Raiders work through up-and-down effort to run away from Suns and stay undefeated

AUGUSTA, Ill. — The cushy four-game homestand to start the season came to an end Friday night for the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team. 

The Raiders learned they can’t get away with simply playing two good quarters. The other two matter just as much.

“You come out the first quarter and you don’t do what you want to do, and then Coach gets on you. Same thing happens in the third quarter,” QND forward Carter Miller said. “We got to figure this out.”

QND outscored Southeastern 40-10 in the second and fourth quarters combined to defeat the Suns 70-37. 

The first and third quarters were mainly forgettable for QND (5-0) despite scoring the first 11 points of the contest. Southeastern (2-7) was the unquestioned better team in the third frame thanks to a 19-13 scoring advantage. 

Raiders coach Greg Altmix says his team’s depth played a factor as a 10-man rotation wore down the home team in the final eight minutes of both halves.

“When we’re going nine to 10 (players) deep and other teams are putting six or seven out there, they’re going to get tired in the second quarter,” Altmis said. “They’re going to get tired in the fourth quarter.”

Miller had his best game to date. The senior southpaw had a team-high 15 points and continuously found himself in the right position to contribute.

“I think each game you gain more confidence and you get more comfortable,” Miller said.

Altmix’s up-tempo style seems to play in Miller’s favor.

“I think he benefits from his length, from his athleticism, and getting up and down helps him with that,” Altmix said. “He took advantage of his opportunities tonight and I’m thrilled to see that.”

The Raiders had three other players in double figures as Jackson Connoyer had 12 points, Jace Allensworth added 11 and Beau Eftink contributed 10.

QND shot 45.6 percent from the field (26 of 57), although it couldn’t find much traction from beyond the arc, making only 3 of 13 (23.1 percent) 3-point attempts. The Raiders also committed 16 turnovers.

It wasn’t the prettiest of games, according to Allensworth.

“Sometimes it’s tough to come out when you know you should be the team dominating and kind of let off the gas a little bit,” Allensworth said. “We need to work on that.”

Southeastern’s Griffin Tippey led all scorers with 17 points, including 10 in the third quarter. But Tippey was held scoreless in the final eight minutes.

The Suns struggled from the field, making just 13 of 52 shots (25 percent), and they had just one 3-point field goal on 21 attempts. Southeastern freshman Brady McClintock made the team’s only 3-pointer and had seven points, all in the third quarter.

With one road game under their belts, the Raiders’ weekend continues Saturday with a trip to Hannibal.

“It’s a good learning experience for us,” Altmix said. “What did we do well and what didn’t we do well? Fix the things that need fixed and be ready to go (Saturday) night.”