BYU's Jimmer Fredette launches a 3-pointer against Air Force. (AP Photo)

Jimmer Fredette is quickly gaining cult hero status. Dropping 43 points on a previously unbeaten opponent will do that.

But the BYU shooting guards’s gaudy numbers and insane range on his jump shot are only a small part of the story. It’s the name that completes the picture.

Would Fredette be getting as much attention or love from talk radio or the blogosphere if his name was Chad or Mike or Bill? I don’t think so. Having a name like Jimmer adds to the lore. It helps the college hoops star has a great personality, handles his growing fame with All-American boy charm and continues to play as hard as anyone on the court. He’s Jimmy Chitwood with a smile. He’s a legend in the making.

The subject of his NBA potential and where he might go in the NBA draft dominated the airwaves Thursday afternoon. It was the last thing I wanted to hear. For Fredette, the NBA is on the horizon and that’s where it needs to stay. College basketball needs legends, and Fredette is developing into one. Don’t spoil it by knocking his game as it translates to the NBA. Enjoy the ride he is on. Few players captivate an audience the way Fredette. Face it, he made BYU vs. San Diego State a game everyone wanted to see.

That’s rarified air in the Mountain West. We shouldn’t be surprised since Fredette is floating along on Cloud Nine.

I hope his ride continues because guys will killer jump shots and dynamic names are great for the game.

Did you ever think wearing a tie to work would you get fired?

John Stone probably never thought so.

Yet, Monday, when Stone showed up for as a salesman for Webb Chevrolet in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn, Ill., he was told to lose the tie or be fired. Figuring his boss was joking — Stone had on a Green Bay Packers tie the day after the Pack beat the Bears in the NFC Championship game — but came to find out he wasn’t.

When Stone didn’t remove the tie, Webb Chevrolet general manager Jerry Roberts fired him.

Neither party disputes the facts. But should this have ever become a story?

First, Stone could have simply removed the tie. You have to pick the fights that are worth fighting. This wasn’t one of them.

Roberts could have handled it different as well. He admitted he had not received any complaints from customers, but for fear there could be repercussions from customers or the Bears since Webb Chevrolet spends $20,000 a month advertising with the Bears on the radio, Roberts pulled the trigger when Stone ignored his initial request.

“If he loves the tie more than his job, he’s welcome to keep wearing it — elsewhere,” Roberts told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Cardinals broadcaster Al Hrabosky shows off his World Series ring while signing autographs during a baseball card show at the Quincy Mall. (H-W Photo/Michael Kipley)

The first question thrown at Cardinals broadcaster Al Hrabosky and third baseman David Freese when they arrived to sign autographs Saturday at the annual baseball card show in the Quincy Mall was an obvious one.

Will the Cardinals and first baseman Albert Pujols get a deal done?

“I was disappointed we didn’t announce a deal last week,” Hrabosky said.

Pujols’ agent set a deadline of Feb. 19 — the first full squad workout at spring training — for a new contract to be negotiated or Pujols will become a free agent at the end of the 2011 season. Arguably the best player in the game today, Pujols isn’t making his contract demands public, but speculation is he and his agent are asking for at least $30 million per year and possibly a 10-year deal.

Hrabosky said that’s risky business for the Redbirds.

“It’s a big gamble to tie up that much in one player,” said Hrabosky, who is the color analyst for the Cardinals broadcasts on Fox Sports Midwest. “What happens if he gets hurt?”

Beyond that, Pujols won’t always be a 30 home run, 100 RBI guy.

“There is going to be a point when he starts declining,” Hrabosky said.

Still, it all comes down to money.

“In order to pay him and put a team around him, that’s a pretty good juggling act,” Hrabosky said.

Knowing every player has contract demands, Freese said the negotiations don’t carry over to the clubhouse.

“We go about our business,” Freese said.

Showing off his bling

Hrabosky, who pitched in the major leagues for 13 seasons and was with the Cardinals from 1970-77, told himself he would never wear a World Series ring unless he was on a team that earned it. Well, Hrabosky never played on a World Series championship, but he has received World Series rings as part of the Cardinals franchise the last four times the Redbirds have played in the Fall Classic.

Finally, he has decided it’s OK to wear one of the rings since he’s celebrating the Cardinals’ success.

And there’s another reason to show them off.

“I want to show Cubs fans something they’ve never seen before,” Hrabosky said.

Good advice

Freese, a St. Louis native and graduate of Lafayette, is learning being a hometown boy doesn’t mean there needs to be added pressure.

Mike Shannon reminded him of that. Shannon, a former Cardinals third baseman and current radio voice, grew up in St. Louis and graduated from CBC High School.

“He told me, ‘You’ll be better off when you realize not everyone knows you,’” Freese said.

Good example

Matt Holliday, the Cardinals starting left fielder, has made St. Louis his home. Signed through 2016, Holliday wanted his kids to be in school and to have a stable life near him.

“It shows how much he wants to not only be a part of the team, but a part of the community,” Freese said.

Last year, Holliday hit .312 with 28 home runs and 103 RBI in his first full season in St. Louis.

“We haven’t seen the best of Holliday,” Freese said.

Quite a lineup

How is this for the heart of a batting order?

You’re No. 3 hitter has hit at least 30 home runs and collected at least 100 RBI each of the last 10 seasons.

You’re No. 4 hitter has belted at least 20 home runs the last six seasons and driven in at least 100 RBI five times.

You’re No. 5 hitter has six 100 RBI seasons and five seasons with 30 or more home runs in his career.

That’s what the Cardinals have with Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman.

“It doesn’t get much scarier than that,” Freese said.

Reaping their rewards

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Sean Taylor shuffled his starting lineup against East Moline, rewarding senior forward Drew Forrest and junior forward Michael Schmitt for their improved performances and dedication during practice.

And before either took the floor for their first varsity start, they got a quick pep talk from someone who had once been in their shoes.

Senior guard Mitch Marold, the team captain who earned his first start as a sophomore, wanted them to know not to squander the chance.

“Right before the game, Marold talked to us and said some guys are getting opportunities they don¹t normally get,” Schmitt said. “He said we had to take advantage of it.”

Schmitt certainly did. In the 59-55 overtime loss at the Panther Den, Schmitt scored a career-high 12 points as he hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight of Quincy’s first 10 points. The Blue Devils opened the game by scoring four of their first six possessions and led 10-9 with 3:28 to go in the first quarter when Schmitt hit a 3-pointer from the left corner.

Quincy didn’t lead again until 2:09 remained in the fourth quarter.

Marold said he wanted to simply remind his teammates to seize the moment.

“We needed them to step up and they did,” Marold said.

Forrest had three points, two rebounds and three steals, including a critical swipe in overtime that could have led to a game-tying basket. Unfortunately, the Blue Devils committed one of their 20 turnovers on the ensuing possession.

Nothing but net

Trailing by two with 20.4 seconds remaining in regulation, Taylor designed a play for Marold to get an open look from the right corner. The play worked perfectly, allowing Marold to come off a DeAngelo Dean screen, catch a pass from Mason Fairley and bury a 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining that put Quincy up 53-52.

The shot seemed to be more difficult since East Moline’s Nic Hoepfner, a 6-foot-5 stout forward, came running from the block to challenge the shot, but Marold never flinched.

In fact, he never even realized Hoepfner came at him.

“I just saw ball and rim,” Marold said.

Getting back in the flow

DeAngelo Dean’s struggles against Peoria Central — he scored just six points, failing to reach double figures for only the second time all season — were quickly put behind him. The 6-foot-4 junior forward came off the bench late in the first quarter and got back in the flow, scoring 10 points, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots.

Playing big

Hoepfner, the Western Big Six Conference’s second-leading scorer, finished with 13 points and five rebounds, but he scored just eight points in regulation as foul trouble in the first half and the aggressive defense of Quincy’s Mike Davis helped keep him in check. Davis limited Hoepfner to just six field goal attempts in regulation by playing physical and moving Hopefner off the block.

Meanwhile, Davis did his best to give Quincy an interior presence offensively as he scored 10 points, going 5 of 7 from the field.

The sophomores

Joey Laws scored 20 points as the QHS sophomore team beat East Moline 78-62 to improve to 9-7 overall and 2-3 against WB6 competition. Cole Abbey added 18 points, and Jason Salrin chipped in 17.

The longest road trip of the season could be the perfect way to get the Quincy High School boys basketball team back on track.

At least, the Blue Devils hope so.

After spending Friday night in the Quad Cities after playing at East Moline, Quincy will head to suburban Chicago to take on Hinsdale South. This is the fourth consecutive season in which the Blue Devils and Hornets have met with Quincy winning the previous three. That includes a 74-49 victory at Hinsdale South two years ago.

However, the Hornets aren’t the same team the Blue Devils feasted on offensively the last two years. Hinsdale South is 11-6 heading into this weekend with three players averaging in double figures and in the midst of a stretch where they have won nine of their last 12 games. That includes a 44-38 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South where the Hornets went on a 17-3 run in the second half to overcome a sluggish start.

Junior guard Phil George leads Hinsdale South in scoring at 14.1 points per game, while 6-foot-6 junior forward Brock Benson averages 11.4 points and senior point guard Joe Petrak contributes 10.2. The Hornets have depth, playing as many as 10 players on a given night, and size to go along with Benson.

It means the Blue Devils better be ready. Here are three keys to making that happen.

1. Stay focused

Saturday is going to be a long day out of their routine. The Blue Devils will have to deal with staying in a hotel, plenty of down time during the day and more highway miles. The excuse this is a young team can’t be used any more. The Blue Devils spent the holidays on the road and should be used to travel. Still, they have to maintain their focus show up ready to play.

2. Stay precise

This team has been very good at being unselfish, delivering crisp passes and setting up each other to score. That has to continue. Quincy needs to be precise with its passing and its decision making. The fewer the turnovers, the better the chance at coming home with a victory.

3. Stay hungry

The Blue Devils were outrebounded badly by Peoria Central, although senior guard Mitch Marold showed what determination can do as he grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds. Others have to follow that lead. Quincy has to bang the boards, play physical and be hungry. The Blue Devils have to want every ball that comes off the rim.

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Sean Taylor isn’t fooled by East Moline’s recent struggles.

Taylor knows the Panthers are as dangerous as almost any team the Blue Devils will face.

“I think they might be the most balanced team we play,” Taylor said. “They have quick guards and they have big, physical, athletic inside guys. They guard you really well. They rebound exceptionally well. I know they’ve struggled a little bit lately, but I think they are an outstanding team.”

The memories of last year’s regional championship game fuel that assessment.

Quincy was outquicked and outplayed in the 67-49 loss at the Panther Den. East Moline forward Nic Hoepfner picked up two fouls in the first 3:16 and spent the rest of the first half on the bench, but he was a huge presence in the second half. He scored East Moline’s first nine points and finished with 18 points.

“We just couldn’t stop him,” Taylor said. “We didn’t have an answer.”

Few have had one. Hoepfner is second in the Western Big Six Conference in scoring this season, averaging 19.3 points per game. Overall, he is averaging 15.9 points per game and 8.2 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 senior is shooting 56.3 percent from the field overall and 62.8 percent from the field in conference play.

As good as Hoepfner is, Quincy’s biggest concern is how the Blue Devils match up with East Moline’s lightning quick guards.

“The key offensively is we can’t turn the ball over,” Taylor said. “We’ve been really shaky against the pressure lately and I think we’re going to see more of the same. We have to handle the ball. Our defense has been solid. Actually, it’s been really good. You take away the easy buckets off turnovers and our defense has been really good for the last month.”

The struggles in the backcourt proved costly in a 60-54 loss to No. 3-ranked Rock Island and a 67-41 loss to No. 6 Peoria Central. Quincy isn’t alone in its struggles. East Moline went 1-3 in the Martin Luther King Classic in Galesburg and has lost four of its last five games.

“We’re coming off a frustrating weekend, but everybody’s going to face adversity at some time,” East Moline coach Marc Polite told the Moline Dispatch. “The question is how are you going to respond? So far, we’ve been encouraged by what we’ve seen in practice, but now we’re going to find out how we respond in a big game. We’re not out of (the WB6 race). We know we’re still a good basketball team. We just have to keep playing hard, and things will start to go our way.”

Taylor keeps telling his team the same thing.

Here are three keys for the Blue Devils to survive in a place they’ve traditionally struggled, going 2-7 there the last seven seasons.

1. Attack the glass

Hoepfner is a beat on the boards. So is junior forward Tayvian Johnson, who may be the best leaper among big men in the league. So how does Quincy combat that? Well, the Blue Devils have to attack the glass with all five guys on the floor. They have to be physical and get position. Do those things and the Blue Devils will have a chance to stay competitive on the boards.

2. Attack the point

Quincy has been very effective offensively when it gets the ball to the high post. So it is up to the guards to attack the point of East Moline’s defense and get the ball to DeAngelo Dean and Mike Davis in the high post. The junior forwards have shown they work well together and off of each other. Getting the ball in their hands will result in some good looks at the basket.

3. Attack at the start

Since East Moline has struggled, the best thing Quincy can do is put the Panthers in an immediate hole. The longer the Blue Devils allow the Panthers to believe they will defend their home turf, the more likely they will be to do it. If Quincy can get to the rim and score some easy buckets in the first quarter, there’s a chance they start a long weekend road trip the right way.

The deadline for the Cardinals and first baseman Albert Pujols to reach an agreement on a contract extension is one month away.

Did you find it interesting that Albert Pujols stood in front of a group of reporters at a news conference and had the media relations director of the St. Louis Cardinals tell the media members Pujols’ agent had set ground rules for the news conference?

I found it extremely disappointing.

Maybe it’s a pipe dream, but I long to see a professional athlete of Pujols’ stature leave the agents, the lawyers, the media and every other fringe player out of the contract negotiations and simply make a decision themselves. Get Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt and Pujols together in an office, in the clubhouse, in a restaurant … really, the place doesn’t matter. Get them together, let Pujols tell DeWitt what he wants, let DeWitt tell Pujols what he can offer and see if they can come to an understanding. Let it be man-to-man, not player-to-agent-to-manager-to-GM-to-chairman or whatever line of communication they go through now to get a deal done.

Again, it’s a pipe dream. Since that’s not going to happen, Cardinals fans are left to wonder and wait as the deadline imposed by Pujols’ agent to get contract negotiations finished looms one month away. Pitchers and catchers report to the Cardinals’ spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., on Feb. 13 with the first full squad workout scheduled for Feb. 19. Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, have said negotiations end at that time. If a deal isn’t complete, he’ll be a free agent at the end of the 2011 season.

I like the fact Pujols doesn’t want to drag the negotiations into the season.

Could this be what the Cardinals' season looks like if Albert Pujols doesn't sign a contract extension?

“What is more important, my contract or my team?” Pujols said while addressing the media before signing autographs Sunday during the team’s annual Winter Warmup. “Do you want to bring all that into the clubhouse all year like you guys have been doing the last couple years? No. I think you need to respect that. And I respect my teammates more than I respect this contract.”

But there is a flip side.

If the Cardinals fail to get a contract extension negotiated by the deadline and Pujols enters the season likely to become a free agent, a cloud of gloom and doom will hang over the franchise throughout the 2011 season. Remember, this isn’t an average, everyday player. This is Albert Pujols. The best player in the game. The best player in franchise history since Stan Musial and Bob Gibson.

Pujols is iconic.

Losing Pujols in his prime would be a death blow to the Cardinals. And that cloud? Well, remember Pig-Pen. He was Charlie Brown’s friend from the comic strip “Peanuts” who constantly had a cloud of dust around him. That’s how Herald-Whig Sports Editor Don O’Brien described the cloud that would hang over the Cardinals if Pujols doesn’t get signed. That is an apt description. It’s a cloud that will never go away.

The Cardinals and Pujols have one month to make sure that cloud dissipates. They better not waste time.

No ‘D’ in Quincy’s offense

DeAngelo Dean, Quincy’s 6-foot-4 junior forward who is averaging 15.9 points per game, sat most of the second half on the bench. Dean looked frustrated by the physical play in the post and banging he took from Peoria Central forwards Travis Kellum and Tylander Amos. So Quincy coach Sean Taylor let Dean cool down.

“He had a tough night (Friday night) and didn’t get a lot of sleep,” Taylor said. “So he was little bit not with mentally. A little tired. A little sick. So there were a lot of factors. Hopefully he can bounce back.”

Dean, who did not score or attempt a shot in the second half, finished with six points and three rebounds. This was only the second time this season he has been held to single digits in scoring. The other was in a 56-42 loss to Galesburg in which he had eight points and three rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Lack of attacking the rim

Quincy failed to get to the free-throw line at least 10 times for the first time since its opening game of the Collinsville Schnucks Holiday Classic, when the Blue Devils attempted just four free throws in the 39-37 victory over Chatham Glenwood.

Against Peoria Central, the Blue Devils were 1 of 5 from the line and didn’t attempt a free throw in the second half.

Marold shooting in rhythm

In his last four games, Quincy senior guard Mitch Marold is shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and has hit 50 percent or better three times. It’s led to three consecutive double-digit scoring efforts as Marold has boosted his season average to 10.5 points per game. The rest os his game hasn’t suffered just because he’s scoring more. In the last four games, Marold has 12 assists, four steals and 21 rebounds, including a game-high nine rebounds against Central.

The sophomore game

Quincy lost to the Peoria Central sophomore team 78-68, although the Blue Devils rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Quincy trailed by as many as 16 points, but an eight-point run by Joey Laws — he hit a 3-pointers, made an old-fashioned three-point play and finished it with a layin — gave the Blue Devils a 67-66 lead with two minutes to play. Unfortunately, Quincy was outscored 12-1 the rest of the game.

The boxscore

Peoria Central 67, Quincy 41
QUINCY (8-8)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
T. Dean    1-8    0-0    1    4    3
D. Dean    3-5    0-2    3    1    6
Marold        5-9    1-2    9    2    13
Beebe    0-1    0-0    0    0    0
Davis    5-8    0-1    3    2    10
Forrest    1-1    0-0    5    3    2
Schmitt    1-2    0-0    0    4    2
Fairley    0-1    0-0    0    1    0
Kvitle    1-2    0-0    0    2    3
Radovic    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Abbey    1-1    0-0    0    0    2
Givens    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Team            1
Totals    18-38    1-5    22    19    41
PEORIA CENTRAL (12-3)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
J. White    1-1    1-2    0    1    3
D. White    7-16    1-2    5    3    15
St. Jackson    2-6    0-0    1    0    4
Travis Kellum    3-6    1-2    8    3    7
Amos    3-5    3-3    5    1    9
Dorsey    5-12    4-4    2    1    14
Trey Kellum    1-3    3-5    4    1    5
Nunn    0-1    0-0    1    0    0
Caldwell    0-0    0-0    0    1    0
Thomas    2-4    0-2    1    1    4
Foote    1-4    0-0    1    1    2
Jordan    1-4    0-2    4    0    2
Hill    0-1    2-2    1    0    2
Sp. Jackson    0-0    0-0    1    0    0
Team            5
Totals    26-63    15-24    39    13    67
Quincy    8    10    9    14 – 41
Peoria Central    6    16    17    28 – 67
3-point field goals – Quincy 4-10 (Marold 2-4, T. Dean 1-2, Kvitle 1-1, Beebe 0-1, Schmitt 0-1, Fairley 0-1), Peoria Central 0-8 (Dorsey 0-5, Nunn 0-1, Foote 0-1, Hill 0-1). Assists – Quincy 9 (Marold 4), Peoria Central 9 (J. White 3). Steals – Quincy 5 (Abbey 2), Peoria Central 14 (J. White, Dorsey 3). Blocked shots – Quincy 2 (D. Dean 2), Peoria Central 2 (Amos, Jordan). Turnovers – Quincy 28, Peoria Central. 15. Technicals – Quincy bench, Peoria Central bench.

Holding his own

Mitch Marold looked like a haggard prize fighter walking out of Blue Devil Gym Friday night.

The Quincy High School senior guard had gone toe-to-toe with Rock Island’s Chasson Randle, the Stanford-bound guard, throughout the second half of the Blue Devils’ 60-54 Western Big Six Conference loss. Randle ran Marold ragged, but the all-stater could never shake his shadow.

Randle, who scored a game-high 27 points, went 1 of 3 from the field in the fourth quarter and scored just eight points in the second half. Slowing Randle, which was Marold’s assignment, enabled the Blue Devils to whittle a 16-point deficit down to one before fading the final four minutes.

“Mitch did a really good job of taking ownership and competing and trying to make it as difficult as possible for (Randle),” Quincy coach Sean Taylor said.

Quincy tried a variety of matchups against Randle, who averages 22.5 points per game, attempting to use quickness to combat his all-around skills. It didn’t work. Despite picking up two fouls in the first quarter, Randle scored 19 first-half points, hitting 7 of 8 shots and making a dazzling reverse layup that put Rocky up 6-0. The Rocks never lost the lead.

“It’s the maturity of letting the game come to him,” Rock Island coach Thom Sigel said of letting Randle play with two fouls in the second quarter. “It’s just nice to have him out there.”

Taylor and the Blue Devils say the same thing about Marold.

“Mitch played incredible,” Quincy’s DeAngelo Dean said. “He worked hard. It’s hard to guard him all game long. That has to be tiring.”

Another adjustment

Taylor implored the Blue Devils to be more aggressive in the second half, and they followed suit. Quincy had just 15 field-goal attempts in the first half, but responded by going 8 of 14 from the field in the third quarter. Better yet, after committing 10 turnovers in the first half, Quincy had just three in the third quarter and seven total in the second half.

“At least we were making aggressive mistakes in the second half,” Taylor said. “The turnovers were going toward the rim. So we were able to attack.”

Noise control

Sigel realizes Blue Devil Gym can be one of the most inhospitable places to play, especially when the Blue Devils make a charge. Friday night was no different as the energy produced by the largest crowd of the year helped Quincy go on an 8-4 run to start the third quarter and a 12-2 run to close the quarter.

Quincy’s 22-point third quarter matched its highest scoring quarter of the season. The Blue Devils scored 22 points in the fourth quarter against both Batavia and Moline.

“Any time on the road, but especially down here, a couple shots go in and the crowd gets into it and they do a great job of feeding off of it,” Sigel said.

Late-night banking

Quincy senior guard Drew Forrest saw his most meaningful minutes of the season and produced a highlight-reel shot as he banked in a 3-pointer from the right corner that pulled the Blue Devils within 50-49 with 4:24 to play in regulation. It was Forrest’s first basket of the season in his fifth field goal attempt. Five of his six shots this season have come from 3-point range.

The sophomores

The Rock Island sophomores beat Quincy 69-60. Joey Laws led QHS with 19 points.

The boxscores

Rock Island 60, Quincy 54
ROCK ISLAND (14-2, 5-0)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
Muskeyvalley    2-10    0-1    3    1    6
Randle    10-14    5-5    6    2    27
Jones    2-6    0-0    3    1    5
McCauley    3-6    2-4    5    4    8
Keesy    3-4    0-0    1    5    6
Ruiz    1-4    2-3    1    2    5
Randolph    0-3    0-0    2    0    0
Henderson    1-1    1-1    0    0    3
Bonner    0-1    0-0    0    2    0
Davis    0-1    0-0    1    1    0
Team            4
Totals    22-50    9-14    26    18    60
QUINCY (8-7, 1-3)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
T. Dean    0-0    0-0    0    1    0
D. Dean    9-12    3-7    5    4    21
Marold    7-20    1-2    6    2    17
Beebe    0-0    0-0    3    2    0
Davis    1-1    2-3    2    2    4
Givens    0-0    0-0    0    1    0
Schmitt    0-1    1-2    1    1    1
Fairley    2-4    3-5    2    1    8
Kvitle    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Forrest    1-3    0-0    3    1    3
Rock Island    18    16    10    16—60
Quincy    8    12    22    12—54
3-point field goals—Rock Island 6-16 (Muskeyvalley 2-5, Randle 2-4, Jones 1-4, Ruiz 1-3), Quincy 4-15 (Marold 2-10, Forrest 1-3, Fairley 1-2). Assists—Rock Island 13 (Muskeyvalley 6), Quincy 11 (Beebe 3). Steals—Rock Island 6 (Randle 2), Quincy 5 (Marold 2). Blocked shots—Rock Island 2 (McCauley 2), Quincy 5 (D. Dean 3). Turnovers—Rock Island 12, Quincy 17. Officials—Chuck Frail, Al Corwin, Dave Mueller.

Following a weekend sweep of games in Chicago, including a 77-58 victory over Chicago Bogan in the inaugural Bob Hambric Shootout, Peoria Central coach Dan Ruffin felt his team made strides.

“We were OK,” Central coach Dan Ruffin told the Peoria Journal Star. “We’re still a work in progress, but we’re getting closer.”

That’s scary.

The Lions, ranked sixth in Class 3A, have ripped off  eight victories in a row following an 11-point loss to Peoria Notre Dame in mid-December. Although the Lions will attack with their traditional pressure defense and quick backcourt, the thing that has set this group apart is the ability to rebound and control the paint.

In a 75-72 victory over East Aurora in the championship game of the East Aurora Holiday Tournament, the Lions made 26 of their 28 shots on layups and putbacks. They shot 54.8 percent from the field and finished with a 35-24 advantage on the boards. Darian White scored a career-high 25 points, while four Lions had at least five rebounds.

So how does Quincy combat that? Here are three keys to the game …

1. Stay focused

So much of the week’s preparation went into getting ready for the Western Big Six Conference tilt with Rock Island, which Quincy lost 60-54, that it doesn’t leave much time to make adjustments for Central. As long as the Blue Devils stay focused and energetic, they can make adjustments on the fly. This team continues to be smart enough and strong-willed enough not to get blown out of any game. Stick around long enough and the Blue Devils might have a chance.

2. Stay positive

If the Lions roar, the Blue Devils can’t freak out. That hasn’t been a problem this season. Quincy trailed Rock Island by 14 points at halftime and had that deficit whittled to two points by the end of the third quarter. The Blue Devils never believe they are out of a game. No wonder they haven’t been blown out in any game this season. Central has the capability of going on big runs at any time. If the Lions do, the Blue Devils won’t get discouraged. They haven’t shown they are willing to give in to anybody.

3. Stay alert

The Blue Devils have to take care of the ball, and complacency will ruin any chance of handling Central’s pressure. The Blue Devils need to play with high energy and never let their guard down. If they can match Central’s intensity and withstand the overwhelming pressure Central often produces, the Blue Devils should be able to limit the turnovers and give themselves a chance.