Blockbusters: Improved play at net makes Raiders tougher defensively in sweep of Chargers

Quincy Notre Dame's Eva Breckenkamp, left, and Ali Entrup, center, react to winning point during Thursday night's match against Illini West at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Ali Entrup’s reaction spoke volumes. Her play at the net resonated even louder. During a tug-o-war portion of the first set Thursday night against Illini West at The Pit, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s senior right side hitter stuffed a Chargers attack, giving the Raiders the point, the serve and the momentum.…

Read More

Home-course advantage: QND boys golf team navigates Westview with precision in winning WCC championship

Quincy Notre Dame senior Cole Willer shot a 1-under 70 on Wednesday at Westview Golf Course to earn individual medalist honors in the West Central Conference tournament. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The weather-related damage to Arrowhead Heights Golf Course that forced the West Central Conference boys golf tournament to be moved to Westview Golf Course proved to be a boon for Quincy Notre Dame. It was an unfortunate circumstance for everyone else. The Raiders took advantage of playing their home course Wednesday, posting five…

Read More

Former QU standout McGaughey closes chapter on professional basketball career

Evan McGaughey, an Illini West graduate and three-time All-Great Lakes Valley Conference basketball standout at Quincy University, announced this week he was retiring from professional basketball. Submitted photo

CINCINNATI — Evan McGaughey’s passport reveals quite a story. In the five years since his graduation from Quincy University, the Carthage native’s 4.5 x 3.5 inch booklet has been stamped enough times to allow him entrance into 15 countries on two different continents as he pursued a professional basketball career. “I got to see a…

Read More

Crim: Muddy River Showcase checks every box for atmosphere, excitement and mission

Players and coaches along the Illinois bench celebrate with Max Richardson (No. 35) after he made a 3-pointer in his brief and unexpected appearance in Saturday's Muddy River Showcase. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The boxscore shows Max Richardson playing only a few seconds for the Illinois boys basketball team in the inaugural Muddy River Showcase, more than he expected, yet long enough to create a memory that will last a lifetime. The 6-foot-4 power forward from Illini West who has since signed to play for Eureka…

Read More

Muddy River Showcase: Illini West’s Johnson looking to give back to small-town community

Abbie Johnson, center, helped the Illini West girls basketball team win 30 games and a Class 2A regional championship last winter. Matt Schuckman photo

The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…

Read More

Muddy River Showcase: Illini West girls’ record-setting season comes complete with all-stars

Illini West girls basketball coach Grant Surprenant, squatting, will lead the Illinois all-stars in the inaugural Muddy River Showcase. Matt Schuckman photo

The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…

Read More

Pitching performances by Dance, Connoyer power Raiders to pair of victories at Beardstown tourney

Quincy Notre Dame junior right-hander Tyler Dance struck out a career-high 13 batters in Saturday's victory against Illini West at the Beardstown Tiger Showcase. Matt Schuckman photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — A pair of stout pitching performances has the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team back on track. Tyler Dance struck out a career-high 13 batters in a 5-2 victory over Illini West on Saturday in the Beardstown Tiger Showcase at Robin Lewis Field, while Alex Connoyer tossed five shutout innings in an 11-0…

Read More

Power outage: Inability to score keeps Chargers from putting together another dramatic rally

Illini West coach Grant Surprenant talks to his team during a timeout in the second half of Tuesday's 35-28 loss to Alton Marquette in the semifinals of the Class 2A Waverly Sectional. Matt Schuckman photo

WAVERLY, Ill. — The team with a penchant for fourth-quarter magic needed to drum up another miracle moment. Shots have to fall for that to happen. Tuesday night, in the semifinals of the Class 2A Waverly Sectional, the Illini West girls basketball team couldn’t make a field goal to start a rally until the deficit…

Read More

Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND heads into postseason No. 1 in Class 2A

Quincy Notre Dame guard Blair Eftink, left, and the Raiders will head into the postseason as the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In the final state rankings before the Illinois girls basketball postseason begins, not much changed for the area teams. Quincy Notre Dame remains ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and Illini West is No. 3, although the Chargers are now tied with Pana, which is enjoying a 29-1 season and has not lost…

Read More

QND Invitational: Triplett wins with toughness, Belshaw likes challenge and Central could be regional threat

Palmyra's Luke Triplett, right, throws Chatham Glenwood's Jaidyn Lee to his back during the 220-pound championship match Saturday at the QND Invitational. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Triplett questioned the toughness of his Illinois counterparts Saturday. “I didn’t know they were softer on this side of the river,” the Palmyra wrestler said with a smile after his semifinal match in the Quincy Notre Dame Invitational at the Pit. It turns out no one was as tough as him, certainly…

Read More

Schreacke’s clutch shot gives No. 2 QND edge in showdown with No. 3 Illini West

Quincy Notre Dame's Abbey Schreacke runs into Illini West's Hallie Ray as she attempts to drive to the basket during the second half of Thursday night's game in Carthage, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The difference between the two best Class 2A girls basketball teams in the west-central part of the state is subtle, yet simple. One has Abbey Schreacke. The other does not. With the outcome of Thursday night’s battle of state-ranked teams, Quincy Notre Dame was going to win, lose or draw with the…

Read More

Prairie State Profile: Illini West’s Kirkham develops into area’s pre-eminent playmaker with guidance from basketball-savvy family

Illini West point guard Caydee Kirkham drives to the basket during a game against Unity in Carthage, Ill. Photo courtesy Rick Goettsche

The Prairie State Profile will appear each week to highlight an Illinois area student-athlete. CARTHAGE, Ill. — Technology has changed the method of delivery, but the messages are similar to what they were three decades ago. The intent is the same, too. It’s to give Caydee Kirkham all the knowledge she needs to succeed at…

Read More

Mustangs, Chargers to renew acquaintances once again, this time for title of CSE Classic

Unity coach Brad Begeman gives Caroline Knox a hug after she made two free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation to beat Brown County 46-45 in the semifinals of the CSE Classic on Thursday night in Camp Point, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Here we go with round three. Caroline Knox did her part to make it happen with two clutch free throws. The Illini West girls basketball team’s defense held up its end of the equation. Now, two state-ranked foes will meet for the third time in 17 days and the second time…

Read More

Wrestling roundup: Blue Devils’ Garrett wins individual crown as QHS takes third overall

Quincy High School wrestler Kayden Garrett shows off the team trophy the Blue Devils won Saturday at the 60th Murdale Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. Photo courtesy QHS wrestling

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kayden Garrett’s individual championship helped the Quincy High School wrestling team finish third among 25 teams in the 60th Murdale Invitational at Carbondale High School. Garrett, a senior wrestling at 170 pounds, won his first two matches in pool play with a second-period pin and a 21-6 technical fall. In the championship…

Read More

Area Distributors Area Athlete of the Week: Illini West’s Caydee Kirkham

Illini West senior point guard Caydee Kirkham was named the MVP of the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic. Submitted photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Caydee Kirkham saved her best for last. The three efforts preceding her championship game performance at the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic weren’t too shabby either. The senior point guard on the Illini West girls basketball team nearly put together a triple double in a 66-51 victory over top-seeded Unity in the title…

Read More

Holiday Tournament Roundup: Chargers run gauntlet to Beardstown title, Hornets finish third

The third-seeded Illini West girls basketball team beat the No. 1 and 2 seeds to win the Lady Tiger Classic championship. Photo courtesy Grant Surprenant

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — It didn’t take long for Grant Surprenant to realize Caydee Kirkham had a different demeanor Thursday night. “She had that look that she was in attack mode,” the Illini West girls basketball coach said of his senior point guard. Nothing Unity tried altered that. Kirkham delivered an MVP performance in the championship…

Read More

Raiders show composure in face of adversity, capture regional title

The Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball team won the Class 2A Illini West Regional championship Thursday night by defeating Illini West in three sets. Photo courtesy Ben Marth

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The atmosphere generated by the Illini West faithful was something only a select few of the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players have ever experienced. Rarely have the Raiders faced a do-or-die situation as well. The top-seeded team in the Class 2A Illini West Regional proved capable of handling anything thrown its way.…

Read More