‘I wanted to enjoy this last moment’: Stratton, Raiders finish fourth at state after loss to Panthers

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players clap as Washington receives its third-place medals Friday night at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — It was not the happy ending Sage Stratton had envisioned, but even as the tears streamed down her face as she watched the Washington girls basketball team celebrate Friday night’s 60-51 victory over Quincy Notre Dame in the Class 3A third-place game at CEFCU Arena, the QND senior guard had no qualms…

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‘You still get chills’: Orne keeps enjoyment of state tournament experience at forefront

Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne and the Raiders are bringing home the ninth state trophy in his 23 seasons as head coach, finishing fourth in Class 3A following Friday night's 60-51 loss to Washington in the third-place game at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — Eric Orne is still not numb to the feeling. “You still get chills when you walk through the tunnel,” Orne said. That tunnel leads you into CEFCU Arena, the home of the IHSA state basketball tournament, a destination Orne has reached nine times in 23 seasons as the Quincy Notre Dame girls…

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Raiders unable to answer Broncos’ second-half surge, lose in Class 3A state semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton looks to make a move around a Lombard Montini defender during Thursday night's Class 3A state semifinal at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — In a game of punch-counterpunch, Lombard Montini’s return blows proved too powerful for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team to recover from. The silver lining for QND is a chance for atonement on Friday. The Raiders took a 26-20 lead on a Jenna Durst 3-pointer with 4:41 left in the third…

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Photo gallery: QND plays Lombard Montini in Class 3A state semifinals at CEFCU Arena

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler looks for room to run the offense during Thursday night's Class 3A state semifinal game against Lombard Montini at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s third state tourament appearance in the last four years hit a snag in the fourth quarter Thursday night as Lombard Montini pulled away for a 50-41 victory in the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and…

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