Macomb
MACOMB, Ill. — Malachi Conley played the hero at the end of regulation. In overtime, his teammates did the rest. Conley, a guard on the Macomb boys basketball team, made two critical defensive plays and scored the game-tying basket in the final minute of regulation Saturday night, helping the Bombers force Quincy Notre Dame to…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — JD Gravina’s career victory total is at 300 and counting. A strong start to the season by the Western Illinois University women’s basketball team helped the former Quincy University coach reach his milestone moment. Tuesday night’s 86-72 victory over Chicago State at Western Hall featured Anna Deets scoring seven of the Leathernecks’…
Read Full Article 
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Pleasant Plains volleyball team figured out how to continually stem the tide. During Monday night’s Class 2A sectional semifinal against Macomb, the Cardinals strategically used timeouts to stall scoring runs by the Bombers, putting the brakes on a four-point swing late in the second set that enabled Pleasant Plains to…
Read Full Article 
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The momentum the Macomb volleyball team created by winning the Class 2A regional title last Thursday night seemed to linger with a stellar start to Monday’s sectional semifinal until Pleasant Plains took it away. Behind the program’s all-time leading hitter in Sydney McFee, the Cardinals stopped each Bombers’ run and earned…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Senior Delaney Beard had a difficult time comprehending what had happened. Quincy Notre Dame had been dominant this season, losing just 14 sets while winning 32 out of 36 matches and earning the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A girls volleyball regional. The Raiders only needed to beat fifth-seeded Macomb, which…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle went into the locker room for a talk no coach wants to have after a disappointing 25-18, 25-14 loss to Macomb in Thursday night’s Class 2A regional championship game at the Hangar at Macomb High School. However, Kvitle’s final words with her team were interrupted when…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball team saw its season end Thursday night in a 25-18, 25-14 loss to Macomb in the Hangar on Thursday night at Macomb High School. Macomb (27-9) advances to play No. 2 seed Pleasant Plains in the Class 2A sectional semifinals at 6 p.m. Monday at Pleasant…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The rematch is set. The Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb volleyball teams will go head-to-head at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Hangar at Macomb High School to decide the Class 2A regional championship. This will be the fourth meeting in the last two years between two staunch programs. QND beat Macomb in…
Read Full Article 
WOOD RIVER, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls golfers figured Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin was the bona fide favorite to win the Class 1A Roxana Sectional, but after that it would be a dogfight to see which two additional teams qualified for the state tournament. The Raiders didn’t happen to be in that fight at…
Read Full Article 
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Make it five in a row for the Macomb boys golf team. The Bombers advanced to sectionals for the fifth straight season, taking third Wednesday at the Class 2A Monmouth-Roseville Regional at Gibson Woods Golf Course. Macomb posted a 329 total, four strokes better than fourth-place Galesburg. Jacksonville won the regional championship…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Nothing is easy about saying goodbye. Tanner Horrell needed the Macomb football players to understand that. So the Bombers coach made it known if the grief associated with losing a teammate — freshman Landon Cromer died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident — interrupted practice, it was OK. Step away.…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Here is a look at the area football games scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday with links to radio broadcasts and livestreams: Friday’s games Moline (1-2) at Quincy High School (3-0), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM • WGEM streaming app Did you know?: Moline had a string of 15 consecutive Western…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The Illini West football team received the opening kickoff in Friday night’s Lincoln Trail-Prairieland Conference matchup with Macomb, drove 65 yards and scored. The Bombers answered with authority. Led by junior quarterback Braden Holthaus, the Bombers took a 20-12 lead by halftime and rolled to a 38-12 victory to improve to 2-1,…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Trenton Massner’s history-making efforts as a senior on the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team were noticed far beyond the Summit League borders. Coaches with the Miami Heat liked what they saw. Massner, the 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Wapello, Iowa, inked a free-agent deal with the Heat after going undrafted in last…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — One scored early and often, the other rallied late. Now, they’ll go head-to-head for a sectional championship. The Auburn softball team scored 11 runs in the first inning and beat Macomb 16-0 in the first semifinal Tuesday in the Class 2A QND Sectional at The Backyard. Quincy Notre Dame followed by scoring four…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — One swing is all Sarah Stufflebeam needed to set the tone. After Kaitlyn Robinson retired the Rushville-Industry softball team in order in the top of the first inning of Friday’s Class 2A Macomb Regional championship game, Stufflebeam cracked a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame and propelled Macomb to…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The move makes sense. Western Illinois University athletic director Paul Bubb announced Friday the school had accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference and will begin competing in its new league this fall. WIU president Guiyou Huang signed the agreement Friday morning. The decision puts WIU in a league that…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — For the third straight game, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team trailed heading to the fifth inning or later. Yet again, the Raiders rallied. This time, though, they did so against an NCAA Division I arm. QND tagged Macomb’s Jack Duncan, who has signed with Western Illinois University, for two runs in…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Until we meet again. And there is a strong chance it will happen. With the Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb softball teams each the top seed in their respective regionals, the idea Wednesday’s game will evolve into a postseason rematch lingered, especially after the Raiders scored twice in the seventh inning to…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University found its perfect match, so there was no reason to waste any time making it official. Six days after naming Chad Boudreau as the interim men’s basketball coach in the wake of Rob Jeter’s sudden departure to take over at Southern Utah, WIU athletic director Paul Bubb removed the…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team scored five goals in the first 10 minutes of Wednesday’s game against Macomb at Advance Physical Therapy Field and rolled to a 10-0 victory. Sage Stratton recorded a hat trick and Jaden Tchapda scored her first varsity goal for the Raiders. Stratton finished a Lilly Schuette…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Despite losing two of the top three singles matches Tuesday, the Quincy High School boys tennis team showed resilience in fighting back to defeat Macomb 6-3 by winning three tiebreakers in singles at the Greeman Tennis Center at Reservoir Park. No. 2 Surya Reddy rebounded for a 6-2, 2-6 (10-6) victory over the…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Chad Boudreau is getting the chance to prove he deserves an NCAA Division I head coaching position with a live audition. After news broke Friday that Western Illinois University coach Rob Jeter was finalizing a deal to take over at Southern Utah, Leathernecks athletic director Paul Bubb named Boudreau as the interim…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Photographer Samantha Carmean spent time Saturday at the Quincy High School track and field invitational at Flinn Stadium and created this photo gallery:
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — The ending wasn’t the ceremonial sendoff Danny Stephens had earned, but the postseason accolades the Southeastern senior is receiving are a stirring reminder of all he has accomplished. Stephens, the 6-foot-7 forward, completed a trifecta of first-team all-state basketball honors, earning Class 1A plaudits from the Associated Press, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — A state-ranked showdown to open the prep softball season came down to the final at-bat just like everyone hoped it would. Macomb’s Kaitlyn Robinson scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning and then worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve a 4-3 victory over Brown County. The Bombers…
Read Full Article 
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Amber Louderback and Kelly Ladd made history Saturday, becoming the first-ever girls state wrestling medalists from each of their respective high school programs. Louderback, a freshman at Central, finished fourth in the 125-pound class during the two-day event at Grossinger Motors Arena, while Ladd, a sophomore from Macomb, finished sixth at 135…
Read Full Article 
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Central’s Amber Louderback and Macomb’s Kelly Ladd are each a victory away from reaching the podium at the Illinois girls state wrestling tournament. Louderback, at 125 pounds, and Ladd, at 135 pounds, both lost in the quarterfinals of their respective weight classes Friday, but rebounded for a victory in the wrestlebacks and…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Eight nights ago, Gavin Grothaus walked off the floor at The Pit with a bitter taste in his mouth. “That one kind of hurt,” the West Hancock sophomore said of the Titans’ 17-point loss to Quincy Notre Dame on Valentine’s Day at The Pit. Grothaus made sure he wouldn’t feel the same disappointment…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — A little more than a week after the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team secured its 20th victory of the season by beating West Hancock, the Raiders will have to do so again to keep their season alive. QND advanced to the championship game of the Class 2A QND Regional with a 75-47…
Read Full Article 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Two Macomb wrestlers placed in the top five in Class 1A at the Illinois High School Association individual state wrestling meet at State Farm Center for the highest finishes by the Bombers since 2013. Max Ryner placed fourth in the 195-pound division after he was pinned by Coal City’s Joey Breneman in…
Read Full Article 
GENESEO, Ill. — A pair of local wrestlers finished third in their respective weight class at the Geneseo Sectional and will grapple at the girls state wrestling tournament. Macomb’s Kelly Ladd and Camp Point Central’s Amber Louderback both rebounded from semifinal losses by winning their final two matches. Ladd, a sophomore at 135 pounds who…
Read Full Article NORMAL, Ill. — A pair of Quincy High School wrestlers battled their way to the first state tournament berths of their careers, and they’ll be joined in Champaign by a trio of Macomb wrestlers. Owen Uppinghouse finished second at 160 pounds in the Class 3A Normal Community Sectional, while Bryor Newbold finished third at 182…
Read Full Article 
CAMP POINT, Ill. — In a perfect world for Nick Moore, he would be playing run-and-gun, playground-style basketball. And defense? That would be little more than an afterthought. Realistically, however, Moore knows that’s not how it works for a successful high school team. “Yeah,” Moore said, trying to wipe away the expected grin. “I’d probably…
Read Full Article 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An opportunity is all Khalen Saunders ever needed. Western Illinois University provided one. So have the Kansas City Chiefs. Because of those, Saunders is living out a dream yet again this week as he prepares to play in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is the 6-foot,…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb will be the host of the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (ADFPF) Single Event National Championships beginning at 9 a.m. March 4 in Brophy Hall on the campus of Western Illinois University. Macomb won the bid to host the 2020 meet but COVID-19 events forced the cancelation of the championship. Winning…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — A pair of Macomb wrestlers won Class 1A regional titles and led a brigade of area wrestlers who qualified for the Clinton Sectional. Bombers senior Max Ryner improved to 45-2 with his championship at 195 pounds, while Macomb senior Carter Hoge will take a 42-6 record to sectionals after winning the title…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Trenton Massner felt he was due for a game like this. “I haven’t been making a shot all year,” Massner said. “It’s like if I was making my shot all year, I’d have four or five of those.” This was the one that put him in the record book. Massner scored a…
Read Full Article 
Boys basketball MLK Shootout at Bloomington Central Catholic Bloomington Central Catholic 79, Quincy Notre Dame 71 Eastbay Shootout Macomb 47, Rockridge 39 80th annual Tony Lenzini Tournament Palmyra 79, Highland 34 Canton 67, Mark Twain 47 Girls basketball Pittsfield 31, Beardstown 14 Jerry Logan Shootout Quincy High School 53, Abingdon-Avon 27 Unity 58, Macomb 26…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Area wrestlers staked their claim to the individual titles during Saturday’s Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym. Eight grapplers — four from Quincy High School and one each from Camp Point Central, Macomb, Palmyra and Quincy Notre Dame — won crowns, while the Blue Devils won the team championship. Muddy River Sports Editor…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — It’s rare to find a wrestling bracket with Collin Arch in the field and not see the Palmyra senior’s name on the top line. Yet, Saturday during the Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym, the three-time defending state champion and arguably the most accomplished high school wrestler this area has ever produced had…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — The strength of area wrestling programs was put on display Saturday during the Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent his afternoon matside and captured these images for a photo gallery:
Read Full Article Boys basketball Pittsfield 54, Rushville-Industry 51 Marion County 58, Madison 25 Winchester Invitational Tournament Jacksonville Routt 47, Central 43 Liberty 44, Calhoun 38 Girls basketball Quincy Notre Dame 51, Rochester 41 Marion County 48, Madison 22 CSE Lady Panther Classic Brown County 47, Unity 43 Central-Southeastern 37, Illini West 26 North Greene Lady Spartan Classic…
Read Full Article Boys basketball Marion County 58, Wellsville-Middletown 53 Hancock County Tournament Southeastern 55, Illini West 37 West Hancock 72, Unity 50 Winchester Invitational Tournament Jacksonville Routt 76, Payson Seymour 70 (OT) Central 49, Brown County 40 Girls basketball Macomb 46, North Fulton 31 Centralia 62, Hannibal 37 Wellsville-Middletown 52, Marion County 42 CSE Classic Lewistown 44,…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Al Davis would have been proud. Most of the players on the Southeastern boys basketball team likely have never heard of the former owner of the NFL’s Oakland/Los Angeles (now Las Vegas) Raiders, but their “Just win, baby” mentality showed Wednesday night in a 30-27 victory over Macomb in the quarterfinals of…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — It’s a good thing Central’s Nick Moore has a short memory. His 3-pointer with 3:10 remaining in the fourth quarter cut West Hancock’s lead to 47-45. Thirty seconds later, Moore launched what could have been the go-ahead shot from the corner. Instead, the ball hit the support behind the backboard. “That wasn’t…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The last time I spent an entire day at the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament was in 1996 when a talented Stephen Decatur squad, led by Tarise Bryson, claimed the title by defeating Warsaw in the title game. That was so long ago that now Stephen Decatur doesn’t even exist. But when Muddy River…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The top seeds held serve in each of the eight first-round games Tuesday in the 76th annual Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. The Illini West boys basketball team had the best shot at pulling off an upset. The Chargers led No. 3 seed Eureka 15-4 after one quarter and by as many as 14 points…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Muddy River News Editor David Adam provides photos from six games during the first round of the 76th annual Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. Illini West vs. Eureka West Hancock vs. Canton (Ill.) Pittsfield vs. Macomb Southeastern vs. Abingdon Central vs. Lewistown Brown County vs. Farmington
Read Full Article 
Monday’s games Boys MVIT At Mendon, Ill. Unity 63, Bushnell-Prairie City 40 Payson Seymour 53, Rushville-Industry 33 Girls Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic At Beardstown, Ill. Unity 59, Beardstown 27 Beardstown 48, South Fulton 41 Jacksonville Routt 55, North Greene 19 Macomb 63, Jacksonville Routt 56 Lewistown 62, West Hancock 40 West Hancock 51, Liberty 25…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Navigating his way home from wrestling practice Thursday morning wasn’t too treacherous, but Ethan Ladd realized more snow and blizzard-like conditions were coming. “I’m not a big winter guy,” the Macomb senior said. “I’m not going to lie. I hate snow.” But what if the Western Illinois University football team ended up…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coaching staff met in the office adjacent to the locker room at halftime Saturday night, the Raiders were engaging in their own discussion. The theme of both conversations seemed to be the same. What is the Raiders’ identity going to be? The second half — particularly…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Kicking off Thanksgiving week with a flurry of activity as the Illinois boys basketball season got underway Monday night and the Missouri teams joined in the fun. Oh, college basketball season is in full swing, too. Here are some of Monday’s highlights … • The Hannibal girls basketball team won Shawn Gaines’ debut…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Three area football players have been named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state teams, while seven others picked up honorable mention all-state plaudits. Central senior running back/linebacker Isaac Genenbacher, Brown County senior fullback/linebacker Colby Wort and Macomb junior wide receiver JT Jeter were first-team all-state selections. Genenbacher has been a…
Read Full Article 
NORMAL, Ill. — Down, but never out. That’s a mantra that could carry the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team a long way. It lifted the Leathernecks to a season-opening victory Monday night. Trailing by as many as 13 points early in the second half, WIU went on a 16-2 run to get back in…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Emily Horrell better get used to this if she hasn’t already. A few days before the Macomb football team played host to Murphysboro in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs, the wife of Bombers coach Tanner Horrell happened to be at a local retail store when two retirement-age women began…
Read Full Article 
FARMINGTON, Ill. — Certain moments cannot be forgotten. Try October 5 for example. With the Quincy Notre Dame cheering section split between two major events — the boys soccer team played at Quincy High School, while the volleyball team played host to Macomb — the Bombers brought a sizable, boisterous crowd to The Pit. A…
Read Full Article 
FARMINGTON, Ill. — Taking the court under the watchful eyes of a rival and future foe could have been slightly unnerving. Facing an opponent looking for retribution could have, too. The Macomb volleyball team ignored it all and delivered a prime in-the-moment effort Monday night, dispatching Sherrard 25-15, 25-14 in the semifinals of the Class…
Read Full Article 
FARMINGTON, Ill. — The sectional championship showdown prep volleyball fans have anticipated for the past month is about to happen. Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb sidestepped their sectional semifinal opponents Monday night and will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the title of the Class 2A Farmington Sectional. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman took…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb football coach Tanner Horrell could only shake his head Saturday night. “That’s a pretty good 5-4 team, huh?” Horrell asked, referring to a Quincy Notre Dame team that gave his undefeated Bombers all could they handle before coming away with a 28-14 victory over the Raiders in an opening-round Class 4A…
Read Full Article 
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Each season, the Macomb volleyball team has inched closer to being a sectional champion. Monday, the Bombers hope the trend continues. Macomb will carry its 32-3 record to the Class 2A Farmington Sectional, where it will face Sherrard in the semifinals following Thursday’s 25-12, 25-19 victory over Monmouth-Roseville in the Class 2A…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — When the team bus rolled into the Quincy Notre Dame parking lot at around 7 p.m. Saturday, Raiders football coach Jack Cornell didn’t know which road his team would be taking in the postseason. As soon as Cornell knew, he told the players he’d spread the word. But there was a more important…
Read Full Article 
CARTHAGE, Ill. — On a field where history grows with every blade of grass, the Illini West football team was intent on keeping history from happening. For nearly eight minutes, that seemed possible. Then in a blink, it became clear history wouldn’t be denied. Facing undefeated, state-ranked Macomb in the regular-season finale Friday night at…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University senior guard Trenton Massner was one of six men’s basketball players named to the preseason All-Summit League first team, while the Leathernecks were picked to finish seventh in the 10-team preseason poll. Massner, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Wapello, Iowa, is the Leathernecks’ top returning scorer at 16.4 points…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — With her Macomb High School classmates milling around and her Bomber volleyball teammates screaming in the background, senior outside hitter Kennedy Adair tried to sum up Wednesday night’s three-set victory over Quincy Notre Dame. “That was amazing,” a smiling Adair said after the Bombers survived a 25-17, 17-25, 25-23 thriller at The Pit.…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The electronic scoring system the Illinois High School Association uses for postseason golf puts the leaderboard at everyone’s fingertips. That makes it tempting to peek at where the field stands. “When you have to put the scores in on your phone, it’s hard to stay away and not hit the leaderboard button,”…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls tennis team improved to 9-3 in dual matches with Tuesday’s 8-1 victory over Macomb at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. After the Blue Devils’ Lily Hayes rallied to beat the Bombers’ Tali Stone 1-6, 6-2 (10-2) at No. 1 singles, Quincy swept the other five singles…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — After a scoreless first quarter, the Northern Iowa football team put things together, earning its first victory of the season, topping Western Illinois University 52-17 at Hanson Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Leathernecks to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Leathernecks and Panthers went toe-to-toe…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — If rainfall and lightning strikes can’t put a damper on the enthusiasm surrounding the Macomb football program, what can? Right now, nothing. Friday night’s crowd was asked to leave the stadium complex to wait out a thunderstorm cell that passed over the area just before Friday night’s kickoff against Farmington. It delayed…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Make it a clean sweep for the Macomb golfers. The Bombers won both the boys and girls team titles as well as both individual championships Monday during the Prairieland Conference tournaments at Macomb Country Club. On the boys side, Macomb repeated as the Prairieland champion, putting five golfers in the top 10…
Read Full Article 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — If Western Illinois University defensive coordinator Todd Drury could script the start to every game, he’d pencil in the result of the opening series Saturday against Minnesota. Force a fumble, recover it and put the Leathernecks’ offense in prime position. That’s how it went against the Golden Gophers. After a 2-yard reception…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — The five returning players that sat to each side of Western Illinois University football coach Myers Hendrickson at media day felt like they had a stake in the rebuilding of the Leathernecks. In a time when the NCAA’s transfer portal makes it easy to find a way out, those players wanted to…
Read Full Article