Posts Tagged ‘Girls basketball’
Hawks use rebounding, points in paint to surge past Drury, reach championship game of GLVC Tournament
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team was on the brink of seeing its season end Saturday night when Makaiya Brooks scored from the baseline with 4:47 left in the third quarter to put Drury ahead 50-42. “I was not worried at all, really,” Hawks senior Cymirah Williams said. Apparently, neither were…
Read MoreWith injured Blass still on sideline, Stratton picking up scoring load at perfect time for QU women
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Karsyn Stratton hasn’t been much of a scorer for much of her college basketball career, so it would be considered surprising to many who are seeing her carrying so much of the scoring load lately for the Quincy University women’s basketball team. Hawks coach Courtney Boyd thinks she has an answer…
Read More‘I wanted to enjoy this last moment’: Stratton, Raiders finish fourth at state after loss to Panthers
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…
Read MoreHuffine’s ‘big-time play’ breaks late tie, propels QU women into semifinals of GLVC Tournament
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — It didn’t matter that Mikayla Huffine had missed eight of nine shots. She never lost her confidence. “I mean, they were leaving me open because obviously I wasn’t hitting the three,” said the Quincy University junior guard, who had missed all four of her 3-point shots in Friday night’s quarterfinal game…
Read More‘You still get chills’: Orne keeps enjoyment of state tournament experience at forefront
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND girls basketball team brings home ninth state trophy in last 17 seasons
NORMAL, Ill. — The trips to CEFCU Arena — traditionally known as Redbird Arena — have been fruitful for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, which won its ninth state trophy since 2008 this weekend. The Raiders finished fourth in Class 3A, losing 60-51 to Washington in Friday night’s third-place game. Muddy River Sports…
Read MoreDespite impressive record, QU women getting no respect in NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The Quincy University women’s basketball team probably ought to be in consideration for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional next week. Surprisingly, they’re not. Friday night’s 74-69 victory over Missouri S&T at Hyland Arena in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Tournament improved the Hawks’ record…
Read MoreRaiders unable to answer Broncos’ second-half surge, lose in Class 3A state semifinals
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…
Read MoreEven after semifinal loss, Raiders recognize significance of return trip to state tournament
NORMAL, Ill. — CEFCU Arena has become quite the familiar place for Sage Stratton, but the significance of playing in three state tournaments in four years is not lost on the Quincy Notre Dame senior guard. “I wish everybody could have this experience,” said Stratton, who helped the Raiders win a Class 2A state championship…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND plays Lombard Montini in Class 3A state semifinals at CEFCU Arena
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…
Read MoreClopton sets up postseason roadblock for Canton yet again, pulls away for sectional victory
CLARKSVILLE, Mo. — Having played for the Canton girls basketball team in the 2000s and coached the Tigers for the last 10 seasons, Danielle Baker knows how much of a perennial power Clopton has been for the better part of the last two decades. “Even when I was in high school, it was either you…
Read MoreScoring run to open third quarter boosts Principia in sectional victory over South Shelby
DES PERES, Mo. — The South Shelby girls basketball team was unable to counteract a third-quarter scoring burst from Principia on Tuesday night. The end result was Principia, the state’s No. 2-ranked Class 3 team, eliminated South Shelby 46-28 in a sectional game played before a standing-room-only crowd of 800-plus at Simon Field House. Principia…
Read MorePostseason scoreboard: Quincy High School boys, Canton boys continue title chase
QUINCY — Here is the postseason scoreboard for high school basketball. This will be continually updated: Illinois girls Class 4A Granite CIty Regional Monday, Feb. 17 Game 1 — No. 1 Alton 77, No. 8 Granite City 17 Game 2 — No. 5 Quincy 42, No. 4 Edwardsville 36 Friday, Feb. 21 Game 3 —…
Read More‘We stand up and rise to the occasion’: Raiders fend off Rams to earn berth in Class 3A state semifinals
TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Ari Buehler’s bright smile said it all. “I guess it does,” she said. The euphoric moment the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team experienced Monday night, beating Mt. Vernon 55-54 to win the Class 3A Taylorville Super-Sectional and earn a final four berth, had the Raiders smiling, giggling and even crying as…
Read MoreRaiders’ ability to hit clutch free throws in final two minutes secures super-sectional victory
TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — As Ari Buehler stepped to the free-throw line with the chance to nudge the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team closer to a state tournament berth, her mind circled back to a year ago when the Raiders’ season ended with her miss at the charity stripe. “Oh, yeah, for sure,” Buehler said.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND girls outlast Mt. Vernon to earn spot in Class 3A final four
TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team made 8 of 10 free throws in the final two minutes Monday night to hold off Mt. Vernon and earn a 55-54 victory in the Class 3A Taylorville Super-Sectional, earning a berth in the Class 3A final four in the process. Muddy River Sports Editor…
Read MoreDeja vu all over again: Hornettes dash Panthers’ state dreams in super-sectional
VANDALIA, Ill. — Same opponent, same round, same gym, and unfortunately for the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team, the same result. Nashville ended the Panthers’ postseason journey one step shy of a trip to the state tournament for the second straight season, winning 58-41 in the Class 2A Vandalia Super-Sectional in the Vandalia High School gym.…
Read More‘He’d do anything for us’: Panthers’ Long leaves behind legacy of more than just winning
VANDALIA, Ill. — A tear never visibly rolled down Matt Long’s face, but the makings of one welled up in his eyes when he was asked about his 32 seasons as the Camp Point Central and Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach. “I think it’s uncommon these days that people are patient enough to give you that…
Read MoreLady Birds gain measure of revenge in beating Cougars for district championship
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — The latest district title won by the South Shelby girls basketball team might just be the sweetest in its current run of championships. Not only was it the fourth straight Class 3 District 6 crown earned by the Lady Birds, but Saturday afternoon’s 39-19 victory over Highland avenged a loss to the…
Read MoreTigers get over district championship hump, run away from Wildcats to capture crown
QUEEN CITY, Mo. — The reason the Canton girls basketball team didn’t receive the No. 1 seed for the Class 2 District 6 tournament seemed to make sense, at least on paper anyway. There was a three-game difference in the win column between top-seeded Milan and the second-seeded Tigers. What the straight numbers didn’t take…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, March 1
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, March 1: Girls basketball Class 3 District 6 championship South Shelby 39, Highland 19 Class 2 District 6 championship Canton 61, Milan 35 Class 1 District 10 championship North Shelby 50, La Plata 39 Men’s basketball Quincy University 89, Indianapolis 77 Lincoln Land 75, John Wood…
Read MoreResilient effort carries Central-Southeastern to second-half comeback, sectional championship
WAVERLY, Ill. — One of the first things Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach Matt Long reminded his players at halftime Thursday night is they trailed by only six points. “He was right,” CSE senior forward Lauren Miller said. “We were only down six. For as bad as things had been, that had to mean something.” It…
Read More‘We wanted this super bad’: Stratton, Raiders blitz Bulldogs in sectional title game whitewashing
CHATHAM, Ill. — In a year’s time, Sage Stratton’s tears turned into a bright smile. “It really feels so amazing coming back and actually winning it,” Stratton said. It being a sectional championship game, which the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team lost to Chatham Glenwood by a single point last season. The Raiders had…
Read MoreTop-seeded Highland pulls away in second half to eliminate Monroe City, reach Class 3 district final
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — The Highland girls basketball team’s fourth meeting of the season against Monroe City ended just like the first three. With a victory. Highland awakened in the second half Thursday night to eventually pull away from Monroe City 40-25 in the semifinals of the Class 3 District 6 tournament at Highland High School,…
Read MoreSouth Shelby girls oust Palmyra from district tournament for fourth straight year
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — More of the same. That’s what the South Shelby girls basketball team dished out to Palmyra in Thursday night’s semifinals of the Class 3 District 6 tournament at Highland High School. South Shelby scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter en route to pulling away for a 56-38 victory before…
Read MoreNiekamp’s 3-point shooting provides spark as Panthers erase 12-point second-half deficit
WAVERLY, Ill. — When practice is finished, Lexi Niekamp isn’t. A freshman guard on the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team, Niekamp typically heads home after practice and puts herself through another tedious workout inside the indoor shooting facility on her family’s property. “Every night I’m in there shooting,” Niekamp said. Same shots, same rhythm, same amount.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Central-Southeastern beats Pleasant Plains for Class 2A sectional title
WAVERLY, Ill. — Trailing by 12 points midway through the third quarter Thursday night, the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team rallied to beat Pleasant Plains 51-44 in overtime in the Class 2A Waverly Sectional championship in Jim Roeschley Gymnasium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreRaiders’ sectional championship victory stacks up with most dominant in four-class history
CHATHAM, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team made an emphatic statement with its 57-17 victory over Mahomet-Seymour in Thursday’s Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional championship game. That statement also prompted a question — Where does the Raiders’ performance rank in sectional history since the Illinois High School Association adopted the four-class system?…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND erases memories of last year’s sectional loss by winning championship game
CHATHAM, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team put memories of a sectional championship loss to rest by hammering Mahomet-Seymour 57-17 in Thursday night’s Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional title game. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was there and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreRaiders stay composed, survive late push by Generals to advance to sectional title game
CHATHAM, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team refused to crack under the pressure. Their practice habits, especially when it comes to shooting free throws, have prepared Sage Stratton and her teammates for what they faced during Tuesday’s Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional semifinal game against Decatur MacArthur. “We practice free throws so…
Read MoreSeniors provide spark Central-Southeastern needs to blow out Staunton in sectional semifinals
WAVERLY, Ill. — The order in which the connection occurs — Miller to Peters or Peters to Miller — doesn’t seem to matter much. It’s lethal either way. Tuesday night, it ruined the Staunton girls basketball team’s chance to make amends for two consecutive postseason losses to Central-Southeastern before the Bulldogs even had the chance…
Read MorePhysical play of Genenbacher, Huston give Panthers edge in sectional semifinal victory
WAVERLY, Ill. — With two older brothers who were all-state football players, Agnes Genenbacher really had no option other than to be tough and know how to take a tumble. “That’s my nature,” she said. Going against them also taught her to be competitive. “I always want to be the best in everything I do,”…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND to play for Class 3A sectional title after surviving MacArthur’s late surge
CHATHAM, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team saw a 15-point second-half lead dwindle to one in the fourth quarter before the Raiders made plenty of free throws to survive with a 62-53 victory over Decatur MacArthur in Tuesday’s semifinals of the Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional. QND will face Mahomet-Seymour at 6:30…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Central-Southeastern advances to Class 2A sectional title game against Pleasant Plains
WAVERLY, Ill. — By the end of the first quarter Tuesday night, there was little doubt the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team was headed to the sectional championship. Now the Panthers know a familiar face awaits. CSE beat Staunton 58-22 in the semifinals of the Class 2A Waverly Sectional, earning spot opposite Pleasant Plains in the…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 9
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined on the Hess Auto Hotline by Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne, Central-Southeastern girls coach Matt Long, Quincy High School boys coach Andy Douglas and Payson Seymour boys coach Tyler Duschinsky to break down the prep basketball scene for the latest episode of…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops’ Starry Star of the Week: Central-Southeastern’s Peters earns Week 9 honor
QUINCY — Each week during Muddy Night Hoops powered by Farm & Home Supply — a 90-minute talk show centered on prep basketball — the Starry Star of the Week will be presented to one area student-athlete. Sponsored by Refreshment Services Pepsi, the Starry Star of the Week looks to highlight someone who did something…
Read MorePeters’ third quarter takeover, Miller’s late free throws propel Panthers to regional title
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Karly Peters heard Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach Matt Long loud and clear. With the Panthers trailing Petersburg PORTA 25-23 at halftime of Friday’s Class 2A Illini West Regional title game, Long’s message to Peters was short but powerful. “I told her, ‘It’s go time. Let’s go,’” Long said. Much of that encouragement…
Read MoreRedbirds’ first-quarter salvo too much for Blue Devils to overcome in regional title game loss
GRANITE CITY, Ill. — With 4:43 remaining in regulation Friday night, Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance called his final timeout of the season. “I just challenged the girls,” Dance said. The Blue Devils trailed top-seeded Alton by 27 points in the Class 4A Granite City Regional championship, having played from behind since…
Read MorePhoto gallery: CSE overcomes halftime deficit to win Class 2A regional championship
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Karly Peters led the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team’s second-half push, scoring 10 points in the third quarter of the Panthers’ 45-41 victory over Petersburg PORTA in Friday night’s championship game of the Class 2A Illini West Regional. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, February 21
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, February 21: Boys basketball Quincy Notre Dame 64, Keokuk (Iowa) 62 Brown County 87, Pleasant Hill 55 Monmouth-Roseville 43, Macomb 37 Palmyra 69, Highland 36 Monroe City 52, Macon 20 South Shelby 60, Higbee 48 Marion County 63, North Shelby 59 Louisiana 72, Mark Twain 49…
Read MoreRaiders survive Senators’ fourth quarter surge by grinding out regional championship victory
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — In the final seconds of a stressful fourth quarter, Sage Stratton and Ari Buehler took some time to relax and appreciate what they had just accomplished. As Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Jenna Durst stepped to the free-throw line for two shots with 5.9 seconds left and the Raiders leading Springfield 44-40…
Read MoreCarrollton slams Darr on Brown County’s season with fourth quarter blitz
BLUFFS, Ill. — Carrollton’s Harper Darr said she was finally able to “get out of her head.” As a result, the Brown County girls basketball team finds itself out of the postseason tournament. Darr’s season-best 18-point performance, including nine in the fourth quarter, helped propel Carrollton to a 47-43 victory in the Class 1A regional…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Wednesday, February 19
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Wednesday, February 19: Boys basketball Brown County 64, Carrollton 45 Illini West 57, Rushville-Industry 40 Calhoun 53, Pittsfield 34 Palmyra 54, Clark County 39 Columbia Battle 76, Monroe City 41 Girls basketball Palmyra 54, Clark County 49 Men’s basketball Central Methodist 87, Culver-Stockton College 63 Women’s basketball…
Read MorePanthers shake off sluggish start, move past Chargers in regional semifinals
CARTHAGE, Ill. — The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team did not have its usual explosiveness on Tuesday, but Panthers coach Matt Long was not all that shocked. “Whatever the reason was, there wasn’t a lot of intensity in the gym tonight,” Long said. Several players, including all-state forward Lauren Miller, still battling sickness could have had…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Central-Southeastern, Petersburg PORTA advance to regional championship game
CARTHAGE, Ill. — The stage is set for the Class 2A Illini West Regional championship as top-seeded Central-Southeastern advanced with a 49-34 victory over Illini West on Tuesday, while fourth-seeded Petersburg PORTA moved on with a 47-31 victory over West Hancock. The regional championship will be played at 7 p.m. Friday at Illini West High…
Read MorePanthers survive Pirates’ second-half rally, escape with one-point victory
PALMYRA, Mo. — Even though the Palmyra girls basketball team hung on for the victory, neither Sydney Compton nor Clare Williams felt much like celebrating. Palmyra’s 70-69 margin of victory over Hannibal fails to illustrate how the Panthers blew an 18-point lead in the second half. The score also fails to show Palmyra (13-10) had…
Read More‘Everything just started going downhill’: Unable to regain momentum, Titans fall to Bluejays
CARTHAGE, Ill. — The first four minutes of Tuesday’s Class 2A Illini West Regional semifinal game against Petersburg PORTA were everything West Hancock junior forward Jadyn Climer and the Titans girls basketball team could have asked for. “The energy was up,” Climer said. “We were like, ‘This is going to be a good game.’” Then…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 8
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined on the Hess Auto Hotline by Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance, Illini West girls coach Grant Surprenant, West Hancock senior guard Lewis Siegfried and Canton senior forward Preston Brewer to break down the prep basketball scene for the latest episode of Muddy…
Read MoreTakin’ care of business: Raiders use blistering run to pull away from Crimsons in regional semifinals
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The scoring run impressed Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne, but he was even more pleased with the attitude and approach that enabled the Raiders to go on that run. “We knew we had to come out here and just take care of business,” Orne said. That is exactly what…
Read MoreQHS girls earn shot at Alton in regional title game after dispatching traditional nemesis Edwardsville
GRANITE CITY, Ill. — The growth in confidence and maturity of the Quincy High School girls basketball players can be seen by looking at two measuring sticks. On Nov. 23, the Blue Devils lost 42-29 to Edwardsville in a neutral site game in O’Fallon, Ill. Monday night, in the Class 4A Granite City Regional semifinals,…
Read MoreMustangs survive Rockets’ upset bid by pulling out regional semifinal victory in double overtime
PAYSON, Ill. — On paper, the Mendon Unity girls basketball team looked to be a definitive favorite. On the court, it proved to be a different — or at least more difficult — story. While the No. 3-seeded Mustangs ultimately prevailed in their Class 1A Payson Regional semifinal matchup against No. 8 Rushville-Industry, they needed…
Read MoreMarkert’s presence will be invaluable asset as Brown County begins postseason journey
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Brown County girls basketball coach Dave Phelps may not prefer it, but he can live with Hornets senior forward Ashlee Markert leaving a practice early or even missing an occasional team activity. He knows it’s what Markert needs to do. Signed to play volleyball at Western Illinois University, the 6-foot-1 Markert…
Read MoreSaukees demonstrate character in choosing not to play in regional, focus on grieving and healing together
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Pikeland Superintendent Todd Fox was in the middle of addressing the Pittsfield girls basketball team Friday morning when the door to the classroom where they had gathered cracked open. In walked Lincoln McCartney with a simple request. “I’m paraphrasing here, but she said something like, ‘Can I join this meeting?’” Fox said.…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, February 15
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, February 15: Boys basketball Quincy High School 66, Jacksonville 49 Palmyra 69, Bowling Green 56 Girls basketball Class 2A Illini West Regional Illini West 43, South County 40 West Hancock 39, Beardstown 29 Class 1A Payson Regional West Prairie 64, Payson Seymour 33 Rushville-Industry 56, Bushnell-Prairie…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, February 14
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, February 14: Boys basketball Quincy High School 69, Moline 52 Quincy Notre Dame 71, Liberty 29 West Hancock 63, Southeastern 27 Pittsfield 49, Western 43 Griggsville-Perry 60, Payson Seymour 54 (2OT) Jacksonville Routt 51, Brown County 45 Illini West 47, Bushnell-Prairie City 26 Macomb 49, Camp…
Read More‘I know she’s never going to leave my side’: Raiders play to honor Pittsfield’s Ramsey in final home game
QUINCY — They braided their hair into pigtails in Reese Ramsey trademark style. They took the floor for warmups with red “RR” stickers affixed to their shooting shirts. They wore red ribbons in their hair. And they spoke emotionally and eloquently about a friend they lost and will remember forever. The Quincy Notre Dame girls…
Read MoreQuincy girls roll past Moline, close in on third straight 20-victory season
QUINCY — Bring on the postseason. Quincy High School’s girls basketball team put the cap on another successful regular season Thursday night when it overwhelmed Moline 73-51 in a Western Big 6 Conference game before a crowd of about 290. Quincy, now 19-10 and one victory away from a third straight 20-win season, put four…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Emotional night at The Pit as QND wraps up against Jefferson City Helias
QUINCY — The final home game for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team became an emotional tribute to a rival and friend and a hug to a community reeling from a tragedy. The Raiders beat Jefferson City Helias 61-36, but the night was honoring Pittsfield’s Reese Ramsey, who passed away in car accident Tuesday…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, CSE hold steady in final regular-season poll
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Associated Press Illinois girls basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Kenwood (5) 27-2 78 3 2. Lisle Benet (2) 26-2 68 2 3. Lyons 28-2 63 1 (tie) Nazareth…
Read MoreSchuckman: Sending thank you letter to Reese Ramsey for impacting our lives in positive way
Editor’s note: Tuesday night, Pittsfield freshman Reese Ramsey, the leading scorer on the Saukees girls basketball team that finished the regular season with a 24-4 record, passed away after she and two teammates were involved in a three-vehicle wreck on Highway 106. Both teammates are currently hospitalized. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman wrote this…
Read More‘It was an emotional night’: CSE beats West Hancock in final home game of seniors’ careers
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Sure, they played a game Tuesday night. But wrapped around what was registering on the scoreboard was a celebration, for both an unequaled senior class of players and a retiring coach whose 32-year mark with the Central-Southeastern program may never be matched. For the record, CSE turned back West Hancock 66-41…
Read MoreCompton’s second half scoring barrage helps Palmyra pull away from Monroe City in CCC tilt
MONROE CITY, Mo. — A quiet first half did not shake Sydney Compton’s confidence. Instead, the Palmyra senior forward channeled whatever frustration built up in the opening 16 minutes into dogged determination. After just two points and no made field goals in the first half of Tuesday’s Clarence Cannon Conference clash with Monroe City, Compton…
Read MoreBrown reaches 1,000-point plateau as Blue Devils lead Pirates from start to finish
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Quincy High School girls basketball team bookended its opening salvo with 3-pointers from Madelyn Hamby and Myley Longcor. After that, Jada Brown took over. The Blue Devils rattled off a 12-2 run to start Tuesday night’s game against Hannibal at Korf Gym as Hamby scored the first seven points and Longcor’s…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, February 11
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, February 11: Boys basketball Quincy High School 76, Alleman 33 Quincy Notre Dame 80, Mendon Unity 39 Winchester West Central 69, Payson Seymour 63 Illini West 42, Camp Point Central 23 Brown County 55, Western 37 Beardstown 54, Pittsfield 43 Monroe City 68, Palmyra 44 South…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 7
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined in the Refreshment Services Pepsi Studio by Quincy High School senior guard Kamren Wires and Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tristan Pieper and on the Hess Auto Hotline by Marion County boys coach Reed Plunkett and Canton girls coach Danielle Baker to break down the…
Read MoreKassing breaks Hornets’ single-season scoring record with 30-point effort against Mustangs
MENDON, Ill. — Yes, Kenzie Kassing was aware she had set the record. And yes, she remembered — with an obvious wince — how close she came a year ago before coming up one point shy. The Brown County girls basketball team’s sensational sophomore guard continued to rewrite the Hornets’ record book Monday night, scoring…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, February 10
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard from Monday, Feb. 10: Boys basketball West Hancock 64, Liberty 35 Payson Seymour 58, Beardstown 52 (OT) North Mac 49, Pittsfield 40 Southeastern 67, Pleasant Hill 53 Girls basketball Brown County 72, Mendon Unity 57 Pittsfield 65, Greenfield/Northwestern 36 Macomb 68, Illini West 49 Men’s basketball Clarke University…
Read More‘They are very dynamic’: Alton girls pull away in fourth quarter for victory over Notre Dame
QUINCY — Eric Orne summed up what the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team faced Saturday night quite succinctly. “I don’t think we’ll see a team that good unless we make the final four,” he said. The QND head coach has won enough games and been to enough state tournaments to be able to gauge…
Read MoreMiller helps Central-Southeastern show toughness, resilience in victory over Palmyra
QUINCY — Lauren Miller stood in the middle of the lane before an inbounds play with her hand cupped covering her mouth as she continually coughed. Moments later, she drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key that extended the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team’s first half lead over Palmyra on Saturday to eight points,…
Read MoreSaukees stop Titans’ second-half run, extend lead back to double digits in Shootout victory
QUINCY — An 18-point halftime lead steadily dwindled to four points by the start of the fourth quarter. Yet, the Pittsfield girls basketball team never panicked. “I like how we never felt like, ‘Oh, my gosh, they’re coming back,’” senior forward Madison Frieden said. “I felt we were pretty level-headed.” A Frieden layin with four…
Read MoreStratton’s future teammates give ovation as she celebrates senior night with current teammates
QUINCY — It was emotional for the four seniors on the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team when they were recognized before Friday night’s game against Clopton (Mo.) High School. For Sage Stratton, it was especially touching that her future teammates and coaches from Drury University — in town to play Quincy University Saturday afternoon…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, February 7
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, Feb. 7: Boys basketball Quincy High School 53, United Township 43 Jefferson City Helias 57, Quincy Notre Dame 45 Liberty 49, Payson Seymour 42 Camp Point Central 56, Rushville-Industry 36 Mendon Unity 76, Southeastern 62 Macomb 67, South Fulton 42 Brown County 69, Pittsfield 36 Pawnee…
Read More‘The heart they showed tonight was truly special’: Blue Devils rally from double digit deficit, earn Dance’s 100th win as QHS coach
QUINCY — Brad Dance may not have seemed overly excited when the final buzzer sounded or when he got recognized following his 100th career win as the Quincy High School girls basketball coach on Thursday, but the fashion in which the Blue Devils helped Dance reach the century mark made him proud. The Blue Devils…
Read MoreRaiders put cap on fifth straight conference championship by overwhelming Eagles in first half
LIBERTY, Ill. — Any worries about a potential letdown were quickly extinguished. Two nights after posting an emotional victory over crosstown rival Quincy High School, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team wasted little time in taking control in a West Central Conference matchup with Liberty. The state-ranked Raiders forced 16 turnovers and limited the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls beat Alleman in WB6 action, giving Dance milestone moment as coach
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team rallied to beat Rock Island Alleman 66-53 in Western Big 6 Conference play Thursday night at the QHS gym, giving coach Brad Dance his 100th victory with the Blue Devils. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was there and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND slips to No. 3, while Central-Southeastern sits No. 6
CHICAGO — Here are this week’s Illinois Associated Press girls basketball state rankings, as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Lyons (7) 27-1 95 2 2. Benet (1) 24-2 73 1 3. Kenwood 25-2 72 T3 4. Alton…
Read MoreRedemption road: Raiders travel across town to avenge loss to Blue Devils, take control from start
QUINCY — The need for redemption lasted 370 days. The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players refused to let it linger a day longer. Desperate to makes amends for last year’s 23-point loss to Quincy High School at The Pit in which they scored just 24 points, the state-ranked Raiders rattled off 10 of the…
Read MoreDurst heeds coach’s advice and lets it fly, scoring career-high 27 points in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — Jenna Durst didn’t feel the vibes. “I didn’t really think the first two I shot were very good,” the Quincy Notre Dame junior forward said of her 3-point attempts from the left wing and the top of the key in the first 35 seconds of Tuesday night’s game against the Quincy High School…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND takes lead for good in second quarter of victory over QHS
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team scored the first eight points of the second quarter Tuesday and never trailed again, building a 15-point second-half lead and fending off Quincy High School’s fourth-quarter charge for a 66-55 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, February 4
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, Feb. 4: Boys basketball West Hancock 74, Fort Madison (Iowa) 67 Liberty 59, Western 51 Payson Seymour 66, Pittsfield 50 Brown County 57, Southeastern 40 Monroe City 57, South Shelby 55 Canton 69, Putnam County 50 Moberly 66, Hannibal 42 Girls basketball Quincy Notre Dame 66,…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 6
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined in the Refreshment Services Pepsi Studio by Quincy High School coach Brad Dance and KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr and on the Hess Auto Hotline by Brown County coach Dave Phelps and Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey to break down the prep basketball scene…
Read More‘It was time to get up and go to work’: Miller, Panthers fight through sickness to upend Saukees
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Lauren Miller did not make any excuses, even after she vomited at halftime of the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team’s game against Pittsfield on Monday. “It was just from all the hacking and coughing,” she said. “It seems like that’s just going around.” Miller, like several of her teammates, felt under the…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Monday, Feb. 3
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, Feb. 3: Boys basketball Liberty 65, West Prairie 47 North Callaway 64, Highland 41 Wright City 61, Mark Twain 37 Marion County 51, Knox County 39 Girls basketball Central-Southeastern 60, Pittsfield 37 Brown County 52, Macomb 48 Highland 62, North Callaway 36 Canton 78, Atlanta 31…
Read MoreDefense dictates QND girls basketball team’s ability to control tempo in victory over Monroe City
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton could sense the Raiders’ defense was making Monroe City uncomfortable, and that’s just the way she and the Raiders like it. “That’s always our goal,” Stratton said. The Raiders held the Panthers to nine first half points and pulled away for a 57-27 victory…
Read MoreSterling’s putback as time expires costs QHS girls basketball team chance to pull another upset
STERLING, Ill. — Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance and the Blue Devils would have liked four extra minutes to attempt to topple state-ranked Sterling. A fraction of a second negated that opportunity. Off an inbounds play under the basket with 4.3 seconds remaining in regulation of a tied Western Big 6 Conference…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND boys and girls sweep hoops doubleheader from Monroe City
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team held up its end of the bargain this time. For the second time this season, the QND boys and girls basketball teams played a twinbill against a Clarence Cannon Conference team. In December, the Raiders split with Palmyra. Saturday night, it was a showdown…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Saturday, February 1
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, Feb. 1: Boys basketball Quincy High School 49, Chaminade 44 Quincy Notre Dame 66, Monroe City 57 Illini West 50, Abingdon-Avon 42 Hale Bosworth 63, North Shelby 42 Girls basketball Sterling 42, Quincy High School 40 Quincy Notre Dame 57, Monroe City 27 Central-Southeastern 63, Cissna…
Read MoreCougars dig heels in defensively, stymie Lady Birds on offense to earn crucial CCC victory
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — When the Highland girls basketball team fell behind by eight points a little more than a minute into the third quarter of Friday’s Clarence Cannon Conference clash with South Shelby, the Cougars’ mindset was simple. Flush it. “Coming out in the second half, they were knocking down shots, and we couldn’t let…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Highland, South Shelby split Clarence Cannon Conference twinbill
LEWISTOWN, Mo. — The Highland girls basketball team scored a significant victory with its 38-36 triumph over South Shelby in Clarence Cannon Conference play Friday night, while the South Shelby boys rolled to a 72-44 victory over Highland in the nightcap of the twinbill. Muddy Rivr Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was at Highland and put…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Friday, January 31
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, January 31: Boys basketball Quincy High School 84, Sterling 45 West Hancock 61, Camp Point Central 31 Liberty 63, Brown County 51 Payson Seymour 66, Southeastern 57 (OT) Macomb 56, Havana 22 South Shelby 72, Highland 44 Palmyra 64, Macon 45 Kirksville 43, Hannibal 31 Monroe…
Read MoreSweet 16: Kassing scores 30 on her birthday as Hornets gain measure of revenge with win over Saukees
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Brown County sophomore Kenzie Kassing could have gotten her driver’s license on Thursday, but she chose to wait until Friday. She wanted as few distractions as possible from what awaited her Thursday night — a third crack at Pittsfield. “I had to lock in for the game today,” Kassing said. On…
Read MoreLongcor’s trey gives Blue Devils confidence boost as they win first leg of three-game gauntlet
GALESBURG, Ill. — Quincy High School girls basketball coach Brad Dance dubbed it the “3A gauntlet.” Three games in six days against teams ranked in the top 11 in the state in Class 3A. “Yeah, that’s a challenge,” Dance said. The Blue Devils proved they’re up to the task. Myley Longcor buried a 3-pointer with…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Brown County girls basketball team upends Pittsfield by building early lead
MT. STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County girls basketball team gained a measure of revenge Thursday night, beating Pittsfield 65-54. The Saukees won two previous meetings with the Hornets this season. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was on hand and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: Spots remain unchanged for QND, Central-Southeastern
CHICAGO — Here are this week’s Illinois Associated Press girls basketball state rankings, as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Benet (10) 22-1 109 1 2. Lyons (1) 24-1 96 2 3. Alton 23-1 79 3 (tie) Kenwood 23-2 79…
Read MoreArea scoreboard for Tuesday, Jan. 28
QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard from Tuesday, Jan. 28: Boys basketball Quincy High School 90, Galesburg 35 Quincy Notre Dame 61, Illini West 48 West Hancock 72, Keokuk (Iowa) 28 Brown County 65, Payson Seymour 58 Pittsfield 40, Camp Point Central 37 Jacksonville Routt 62, Liberty 49 Macomb 55, Bushnell-Prairie City 29 Monroe…
Read MoreMuddy Night Hoops Episode 5
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman is joined in the Refreshment Services Pepsi Studio by Quincy Notre Dame guard Alex Dance and on the Hess Auto Hotline by Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas, Central Illinois Sports’ Brian Shoemaker and Highland guard Addy Abell to break down the prep basketball scene for the…
Read MoreShooting woes in fourth quarter, scoring drought cost QHS girls chance to win in return to Shootout
QUINCY — About the only thing any of the Quincy High School girls basketball players would change about their return to the Quincy Shootout field is the ending. The Blue Devils would like a redo on the fourth quarter, too. The Blue Devils led Millard North, of Omaha, Neb., by 11 points at the start…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls basketball team battles Millard North to final buzzer
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team saw its second-half lead evaporate, but the Blue Devils fought until the final seconds ticked away in a 56-52 loss to Millard North of Omaha, Neb., on Saturday during the seventh Quincy Shootout in Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and…
Read MoreRaiders work themselves out of frantic mode, gain separation in victory over Saints
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team got lured into the chaos. “I feel like we kind of fell into that trap,” Raiders senior guard Sage Stratton said. After scoring four points in the first 13 seconds of Saturday’s game against Bloomington Central Catholic, the Raiders missed 13 of their next 16 shots…
Read MoreCougars’ second-quarter attack proves to be too much for Pirates to handle in Lenzini title game
PALMYRA, Mo. — Addy Abell looked at the scoreboard, then her teammates. “It was time for us to go,” said Abell, the Highland girls basketball team’s high-scoring junior guard. With Abell serving as the ringleader, Highland hit Hannibal with a second-quarter blitzkrieg that paved the way for a 55-38 win Saturday night in the finals…
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