Toughest Gym in the Area

[German/Irish_67_9]

I know i know.. its been talked about before.. but its always one of my favorite discussions..

So.. what are the toughest places to play around here.. Missouri included i suppose..

Being a QND alum and fan i must say my top 2 most dreaded gyms to travel to are Vohsall in Pittsfield and Macomb.. Macomb just seems so large..

[PhotoGuy]

The Pit, obviously, is up there. Also, QHS.

[allstarwannabe]

I'm not going with the crowd or the atmosphere, but Brussels is one of the toughest places to play. You have the small court, with a brick wall 6 inches from the endline. Players on the bench have to pull their feet back to keep from interfering with play. IMO the toughest places to play.

[Vikingfan1]

Even though it is now a jr high gym, Nauvoo-Colusa had one heck of a home court streak during the mid to late 90s. Very small gym as well with the students standing right there and 95% of the fans being Nauvoo fans. They had a streak from the 1996-1997 season through 1998-1999 where they did not lose 1 home game. I also thought both Warsaw and Hamilton (seperate) were quite the places to play to. Overall #1 though I would have to say QND.

[Titanfan89]

The old Warsaw gym back in the 1990's was quite the place to play when it was packed when the big boys were coming to town (QND, Pittsfield, Nauvoo, etc.). Especially in the 1996 and 1997 seasons. I remember there were so many people expected for some of those games that they had to wire closed circuit cameras feeding into TV's in the auditorium. It seemed the roof was going to blow off that gym at times when key shots were hit.

[German/Irish_67_9]

I guess i'm so used to The Pit i don't understand why everyone hates playing there. I would love to play games there. Its a gorgeous lil high school gym.. nothing to QHS' monster but a nice gym indeed. I'm not sure why its so bad. The students are obnoxious.. thats a given but other than that i don't know what makes it so tough..

Old Liberty gym.. TINY.. they wrote the book on pitifully tiny gyms.. but it was fun.
I'm not a fan of Lewistown's bowl.. i hate those gyms where they turn the lights off behind you.
And QND remembers Fernetti blowing up the nets at N-C in the 90's.. classic

[Titanfan89]

I am also a big fan of the bowl types of gyms, such as the QND gym, and gyms more like Hamilton and Bushnell, where you walk down into the gym.

[PhotoGuy]

The toughest gym I see around here physically is the horrible little gym at Novinger. The players literally sit on the court.

This isn't a good picture at all, in fact it was in my trash bin... but it shows what the gym is like... yes, they really are sitting about five feet from the three point line.

http://zoopictures.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p47483088-3.jpg

(Green City vs. Brashear)

[bballjunkie1]

That is pic is classic, how is that even accepted?

As for gyms, I think players love playing at the Pit, but they get so worked up with the crowd that they panic. The more you play at the Pit, the more you get use to it. I remember the Barry teams got hammered the first time they played there and everytime after that they were able to compete with some good QND teams.
As for Brussels, that place should be a museum. Not only is it small, but if you played there this week it might be 20 degrees inside. I have played there with cheerleaders wearing coats during the game.
Libertys old gym was awful. But being a small gym it was fun to play in.
Barry use to be a place where other teams loved to play, probably cause the Barry teams in the 80s and 90s were some of the worst teams in America so you could go there and look great.

[German/Irish_67_9]

Photoguy I was at a game in Atlanta, mo with a friend last year and it was just like novingers.. I was shocked they allow that. Honestly. So you aren't kidding

[CHUCK26]

I think Brown County is a tough place to win a game, especially when it is packed to the rafters. Voshall, The Pit, and West Central (at Winchester) are all tough places to win when you're in the dark jerseys.

[fanofthegame]

That is pic is classic, how is that even accepted?

As for gyms, I think players love playing at the Pit, but they get so worked up with the crowd that they panic. The more you play at the Pit, the more you get use to it. I remember the Barry teams got hammered the first time they played there and everytime after that they were able to compete with some good QND teams.
As for Brussels, that place should be a museum. Not only is it small, but if you played there this week it might be 20 degrees inside. I have played there with cheerleaders wearing coats during the game.
Libertys old gym was awful. But being a small gym it was fun to play in.
Barry use to be a place where other teams loved to play, probably cause the Barry teams in the 80s and 90s were some of the worst teams in America so you could go there and look great.

Junkie I think you hit the nail on the head and the Barry teams are a great example. I've been to nearly every home game at the pit for probably 10 years now and I have NEVER heard that place louder than it was leading up to the opening tip of the regioanl title game in 03-04. That includes when QHS came to the Pit. Barry was used to the atmosphere at that point though and came out and gave QND all they wanted. If it wouldve been a year or two earlier QND would have been up 20-30 at half.

On a side note, looking back on that season makes me really appreciate how amazing area basketball was then. Just thinking about that post season, Barry hung within 3 of QND at the pit and Brown County played them to a 4 point game. I firmly believe either of those teams could have finished 3rd in the state. QND won the supers by 12, quarters by 21, and the 3rd palce game by something like 17.

[bballjunkie1]

Junkie I think you hit the nail on the head and the Barry teams are a great example. I've been to nearly every home game at the pit for probably 10 years now and I have NEVER heard that place louder than it was leading up to the opening tip of the regioanl title game in 03-04. That includes when QHS came to the Pit. Barry was used to the atmosphere at that point though and came out and gave QND all they wanted. If it wouldve been a year or two earlier QND would have been up 20-30 at half.

On a side note, looking back on that season makes me really appreciate how amazing area basketball was then. Just thinking about that post season, Barry hung within 3 of QND at the pit and Brown County played them to a 4 point game. I firmly believe either of those teams could have finished 3rd in the state. QND won the supers by 12, quarters by 21, and the 3rd palce game by something like 17.

That was a great year for area basketball. 3 teams were ranked in the top 12 at one time. That game against Barry was one of the all time great games played. Talent wise Barry had just as good of a starting 5, but QND would just throw3-5 more guys out there that were just as good off the bench. Emerick came off the bench if that tells you anything. I also firmly believe either BC or Barry could of went on a nice run if they went south to the PField regional that year. For example, Carrolton and Pfield played for the sectional championship and Barry beat both teams by over 30 during the season. Just the way it goes.

[CHUCK26]

That was a great year for area basketball. 3 teams were ranked in the top 12 at one time. That game against Barry was one of the all time great games played. Talent wise Barry had just as good of a starting 5, but QND would just throw3-5 more guys out there that were just as good off the bench. Emerick came off the bench if that tells you anything. I also firmly believe either BC or Barry could of went on a nice run if they went south to the PField regional that year. For example, Carrolton and Pfield played for the sectional championship and Barry beat both teams by over 30 during the season. Just the way it goes.

Not to start an argument, but I don't think Pittsfield and Barry played in the 03-04 season. If they did, I know it wasn't a 30 point game because Pittsfield didn't lose to anyone that badly that season. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't remember them playing.

[fanofthegame]

Not to start an argument, but I don't think Pittsfield and Barry played in the 03-04 season. If they did, I know it wasn't a 30 point game because Pittsfield didn't lose to anyone that badly that season. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't remember them playing.

Pittsfield was another extremely solid team that season with Yelliot and Wombles (sp?) Not to take away from current area teams, but I feel like a number of area teams from that season would fairly easily take the top spot in the area this year.

[bballjunkie1]

Pittsfield was another extremely solid team that season with Yelliot and Wombles (sp?) Not to take away from current area teams, but I feel like a number of area teams from that season would fairly easily take the top spot in the area this year.

Played in the QND tipoff, and if I am not mistaken Barry won by around 30 first game of the year. I know at one point it was over 30, but the final might of been lower than that. This was Yelliot and Wombles sr year I believe. Barry beat Carrolton that year by almost 40 in the Championship of the Winchester tourny.

[CHUCK26]

After some minor research, I think I have solved this issue. In the 03-04, which was Yelliot and Womble's senior year, Barry beat Pittsfield 67-57 @ the QND Tip off tourney. Pittsfield also had losses that season to QND (2), Carthage, Liberty, Carrollton, Macomb, Auburn, and Brown County.

Barry did beat Carrollton badly that season in the WIT championship, in a game that was, "Over by halftime."

The year that Barry beat Pittsfield in the QND Tourney by 30+ was the 04-05 season, also known as the dark ages for Pittsfield Basketball. The score was 68-30 that year.

Source: http://preps.sj-r.com/boys-basketball/team/pittsfield-saukees/schedule/?season=2004

[German/Irish_67_9]

After some minor research, I think I have solved this issue. In the 03-04, which was Yelliot and Womble's senior year, Barry beat Pittsfield 67-57 @ the QND Tip off tourney. Pittsfield also had losses that season to QND (2), Carthage, Liberty, Carrollton, Macomb, Auburn, and Brown County.

Barry did beat Carrollton badly that season in the WIT championship, in a game that was, "Over by halftime."

The year that Barry beat Pittsfield in the QND Tourney by 30+ was the 04-05 season, also known as the dark ages for Pittsfield Basketball. The score was 68-30 that year.

Source: http://preps.sj-r.com/boys-basketball/team/pittsfield-saukees/schedule/?season=2004

Who remembers the tip-in at the buzzer Emerick put in from a full court pass frm j. Bocke at halftime in that game in '03-'04??? So many classics between qnd and Pittsfield but that game ranks up there for sure on my list.

[radiowaves]

Toughest, by far, was Pit with the crew of officials for the Saturday night game in the Gully tourney. Who could forget, Brooks Allen, a young sophomore, stepping to the free throw line in the second quarter of the chamionship game, eyes the bucket, and just before he releases the horn, yes the horn blows, he clangs it off the front of the rim, as everyone freezes, a Raider guard grabs the ball and goes to other end, makes a layup and Mugsy and the bandits count the shot saying nothing about the horn at all. Coach Elledge takes a charge on one of the stripes two trips later and gets called for the T. And he was defintely set. One reason Pittsfield left the tourney. Yes, the Pit, secondl only to Blue Devil gm before two classes of basketball, for all the little schools.

[bballjunkie1]

Toughest, by far, was Pit with the crew of officials for the Saturday night game in the Gully tourney. Who could forget, Brooks Allen, a young sophomore, stepping to the free throw line in the second quarter of the chamionship game, eyes the bucket, and just before he releases the horn, yes the horn blows, he clangs it off the front of the rim, as everyone freezes, a Raider guard grabs the ball and goes to other end, makes a layup and Mugsy and the bandits count the shot saying nothing about the horn at all. Coach Elledge takes a charge on one of the stripes two trips later and gets called for the T. And he was defintely set. One reason Pittsfield left the tourney. Yes, the Pit, secondl only to Blue Devil gm before two classes of basketball, for all the little schools.

Wait, someone got a little homecooking at the Pit? No way. I was not there at that game, but I do remember hearing a lot about it. I also liked it in the past when the announcer would announce freethrows and would always say shooting 2 or 1 right when the opposing player was getting ready to release the ball. Where is that guy anyways?

that being said I love going to the pit to watch games. Best student section around, even if they do get a bit out of control during big games.

[Lost Soul]

Junkie I think you hit the nail on the head and the Barry teams are a great example. I've been to nearly every home game at the pit for probably 10 years now and I have NEVER heard that place louder than it was leading up to the opening tip of the regioanl title game in 03-04. That includes when QHS came to the Pit. Barry was used to the atmosphere at that point though and came out and gave QND all they wanted. If it wouldve been a year or two earlier QND would have been up 20-30 at half.

On a side note, looking back on that season makes me really appreciate how amazing area basketball was then. Just thinking about that post season, Barry hung within 3 of QND at the pit and Brown County played them to a 4 point game. I firmly believe either of those teams could have finished 3rd in the state. QND won the supers by 12, quarters by 21, and the 3rd palce game by something like 17.

The Barry team from 03-04 did it right by playing at the pit early in the season and was ready for that regional game. Hard to say it was the best ever regional game but for sure is in the top 10 all time. Barry was a top four team in the state that year but the 3rd and 4th place games was played that night, so guess they were #4 in the state. On a neutral court maybe 3rd. The Brown County/QND game was one I will never forget and thanks to Lois in Mt Sterling for getting me a ticket!! Without the injury that game could have gone in 10 overtimes. Best money I ever spent for a high school game!

[German/Irish_67_9]

Wait, someone got a little homecooking at the Pit? No way. I was not there at that game, but I do remember hearing a lot about it. I also liked it in the past when the announcer would announce freethrows and would always say shooting 2 or 1 right when the opposing player was getting ready to release the ball. Where is that guy anyways?

that being said I love going to the pit to watch games. Best student section around, even if they do get a bit out of control during big games.

That student section is harsh.. but it works.. i was part of it.. we didnt go into games wanting to make everyone angry.. we merely wanted everyone to know we were there.. wasn't as hard as we thought.. but considering all the "God loves us more," "Thanks for not recruiting us," and "I guess cheaters do prosper" signs i saw in high school i wouldn't doubt that a good yelling to from a few hundred kids was deserving.. loud and proud is all we were good for..

I can only remember a few games where the student section at ND got TOO out of control

1. Barry/QND Regional title at the Pit 2004 - QND took the game but Barry fans were cherping back and when the Start your Tractor chant came.. they got a response and let loose with We got walmart.. Farmtown losers and such.. that was bad..
2. QND/BC at Havana sectional 2004 - Probably the single most anticipated game i've ever seen in Illinois since i've been alive.. Justin Busen tipped a ball in with 3 miins left and less than 2 trips back down the court the kid broke his leg.. after a 30 min break the QND student section unleashed on BC's students with some harsh words indeed.. and Busen only egged it on with his own words. Still one of the all-time best yet OVERBOOKED games i've ever seen. The drama and emotions involved were second to none that night
3. Hannibal/QND 2005 at the PIT - Hannibal students showed up with signs reading "WHo's Jesus really rooting for," and "We brought hell with us." True story. After that it was on so to speak..

[German/Irish_67_9]

As far as the Pittsfield/QND rivalry.. i had cheese spread on my face by a Pittsfield student once (NO JOKE) and walking by that p'field student section to get a soda and some nachos was a aggrivating thing to do if you were wearing blue and gold.

[fanofthegame]

German/Irish, if i remember right, wasn't it more like a mob of Pittsfield students threatening to unleash their all world wrestlers on us simply for being in their concession area?

[PhotoGuy]

I am a Pittsfield graduate, and I gotta be honest here... it's a lot tougher school than a lot of places. When I went there (the late 70's) there was two different knife fights and I had a gun drawn on me in the boy's locker room. He was kidding (I am fairly positive), but still, when you are looking down the muzzle of a .38 special it gets your attention. I won't mention the guy's name who did it, since he still lives in town there... but anyway, there are some pretty rowdy kids at PHS from time to time.

I am SURE those types of things don't happen at PHS any more... it was a different day, when you were EXPECTED to carry a pocket knife to class with you. Heck, every boy had one.

They may raise rednecks there, but they don't raise wimps in Pittsfield...

[German/Irish_67_9]

German/Irish, if i remember right, wasn't it more like a mob of Pittsfield students threatening to unleash their all world wrestlers on us simply for being in their concession area?

exactly.. i was standing with a bunch of jv players and some kid kept telling me the name on the wall was his brother.. so i laughed.. and he put cheese on my face.. it was outrageous.. i laughed at the whole thing but my gosh.. typical behavior b/t the two schools though..

I remember.. a while further back.. when a pittsfield kid almost got jumped at QND for calling the student section a bunch of preps.. now how lame is that.. just shows you that the heat b/t the two is beyond friendly fire..

I love it though..

[bballjunkie1]

That student section is harsh.. but it works.. i was part of it.. we didnt go into games wanting to make everyone angry.. we merely wanted everyone to know we were there.. wasn't as hard as we thought.. but considering all the "God loves us more," "Thanks for not recruiting us," and "I guess cheaters do prosper" signs i saw in high school i wouldn't doubt that a good yelling to from a few hundred kids was deserving.. loud and proud is all we were good for..

I can only remember a few games where the student section at ND got TOO out of control

1. Barry/QND Regional title at the Pit 2004 - QND took the game but Barry fans were cherping back and when the Start your Tractor chant came.. they got a response and let loose with We got walmart.. Farmtown losers and such.. that was bad..
2. QND/BC at Havana sectional 2004 - Probably the single most anticipated game i've ever seen in Illinois since i've been alive.. Justin Busen tipped a ball in with 3 miins left and less than 2 trips back down the court the kid broke his leg.. after a 30 min break the QND student section unleashed on BC's students with some harsh words indeed.. and Busen only egged it on with his own words. Still one of the all-time best yet OVERBOOKED games i've ever seen. The drama and emotions involved were second to none that night
3. Hannibal/QND 2005 at the PIT - Hannibal students showed up with signs reading "WHo's Jesus really rooting for," and "We brought hell with us." True story. After that it was on so to speak..

I was at the Barry/QND game, and I really didnt think that the students were that bad. I see nothing wrong with the chants at that game. Yeah it gets kinda annoying at the time, but looking back it is all un fun. The best part is, the student section of QND thinks Quincy is a city. For this area it might be, but we all know, that is not a city. It is a nice small west central il town. Just not as small as the rest of the towns. I will say QND section comes up with some great things for the good games.
For the BC game, I was not there, but from all sides it was awful the way QND section acted. Evan Busen probably did say some things, but if your teammate just shattered his leg and the students said bad things I think we all would chirp back.
As for hannibal, they are from MO what do you expect. JK.
I have talked to many players who have played at the pit, kids from PField, Barry, West Pike, Liberty you name it, and ALL of them said they would of loved to play for a student section like that.

[German/Irish_67_9]

who wouldnt junkie.. huge support and an ego boost from Heaven..
I don't really care much anymore but when you constantly get riddiculed for being the "arrogant selfish and down right rude" students and get the rep QND kids do you can only understand why they defend themselves so harshly at times.
Quincy is QTown.. Q-city.. and Q-nasty.. A town, a city, who cares we're bigger than all of ya..

[PhotoGuy]

who wouldnt junkie.. huge support and an ego boost from Heaven..
I don't really care much anymore but when you constantly get riddiculed for being the "arrogant selfish and down right rude" students and get the rep QND kids do you can only understand why they defend themselves so harshly at times.

Honestly, the QND & CB kids I knew back when I was in school WERE "arrogant" and "down right rude" when it came to sports, but they were just fine outside the gym. I was in the Flying Dutchman Drum & Bugle Corps with a lot of them, and they were good friends and good folks... we just didn't talk about sports :)

Of course, we were "arrogant" and "down right rude" ourselves, so I am not really pointing fingers here.

[bballjunkie1]

who wouldnt junkie.. huge support and an ego boost from Heaven..
I don't really care much anymore but when you constantly get riddiculed for being the "arrogant selfish and down right rude" students and get the rep QND kids do you can only understand why they defend themselves so harshly at times.
Quincy is QTown.. Q-city.. and Q-nasty.. A town, a city, who cares we're bigger than all of ya..

In the same way, that attitude is why you get called arrogant selfish and down right rude. I have been to games in Chicago area, St louis are and other actual citys and have been more impressed with their student sections. You section is better than most around her because you get more kids. BC had just as good of one back in the mid 90s when they were very good. Pfield has had great sections up until the last few years.

[fanofthegame]

I'm not sure what Chants or comments anyone is referring to from that BC game, but I was a freshman in the middle of the student section when that happened, and most of the students were joined in prayer. I can honestly say I never saw Busen say anything nor did I hear anything even moderately disrespectful from any students. The incident I do remember is that a local photographer was trying to take pictures of the incident and the entire crowd got pretty rowdy at that point. As far as the Quincy being a city comment I would go the opposite way Junkie. As a QND grad I always thought it was absurd how big other area schools thought Quincy and QND were. I had a kid during a golf tournament once tell me there was no way QND had less than 4,000 students. The chants, from my perspective, were always done tongue in cheek. It was like well if we are going to be labeled a certain way, we might as well live up to it.

[bballjunkie1]

I'm not sure what Chants or comments anyone is referring to from that BC game, but I was a freshman in the middle of the student section when that happened, and most of the students were joined in prayer. I can honestly say I never saw Busen say anything nor did I hear anything even moderately disrespectful from any students. The incident I do remember is that a local photographer was trying to take pictures of the incident and the entire crowd got pretty rowdy at that point. As far as the Quincy being a city comment I would go the opposite way Junkie. As a QND grad I always thought it was absurd how big other area schools thought Quincy and QND were. I had a kid during a golf tournament once tell me there was no way QND had less than 4,000 students. The chants, from my perspective, were always done tongue in cheek. It was like well if we are going to be labeled a certain way, we might as well live up to it.

I completely agree that most chants were done tongue in cheek. I think QNDS section is one of the best. But with a comment like "we must live up to it" is where the problem is. That kind of attitude is what rubs people from the area the wrong way. I, am in no way tryin to rip QND for what the have. Great school, great sports great student section. With out a doubt, the best in the area. As I said I was not at the QNDBC game, but I have heard from players from both sides that said QND students crossed the line. It was 6 years ago, it hurt no one long term. we all know QND will see a chance to make a good comment and run with it. good and bad, I dont fault them. Most of the time, thet do it in humor, but turns into something not funny. I have done that you have we all have. Dont think I am trying to say QND is awful by any measures, all area schools look up to them and would love to get to their level. But when you are below someone, you look to find the errors with them, just the same way as someone above looks to pick on the errors of those below. Its just a big circle that we travel in.

[fanofthegame]

I get what you are saying. I'm by no means trying to insinuate QND is perfect either. I just wanted to throw out my personal experience from the QND BC game. The gym was packed to the rafters that night and I was in the middle of it so there is no way I could have seen or heard everything that happened. Like I said, I saw nothing from Busen or the students sitting around me, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen anywhere. As a freshman at that time I wasn't exactly close to the court, so who knows what went on down there. Whatever may have happened I do know the school received some compliments on the students that did join in prayer for Logsdon.

I should have clarified what I meant by my comment about living up to the label. I didn't mean to suggest QND students should act arrogant or disrespectful. I was speakingly strictly of the chants playing on the "big city" theme. I thought it was funy that we were considered a city school and as long as we were we might as well have some fun with chants like those that only very uptight folks find to be disrespectful. Just my opinion though, and I know I would disagree with many on what constitutes appropriate behavior from a student section.

[German/Irish_67_9]

No matter how you look at it QND is a labeled school as it is. It sits (private and Catholic) in the middle of nowhere basicall.. the penninsula of Illinois. QHS - pretty large school but i agree when i hear someone say QND is so big i laugh. I believe their un-multiplied enrollment this year was again under 400. Sad but the truth is cost is everything. And by no means are the kids from a QND any different from the kids at a BC or Pfield. All the same. Certain actions are clearly marked as arrogance. I understand why QND gets the bad name. Theyve been the bad guy for years now. This just brings up a topic that i think were (unfortunately) all too familiar with.

Ha but i do remember when the QND students (me being a part of it) brought Wasp spray and fly swatters to Havana that cold night. And immediately had them revoked. Then out came the towels and those were thrown away as well. HA too much fun.

[ILL]

A small school in Illinois called Kewanee has one of the hardest gyms to play at. it could be because of there basketball team or because they have a really good fan base with there student section. it is by far the best place i have seen the last two years. other schools need to go and see how crazy they get there.

[mrillinois]

My list of Toughest Gyms, from being at the gyms for big games.

1) The Pit- Who can deny that The Pit is a VERY tough place to win. Even in the years that QND is an average team it's still hard to win in that gym.

2) Vohsall- Only been to a few games there, but man what a great place for basketball.

3) N/C gym- Always a packed house in the 90's, and the minute the opposing team stepped onto the floor it was over. Student Section and fans are right on top of you.....most teams couldn't handle it and the N/C players fed off the fear.

4) Macomb gym- Just a massive gym compared to all of the others in the area(with the exception of QHS). With their student section it makes it a tough place to win.

5) Central (Old gym)- There's something about that gym that makes it hard for the visitors, very dark place but another gym that's great for basketball.

6) Blue Devil Gym- This may hard to believe, especially since I have worked at KHQA for almost 2 year, but I have never been to a game there. I have heard that it's a tough place, but until I have been there for a big game this is were I would rank them.

7) Carthage- This may be a little high for others, but growing up there and being apart of the Blue Crew we always made it difficult for visitors.

8) Brown County- Dark gym, and when its packed it becomes a very loud place.

The last gym is out of area, but when this team was good you couldn't find a seat.

Farmington- I was there about 3-4 years ago when they had those very good teams, and that gym was rocking.

[SpartanHC]

payson has a tough gym to play at. always loud

[Vikingfan1]

My list of Toughest Gyms, from being at the gyms for big games.

1) The Pit- Who can deny that The Pit is a VERY tough place to win. Even in the years that QND is an average team it's still hard to win in that gym.

2) Vohsall- Only been to a few games there, but man what a great place for basketball.

3) N/C gym- Always a packed house in the 90's, and the minute the opposing team stepped onto the floor it was over. Student Section and fans are right on top of you.....most teams couldn't handle it and the N/C players fed off the fear.

4) Macomb gym- Just a massive gym compared to all of the others in the area(with the exception of QHS). With their student section it makes it a tough place to win.

5) Central (Old gym)- There's something about that gym that makes it hard for the visitors, very dark place but another gym that's great for basketball.

6) Blue Devil Gym- This may hard to believe, especially since I have worked at KHQA for almost 2 year, but I have never been to a game there. I have heard that it's a tough place, but until I have been there for a big game this is were I would rank them.

7) Carthage- This may be a little high for others, but growing up there and being apart of the Blue Crew we always made it difficult for visitors.

8) Brown County- Dark gym, and when its packed it becomes a very loud place.

The last gym is out of area, but when this team was good you couldn't find a seat.

Farmington- I was there about 3-4 years ago when they had those very good teams, and that gym was rocking.

I'm glad you mentioned Carthage, very tough to win there in the early 2000s and current. NC gym was very very hard for an opponent to come in and sometimes, even compete with a good NC team. I've seen state ranked teams from Illinois, Missouri, & Iowa get rolled by 20 points or more.

[broadcaster]

I hadn't been to a game at Blue Devil Gym until this year, and its really something special. The starting line-up intro's are by far the best I've ever seen at a high school/college game. I've even been to Bulls games, and the goosebumps you get there are comparable to QHS when the Devil comes out to blue smoke. Its really something to see if you get an off night when you're team isn't playing.

[mrillinois]

I forgot about Payson, I would put them in either my 9 or 10 spot...kind of a toss up with that gym and the old Warsaw gym in the 90's.

Another tough place to play is Lewistown, and if it was in our area it would be in my top 3. What a great place for basketball.

[Titanfan89]

Ah the memories of playing in that hot, cramped gym in Warsaw. I remember that there were serious issues in cramming people in that gym when there were big games. I remember one year, maybe 1995, when Pittsfield came to town and both teams were highly touted. It was so packed that they set up a closed circuit relay of the game in the auditorium for people to watch that couldn't get in. The worst part about that gym though was the lighting. Go back and look at the tapes from that place and you thought you were playing in the dark almost. But, there were a lot of times where it was so loud you thought the roof was going to blow off, especially those rivalry games with Nauvoo!!!!!