Raiders meet challenge of another ranked foe, pluck Ducks behind Schreacke’s effort

QUINCY — The schedule is designed to continually test the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team in preparation for a deep February postseason push.

Beating another state-ranked opponent Saturday at the Pit showed no challenge is too big so far.

Abbey Schreacke scored 35 and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Raiders to a 57-43 victory over Havana, ranked fourth in Class 1A. It is the second victory over a Class 1A top-10 team in the last eight days for QND, which is second in Class 2A with an 8-0 record.

“We were pressured hard,” QND coach Eric Orne said. “Obviously Abbey had a great game, but we did a good job facilitating easy looks for her. But they pressured us hard, which is what we need when Palmyra rolls in here on Tuesday.”

Palmyra suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night in the championship game of the Monroe City Tournament, but it adds to the list of uber-successful programs remaining on QND’s schedule. That includes O’Fallon, Edwardsville and Rock Island looming in January.

“We need to be challenged,” Orne said. “We need to step up.”

Leading by four at the end of the first quarter, the Raiders outscored the Ducks 17-8 in the second quarter with Schreacke scoring 13 points. She did the bulk of her damage going to the rim, making 14 field goals all inside the 3-point stripe and going 7 of 8 from the line.

She was 5 of 6 from the line in the second quarter.

“She let the game come to her,” Orne said. “She got involved early in the offense and got a lot of easy looks. They were double-teaming her a lot in the second half, and Blair (Eftink) stepped up her game. And Eryn Cornwell did an amazing job today. She pulled down some big rebounds.”

Eftink scored seven of her 10 points in the second half, while Cornwell finished with 10 rebounds.

“Our defensive intensity was a lot better today,” Orne said. “Havana has a junior class that won (a junior high state title) years ago, and it was a good battle for us. We came out of it ahead.”