Chris Duerr has spilled the beans about the 2012 KHQA/Subway Superfan Shootout

DAY ONE-Friday, February 3rd, 2012

HARDIN CALHOUN VS CLOPTON GIRLS (5;30PM)

Arguably the most entertaining game of the 2011 affair, Calhoun/Clopton Part Deux makes for a compelling rematch. The Lady Hawks, who went on to finish 3rd in the MSHSAA Class 2 State Series (the program's seventh Final Four appearance in nine years) rallied from nine points down in the 4th quarter to defeat Calhoun in the first ever meeting between the two programs. Honorable Mention All Stater Jocie Klocke of Calhoun will be on the big stage looking for revenge against MSHSAA Class 2 First Team All Stater Lauren Jaeger in another tremendous battle of the paint.



QND VS MARENGO BOYS (7:00PM)

Quincy High alum David Petitt, best known for hitting a pair of free throws with no time on the clock in 1978 to force overtime against Mark Aguirre led Westinghouse, returns home to lead his Marengo Indians against the Raiders. (Kudos to the QHS Guru Matt Schuckman for that stellar tidbit. And you can read more Schuck Blue Devil brilliance in his seminal tome "Stand Up and Cheer" on sale now at a Gem City Bookstore near you) Marengo went just 6-22 in an injury riddled season, but projects very strongly with three outstanding seniors back in 6'4" Kent Ganvic, Anthony Mellagni, and 6'2" All Big Northern Conference honoree Zack Lundquist.



QND VS QUINCY HIGH GIRLS (8:30PM)

Greg Altmix's Blue Devils should be greatly improved in his second year on the job and feature a nice mix of up and coming wings to go along with shotblocker Jordan Fletcher. Will that be nearly enough to thwart the Defending 2A State Champs? It's a long shot but is anything in this town more fun than a Blue Devil/Raider tussle in front of a full house?

------------------------

DAY TWO-Saturday February 4th, 2012



ROUTT VS MENDON UNITY GIRLS (9:00AM)

Breakfast at The Pit is always a fun affair and our day kicks off with a gathering storm Lady Mustang program that returns four quality starters, including athletic post Rachel Rush, taking on a Routt club that will lean on 2011 breakout players Emily Bystry and Darcy Arendt, not to mention another influx of young talent from the IESA Powerhouse Our Savior program. This might be the sleeper game of the slate.



HAVANA VS KEOKUK GIRLS (10:30 AM)

Jerry Wilson's Powerhouse Lady Ducks look to have one last run at a state title in them, with four returning starters back including burdgeoning starts Sam Ellsworth and Abby Kachanuck. Havana also has a chip on its shoulder after suffering a heartbreaking fouth quarter breakdown against Illini West in this tournament last season. Keokuk bids goodbye to four quality seniors, but Mike Davis has deep returning roster to work with headlined by one of our favorite combo guards in defensive demon Alexis Lozano-Dobbs, not to mention Forward Zoe Kavyan and a good looking junior class.



MARENGO VS PITTSFIELD BOYS (Noon)

The Indians get two for the price of one trip to Quincy and a chance to measure themselves against one of the most sought after small school big men in the state in the Saukee's Dalton Hoover. The 6'7" Pittsfield pivot is defensive revelation and figures to assume much of the scoring mantle in the wake of Brad Hamilton's graduation. Brad Tomhave's teams have been unbelievable in this setting during his tenure and with potential step ups from Seth Petty and Austin McCartney, should remain among the saltiest small school teams in the state. Truth be told, the Saukees can write their ticket to stay in this Shootout as long as they want. The team's performances against Madison, Illini West, and Central Lee over the years have been worth the price of admission alone.



WEST HANCOCK VS SALISBURY GIRLS (1:30PM)

Adam Brumbaugh's core of underclassmen made some really nice strides a year ago. The Defending Lewis and Clark Champions, who bid goodbye to all stater Morgan Vetter, should be a really nice "step up" challenge for the Titans to see just how far they have come.



WEST HANCOCK VS SALISBURY BOYS (3:00PM)

Reno Pinkston's coaching wizardry will be put to the test by a Salisbury club that spent the entire season near the top of the MSHSAA Power Polls. And the Panthers only figure to get better, returning three of the best small school juniors in the state in guards Austin and Zach Wyatt and 6'5 pivot Austin Francis, who averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds as a sophomore. The prevailing wisdom in Northeast Missouri is that Salisbury might have the strongest shot of bringing home state championship gold on this half of the state next season. Suffice it to say, this is a matchup we are both excited and proud to serve up for your viewing pleasure.



ILLINI WEST VS WEST CENTRAL GIRLS (4:30PM)

Graduation hit both programs fairly hard, but both will be boosted by an influx of talent from two of the top junior high programs in the state. To wit, this may be your first chance to see West Central frosh Olivia Kauffman, a can't miss prospect with proven basketball bloodlines. The Defending State Champs also have a nice influx of juniors awaiting, not to mention returning 2011 starter Andrea Lietz around which to build. Illini West has All Do or Die Teamer Lauren Gronewold stepping into the "franchise player" role and electrifying guard Graci Bastert, who had the game of her life in The Shootout versus Havana last February as lynchpins on what should be another really stellar Charger Team. Plus, its Brian Bettis vs Zach Keene. That counts for something as well.



ILLINI WEST VS WEST CENTRAL BOYS (6:00PM)

My favorite game of the day, on paper. Illini West looks to avenge a 2008 IESA State Title Game 47-45 loss to Parker Day and the Cougars, that saw Day torch the Blueboys for 21 points. Nearly every principal in that game is back, including Charger Big Man Evan McGaughey, who is already getting Division Two attention from the likes of Quincy University. Two deep, outstanding, well coached teams with a genuine grudge to settle? Once again, the 6:00pm game threatens to be the scene stealer at The Pit.



QND VS EDWARDSVILLE GIRLS (7:30PM)

Lori Blade proved at Carrollton and now Edwardsville that she is one of the best coaches in the state of Illinois. And she may have the most impressive weapon in the state of Illinois at her disposal to inflict on QND with 6'2" center Emmonie Henderson, a first team All Stater in 2011 who averaged 19 points per game. Henderson is perhaps the bluest chip player we've ever featured in this game. To wit, she was listed by two different recruiting services as one of the nation's Top Six Sophomore prospects. Eric Orne calls Edwardsville the Illinois equivalent of Incarnate Word; the only team to defeat the Lady Raiders on their run to a state title this season. QND counters with two sure fire Division One prospects of its own in Tori Kuhn and Jordan Frericks, and two others in Kassidy Gengenbacher and Morgan Martin who may reach that level as well. This will be a star studded affair to be certain.



QND VS PAYSON SEYMOUR BOYS (9:00PM)

After stunning the Raiders on their home floor as a last second fill in this past February, the Indians are back to prove the win was no fluke. Point Guard Aaron Edwards, a first team All Do or Die selection, headlines what should be a balanced Indian club againt a new look Raider team that will lean heavily on stellar juniors Alex Fitch and Alex Altmix.