boys basketball coach said.

He’ll see it happen again June 18.

Altmix is coaching the Illinois all-stars in the inaugural Muddy River Showcase, taking place at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The crossriver matchup is part of a two-game showcase highlighting the top area seniors.

The girls game will tip at 3 p.m., followed by the boys game at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the gate and all seating is general admission. Tickets will not be sold in advance.

The Illinois boys roster features four players who started on a state runner-up, a point guard who started on the Western Big 6 Conference championship team and a pair of 1,000-point scorers.

Altmix will coach four of his players — guards Cannen Wolf and Clayton Obert and forwards Logan Robbins and Devin Klauser — one final time. Those four helped Liberty to the best finish in program history as the Eagles took second at the Class 1A state tournament.

“Seeing them out on the court one more time is going to be pretty special,” Altmix said. “It’s kind of one last hurrah.”

Joining the Eagles will be Quincy High School guard Terron Cartmill, who helped the Blue Devils win 28 games, regional and sectional championships and a WB6 crown. Brown County guard Tate Fullerton and Griggsville-Perry guard Tate Kunzeman — both are 1,000-point scorers in their careers — add depth to Illinois’ backcourt.

Ramsey Fry, a bona fide leader of a Southeastern team that won a Class 1A sectional title, gives Illinois some toughness and grit, as does Payson Seymour swingman Riker Triplett. Pittsfield’s Nate Scranton represents the legendary Saukee program.

“Seeing these guys play against each other and now a couple months later play with each other is pretty neat,” Altmix said. “Seeing the camaraderie shared off the court while they battle on it makes this group unique.”

So does the Illinois vs. Missouri format for this game.

“There is a pride factor in this game,” Altmix said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”