Koerkenmeier’s last-second field goal gives Mater Dei edge in rematch with QND girls

Quincy Notre Dame guard Sage Stratton looks to drive to the basket during Saturday's game against Breese Mater Dei in the Breese Central PAWS Shootout in Breese, Ill. | Photo courtesy Jeremy Chawgo

BREESE, Ill. — On the final possession of regulation in Saturday afternoon’s state tournament rematch, the Breese Mater Dei girls basketball team adapted Wee Willie Keeler’s most famous quote to suit its needs. Instead of “hit ‘em where they ain’t,” as the National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee is credited with saying, the Knights decided…

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QND’s dream of back-to-back state titles gets dashed with semifinal loss to Mater Dei

Quincy Notre Dame's Abbey Schreacke, right, fights for a loose ball against Breese Mater Dei's Alyssa Koerkenmeier during Thursday's Class 2A state semifinal at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

NORMAL, Ill. — The coaching adage “you can’t teach size” needs to come with a addendum. It would read, “You can’t always combat it either.” The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team discovered how true that can be Thursday. Forced to contend with Breese Mater Dei’s Alyssa Koerkenmeier — a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward — and…

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Photo gallery: QND loses to Breese Mater Dei in Class 2A state semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame's Abbey Schreacke, left, applies pressure to Breese Mater Dei's Amelia Beer during the Class 2A state semifinal matchup Thursday at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.

NORMAL, Ill. — The chance to defend its Class 2A state championship eluded the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team after the Raiders fell 61-54 to Breese Mater Dei in Thursday’s semifinals of the state tournament at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman put together this gallery of images he…

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‘Money, it’s gotta be the shoes’: Switch to old sneakers gets QND’s Eftink back in rhythm as Raiders win third straight road game

Quincy Notre Dame guard Blair Eftink, right, drives in for a basket during Saturday's game against Breese Mater Dei at the Dennis V. Trame Center in Breese, Ill. | Photo courtesy Jeremy Chawgo

BREESE, Ill. — Unable to find her long-range shooting stroke recently, Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Blair Eftink elected to change one key component to her game. Money, it’s gotta be the shoes. Switching to her old kicks this weekend, Eftink regained her perimeter shot by burying her first five 3-point attempts Saturday afternoon. Her…

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Second-half defensive effort gets QND football team back on track with victory over Mater Dei

Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell, left, celebrates a touchdown with center Ben Schwartz during Friday night's 35-14 victory over Breese Mater Dei at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Photo courtesy Jessica Genenbacher

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior Wilson Henning has sensed a trend so far this season. “We’ve played well in the first half, but in the second half, we are just gassed out,” the Raiders offensive lineman said. Friday night’s rivalry game with Breese Mater Dei looked as if it might go down the same…

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