MANCHESTER – Despite powering the Hawks in both basketball and volleyball, Devyn Quigley said she still has spare time to enjoy the fun things in life.
“I’m a shop-o-holic,” she said with a laugh.
She frequents Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Target, Shein, American Eagle, Hollister and Pacsun. She shops a minimum of two times per week. Topping her list are skin care products, clothing and food. The pleasure was born during the summer of her junior year at Manchester Township High School.
“I became a shop-o-holic because I am very materialistic – as bad as it sounds – but who cares?” she said. “We all live on a floating rock and will one day die anyway. So live life and enjoy it while you can. My favorite stores are Target and Ulta. The wind always happens to blow me into those stores. They have the good stuff!
“Shopping is a nice respite from basketball, I would say.”
While on the court, though, Quigley is a strong shooter.
Strong enough to score a Shore Conference career record 2,627 varsity points despite losing part of her freshman season to the pandemic. Strong enough to lead the Hawks’ girls basketball team to the Shore Conference Class B South title in 2023-24. Strong enough to average 32.6 points per game as a senior.
Strong enough to rain home a school record 170 career three-pointers. Strong enough to sink 577 of 609 career free throws. Strong enough to post a career average of 27.0 points per game. Strong enough to become the Hawks’ second player to eclipse the 2,000 points mark, besting 2021 graduate Destiny Adams, who scored 2,010 and is 13th on the Shore Conference list. Strong enough to break the Shore Conference career scoring record of 2,588 points set by former Point Pleasant Boro standout Kelly Hughes, who graduated in 2013.
Strong enough to become the 14th member of the conference’s 2,000-Point Club. Strong enough to net a school single-game record eight treys. Strong enough to erupt for a school single-game record 58 points in a win over the Ranney School. Strong enough to score a school single-season record 977 points as a junior.
“It feels pretty good,” Quigley said of owning the conference’s career points record. “As a kid, it was not something I felt I could accomplish. It’s very satisfying. I put a lot of work into this game. I am very grateful. I had great support from my teammates, my family and my trainer. Their support put a lot of joy into my heart. I knew after my junior year that breaking the record was possible.”
Needing 35 points to break the record, Quigley moved atop the list with a 35-point outburst in a 77-43 conquest of visiting Overbrook in first-round NJSIAA South Jersey Group II play. She bested Hughes’ record on a short fadeaway jumper, igniting cheers from some 30 family and friends, including her teachers. Leading Team Quigley were her parents, Nina and Mike Quigley. She broke the record on the birthday of her grandfather, Peter Quigley, who attended the game with his wife, Susan.
“It was great to have my family and friends there,” said Quigley who also broke the Hawks’ career treys record in the win. “They supported me on my journey. I was very amped and the team was very amped prior to the game.”
Quigley, a guard-forward, grabbed 940 career rebounds, averaging 9.6 per game.
“I attribute my offensive success to my rebounding,” the 5-foot-10, 145-pounder said. “Rebounding gets me going. I get right on the glass and start rebounding. What you do on the defensive end carries over to the offensive end of the floor. Rebounding gets me amped up and pumped up.”
Quigley often slayed opponents with a pull up jumper.
“It’s probably my favorite shot,” she said. “I like to catch and shoot. I like to make an assist (she averaged 9.4 career assists per game). When we were down in the score and if I felt I was not producing, I put pressure on myself. I’d say, ‘Devyn, ya gotta score.’ There were times when I would start to pressure myself in my mind. I would start fouling and shooting shots I shouldn’t be shooting. When I relaxed, I played a better game. I trusted the game and the flow.”
Quigley did her damage despite often being double and triple teamed.
“I don’t feel I got any set shots as there was always someone who had their hand in my face,” she said. “It was very frustrating. Defenses limited my shot selection. I got banged up and beaten up. I kept my composure. You cannot not control yourself. I said, ‘Stay cool. Keep a relaxed mindset.’ “
Quigley’s ability to beat the best of high pressure defenses did not escape the eyes of Manchester coach Dave Beauchemin.
“She never got frustrated and continued to put in the work,” he said. “She had excellent shooting ability, ball handling skills and vision. The key reasons for her offensive success were her tireless work effort in the off season and the training sessions. Her ability to guard positions one through five (point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center) gave us a lot of defensive flexibility as a team. Her length and quickness created a lot of turnovers.”
Quigley captained the 2023-24 Hawks with senior forward Zionna Short.
“I want my legacy to be one of leadership,” Quigley said. “I was never too worried about numbers. I want to be remembered for being a good teammate and for uplifting everyone around me. I want to be remembered for being a better person than a player. I don’t really have a slogan. Everyone is human. We are all made of the same stuff. I just try to be a good person. I never want to make someone feel either small or below me as I never know what they are going through behind closed doors. ”
Beauchemin also coached Adams, who starred as a Rutgers University junior in 2023-24.
“Our fast paced play and athleticism create a lot of offensive possessions for us throughout the game,” he said.
“I loved causing turnovers,” Quigley said. “I was so proud to cause them. I used my length and got most of the turnovers off deflections in the passing lanes. Our defense led to so many open layups. We were so quick to run the floor and score.”
Quigley played four years of varsity volleyball at middle blocker, setting the Hawks’ single-season kills record (201), career kills record (403) and tying the single-season blocks record (431).
“Basketball is fast paced and I love how competitive it can get,” she said. “Soccer is too slow. I need constant movement and interaction. I can never sit still.”
Quigley was emotional after the Hawks’ basketball season ended with a loss in the state tournament.
“I had a very successful, great career,” she said. “After our last game, I cried so much, but they were more tears of joy for what I accomplished and for the relationships I built with my coaches and teammates. They were real happy tears.”
Quigley will continue her basketball career at North Carolina State University.
“When I signed my NLI (National Letter of Intent), I knew in my heart it was the right decision,” she said. “I know I chose the best place for myself.”
A possible major is animal science. She chose the Wolfpack over the University of Wisconsin, Texas A&M and Rutgers.
“The recruiting process was very stressful,” she said. “At first, it was great. It was humbling and a blessing. Toward my junior year, I was heavily recruited. It was stressful to do my workouts and schoolwork and talk to college coaches. How much do I have to complain about? I got a full ride! N.C. State is my dream school. It has everything I wanted. No player from N.C. State has ever entered the (NCAA) Transfer Portal. The women’s basketball players are celebrities on campus. On my visit, a little boy and his mom asked me and another recruit if we were on the team.
“In college, everyone is either as good as you or better. I am so excited to get there and show what I can do. I have to perfect my catch and shoot and mid-range games. I have to attack off the dribble. I am strong and athletic. I don’t feel I am fast or quick, but I am very athletic, coordinated, lengthy and long.”
The Hawks also received strong play from freshman guard Madeline Nolan, who averaged 10.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.7 assists per game. She netted 31 treys.
“She is a tremendously gifted young athlete who has played basketball as well as soccer at a high level for years,” Beauchemin said. “Her ball handling ability helped us. She was at the top of our press because of her athleticism. Is she the next Destiny, the next Devyn? To place a label on anyone is not fair. However, she has the opportunity to be the first Madeline Nolan. I am not surprised at where she is in her development as she dominated at the middle school level.”
There were also contributions from guards Jordyn Felipe, Marisiya Goins, Kylie Miller, Jade Andrews and Molly Palmer and forwards Joliece Reyes, Sophia Biondi and Janiece Reyes.
“We were a fast paced transition team,” Beauchemin said. “We implemented a full court press to blend both styles together throughout the entire game.”
The owner of a 13-year 229-122 overall record, Beauchemin has guided the Hawks to eight straight division titles. This season’s assistant coaches were Sarah Paturzo and Dana Simonelli. Manchester was 21-8 overall, including 5-0 in Class B South, in 2023-24.
“What made this title special was the ability to allow our seniors to leave with three straight division titles,” Beauchemin said. “They experienced a pandemic shortened season as freshmen and no division title was awarded. Entering the season, our expectation was to continue winning the Class B South title. The team was very energetic and positive both on and off the court. The girls were all friends on and off the court as well.”
