Bombers’ remarkable postseason run ends with super-sectional loss to Bullets

Macomb guard Malachi Conley drives between a pair of Williamsville defenders during Monday night's Class 2A super-sectional at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Ill. | Photo courtesy Andrea Ratermann

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Jeremy Anderson didn’t want the Macomb boys basketball players to mask their tears. “We asked them to take a couple of minutes, to honestly take a couple of minutes, and feel disappointed and feel upset,” the Bombers coach said. “That’s OK. That’s a good thing to do. Let the emotions out.” But…

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Photo gallery: Macomb, Williamsville engage in defensive battle in super-sectional

The Macomb boys basketball team suffered a 36-32 loss to Williamsville on Monday night in the Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Ill. | Photo courtesy Andrea Ratermann

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Macomb boys basketball team learned just how difficult it can be to score against Williamsville’s ultra-aggressive 1-3-1 zone defense Monday night, getting held to 16 points over the final three quarters of a 36-32 loss in the Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional at the Bank of Springfield Center. Photographer Andrea Ratermann shared…

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Game Night Guide: Bombers look to dodge Bullets in Class 2A super-sectional

Macomb senior forward Ian Case, left, and the Bombers face Williamsville at 6 p.m. Monday in the Class 2A super-sectional at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Ill. | Photo courtesy Andrea Ratermann

Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional Macomb (28-5) vs. Williamsville (25-9) When: 6 p.m. Monday Where: Bank of Springfield Center Livestreams: Bomber Sports Network on YouTube Central Illinois Sports on NFHS Network Scouting the Bombers: Macomb is playing in a super-sectional for the first time since 2006 and is in search of the first state trophy in…

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Schuckman: Tollerton watching over his QND teammates in spirit and soul like a hawk

A bird sits perched on the light standard in left-center field at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field during the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team's Class 2A super-sectional matchup with Bloomington Central Catholic on Monday night in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The bird took its perch atop the light standard in left-center field in the bottom of the first inning Monday evening, and other than moving from one end of the row of lights to the other, it watched the next three innings of the Class 2A super-sectional baseball game unfold. Little by…

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High fives all around: Raiders use Tollerton’s inspiration to power past Saints and reach Class 2A state final four

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Schisler, left, and Dalton Miller, right, celebrate along with their teammates after Schisler hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning of Monday's 13-1 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic in the Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Jake Schisler smiled and shrugged as he uncupped his left hand to reveal the baseball he had hit into the Monday twilight. He couldn’t be certain it was the actual home run ball because someone would have had to dig it out of the trees beyond the left-field fence at Lincoln Land…

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‘No one quit’: QND softball team showcases resiliency before comeback ends in super-sectional loss

Quincy Notre Dame's Brooke Boden and Addi Zanger, left, shared an embrace, while assistant coach Jeff Zanger and Mackenzie Flachs, right, do the same following a 7-6 loss to Effingham St. Anthony on Monday in the Class 2A Decatur Super-Sectional. | Matt Schuckman photo

DECATUR, Ill. — The cardiac queens were at it agaIn. Facing a four-run deficit heading to the bottom of the fifth inning — the second time the Quincy Notre Dame softball team had trailed this deep in a game this postseason and the third straight game in which late-inning runs were needed to advance —…

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‘He threw another gem’: Raiders right-hander Dance delivers by shutting down Saints

Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander Tyler Dance delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against Bloomington Central Catholic during Monday's Class 2A super-sectional in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In the moments after the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players decided they’d play Monday’s Class 2A super-sectional as planned, senior designated hitter Alex Connoyer stood in front of Tyler Dance, leaned in so they were nearly nose-to-nose and delivered a strong message. “Use all the emotion,” Connoyer told his teammate. “Let it…

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Photo gallery: Memories of Tollerton vivid as QND baseball team beats BCC in super-sectional

Quincy Notre Dame senior outfielder/pitcher Mason Winking writes Tucker Tollerton's initials in the dirt in front of the QND dugout prior to Monday's Class 2A super-sectional game against Bloomington Central Catholic in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball players decided Sunday morning to play Monday’s Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional against Bloomington Central Catholic because Tucker Tollerton would have wanted them to play. Tollerton, the senior starting center fielder and No. 2 hole hitter, was killed in a single-vehicle accident Saturday night just outside of Hannibal,…

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Photo gallery: QND softball team showcases its resiliency during Class 2A super-sectional loss

Quincy Notre Dame's Carlee Gilker gets ready to step into the batter's box during Monday's Class 2A super-sectional against Effingham St. Anthony in Decatur, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team once again refused to go down without a fight. Trailing by three or more runs twice during Monday’s Class 2A Decatur Super-Sectional against Effingham St. Anthony, the Raiders rallied. They erased a three-run deficit in the first inning and nearly squashed a four-run deficit before the…

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‘He’s always with us’: Raiders decide to forge forward, play Monday’s super-sectional after tragic death of Tollerton

The Quincy Notre Dame baseball will face Bloomington Central Catholic in the Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional at 5 p.m. Monday while grieving the loss of senior center fielder Tucker Tollerton, who was killed Saturday night in a single-vehicle accident outside Hannibal, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Jake Schisler walked up to his Quincy Notre Dame baseball teammates gathered in the shade of the trees in front of the school late Sunday morning and posed a question to which he figured he already knew the answer. Should they play Monday? Tucker Tollerton, the Raiders’ No. 2 hitter and starting center…

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Return to Redbird: Raiders blanket Chiefs with defensive pressure, earn spot in Class 2A final four

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players celebrate after receiving the Class 2A Macomb Super-Sectional plaque following a 51-23 victory over Deer Creek-Mackinaw on Monday at The Hangar at Macomb High School. | Matt Schuckman photo

MACOMB, Ill. — The realization they’d achieved a significant goal meant a larger one is now within the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players’ reach. It also means the Raiders must maintain a workmanlike effort with everything they do. They made it abundantly clear that’s how they will approach the Class 2A final four after…

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Photo gallery: QND wins Class 2A super-sectional and advances to final four at Redbird Arena

Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne, right, gives senior guard Abbey Schreacke a fist bump after she left Monday night's Class 2A Macomb Super-Sectional in the fourth quarter and the Raiders on their way to a 51-23 victory over Deer Creek-Mackinaw. | Matt Schuckman photo

MACOMB, Ill. — A 15-0 run over the final five minutes of the first half put the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team in complete control of its 51-23 victory over Deer Creek-Mackinaw in the Class 2A Macomb Super-Sectional on Monday night at The Hangar, earning the Raiders a spot in the final four. Muddy…

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‘We couldn’t execute’: Struggle to sustain momentum in third set spoils Raiders’ rally in super-sectional loss

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore setter Annie Eaton, left, and senior right side hitter Ali Entrup look across the net as the Genoa-Kingston volleyball team began to celebrate its three-set victory in the Class 2A Princeton Super-Sectional on Friday night in Princeton, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PRINCETON, Ill. — The vibes created by a crisp, energetic and efficient practice Thursday afternoon failed to linger as long as anyone associated with the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball program wanted or expected. “I guess we let it all out yesterday and couldn’t save it for today,” senior middle hitter Abbey Schreacke said. At least…

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