7 years, 2 months ago Mike Moyers
So many players, coaches and fans to remember
Milestones are important only if there’s someone around to remember the time, the date and event. Looks like I get to be that guy this time.
The milestone of note on the Quincy Blue Devil horizon is the recording of win number 2000. But before that one is marked down there was win number 1500. It seems like it just happened. Because it did-25 years ago.
According to the Quincy High School Basketball Record Book (1907-1976) compiled by Troy Potts’ father, John, the first QHS victory in the books was a 21-17 win over Camp Point Maplewood. The year was 1907.
Fast forward past a couple of state titles, a trophy case full of second, thirds and fourths, a state record number of regional titles and our time machine winds up in Peoria. The date:January 11, 1992.
It was called the Coca-Cola River City Shootout and over 6000 fans packed historic Robertson Field House. Two games; four power house teams; some pretty good hoop was the order of the day. It was Quincy against the pre-Sergio McClain Rams in one game; Chicago King against Peoria Central in the other.
Loren Wallace’s Devils entered the contest with a 15-0 record and were ranked 3rd in the state behind Chicago King and Proviso East. Twenty-four hours earlier Quincy had destroyed Collinsville 51-39 in a battle of 2 of the winningest programs in the state. But during that game senior center Tom Lepper twisted an ankle leaving his playing status uncertain for the game against Peoria Manual.
The Blue Devils were large. Lepper was 6 '8", George Milsap stood at 6 '5", 230 pounds and had less than 3% body fat. Sean Dean and Andy Waggoner were both in the 6"5' neighborhood and underclassman Ryan Livermore was a stout 6"6'. The Blue Devils were a genuine force to be reckoned with. Despite the size the team was quick, tenacious on defense and battle tested.
Quincy was down 19-16 to Manual in the second quarter when Lepper coerced Wallace into letting him give it a try.
“I started on the bench and I said there’s NO way I’m going to able to sit here the whole game so I said, hey coach, put me in the game cause I’m ready to go!”, Lepper remarked on a post game show some 25 years ago.
And go he did.
Lepper scored a half dozen points in the second quarter and totaled 11 points and 7 rebounds for the night-on one leg. George Milsap and Andy Waggoner shared scoring honors with 17 points each. Milsap’s numbers on the night included 2 rim rattling left hand dunks along with 14 rebounds. Waggoner chipped in with 4 rebounds and 7 assists.
The third quarter proved to be the difference as Quincy used an 11-0 run to outscore Manual 15-6.
“The game boiled down to we out rebounded them and we were able to shut down their offense to the point they were taking shots they didn’t want to take,” explained Loren Wallace.“ “It’s just a gutty job by them and they wanted this win bad,” Wallace continued. “They’re a happy bunch right now.”
Jeff Hibbert and I had the pleasure of being behind the mic on WQCY FM some twenty-five years ago. Right after the game Hibbert grabbed a recorder and interviewed an excited Tom Lepper. I had prepared something to mark the moment in the event Quincy got the win. A fitting tribute to one of the most respected programs in the country.
Somebody has to win; somebody has to lose. There are no participation trophies.
At least there weren’t in 1992.
Good luck to Andy Douglas and the 2016-17 Blue Devils as they stalk program win number 2000. And to all those fans, players and coaches connected to the program; you've always had a reason to stand up and cheer.
