‘There’s no time to waste’: Schreacke’s quick start, Raiders’ overwhelming effort sends message

QUINCY — It took six seconds to deliver a message every girls basketball team in the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional had to hear.

The defending state champion isn’t in the mood to relinquish the throne.

Abbey Schreacke won the opening tip, rolled into the frontcourt, took a pass from Quincy Notre Dame teammate Ari Buehler and buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key — all in just six seconds. 

“There’s no time to waste,” Schreacke said.

Brimfield never recovered from such a quick haymaker. The No. 1-ranked Raiders, who won the Class 2A title last season, proceeded to run out to an 11-2 lead and never let up in a 67-37 victory over the Indians, the reigning Class 1A state champions.

“You have to bring your ‘A’ game every single day, and we know that,” QND coach Eric Orne said. “It’s that time of the year where we seem to be playing at a higher level. I like that we’re a little bit rested and our legs are good. The challenge is coming, and you just have to be ready for it.”

Last year, the Raiders (28-1) didn’t meet the challenge prior to the postseason, suffering a 24-point loss at Brimfield.

“We got some revenge on them,” Schreacke said.

Moreso, they delivered a message.

“Of course,” Schreacke said. “You always want to do that.”

This one came through clear — the Raiders are clicking on all cylinders. Coming off a 12-point victory over South Shelby, ranked third in Missouri Class 3, QND has won each of its previous 10 games by 10 or more points

“You just don’t want any letdowns at this stage,” Orne said. “We’re in a pretty good groove, especially coming off the South Shelby win. We just want to keep doing what we’re doing.”

That’s being mentally strong. Trailing 27-10 at the end of the first quarter, Brimfield switched to a zone defense and momentarily slowed QND. However, a couple of adjustments got the Raiders back in an offensive groove and the lead grew to 30 points two minutes into the fourth quarter.

That invoked a running clock.

“We’ve been treating every game like a postseason game,” said Schreacke, who led the Raiders with 27 points. “And like Coach Orne said there in the locker room, it’s starting to get down to just mental toughness. The calls that don’t go our way or the times we don’t make a shot, we have to stay composed and move on to the next play.”

That focus never wanes.

“They are in the right mindset,” Orne said. “That’s good senior leadership out of captains. Our practices are competitive and we talked about having another good one (Wednesday). After Helias, it turns around real quick.”

QND closes the regular season at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias at The Pit before beginning Class 2A regional play at home Monday. The Crusaders are ranked third in Missouri Class 5 with a 17-4 record.

“It’s that time of year where you want to play really good competition,” Orne said. “With this and going into Friday against Helias, it’s what we have to have.”