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BIG STRIDES: BLUE DEVILS ENTER 2013 SLATE RIDING A CREST OF MOMENTUM

For the first time since the turn of the calendar....and for the first time since running the Collinsville Tournament gauntlet unseeded to reach the Championship Game: the Quincy High Blue Devils return to the court this weekend.

Two games on tap: Alleman at home tomorrow, Marian at Blue Devil Gym on Saturday.

But as far as the guys are concerned at this point: opponent is immaterial.

"Yeah, I know the guys are. I think they are probably sick of me. That's okay. Now they know how my wife feels."

With a 13 day mini-vacation behind them, the Blue Devils enter the 2013 slate with obvious signs of momentum; none bigger than a newly earned state ranking.

"A State Ranking is really big for us. It inspires us to get better. Just commit to work harder than we usually do. It is a big boost for us, I think."

"DeAngelo and Mike and Harrison and Carter Kline. You know, we lost a lot from last year. So it's a great compliment to these kids. They have come a long way. They've worked their tails off. Hopefully, they can reward themselves to keep on moving up in the rankings because that means they are playing really good basketball."

It also means that the great Preseason X factor in the Blue Devils success, Play in the Paint, continues to be delivered. Sean Taylor's Four Man, Big Man Rotation has netted production to this point well beyond anyone's projection. To wit, who would have guess that the Conference's best rebounder would call the Gem City home.