Hoyt being treated to ‘really cool experience’ as Blueboys embark on NCAA tournament trail

Illinois College freshman guard Jake Hoyt, a Quincy Notre Dame graduate, will try to help the Blueboys find success in the NCAA Division III national tournament, beginning Friday against Dubuque. | Photo courtesy Illinois College athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Jake Hoyt knew to be ready. With the Illinois College men’s basketball team facing Grinnell in the Midwest Conference Tournament championship last Saturday, it was an all-hands-on-deck mentality. So the freshman point guard from Quincy Notre Dame figured to see an uptick in his minutes. “It’s a different kind of game when…

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Priceless Father’s Day gift: Hoyt powers Illinois all-stars to victory in gym where his dad coaches

Illinois guard Jake Hoyt, right, reacts to being named the team's most valuable player in the Muddy River Showcase, held Saturday at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Jake Hoyt’s reaction was genuine. His appreciation of the moment was, too. Announced as the most valuable player for the Illinois all-stars after a 118-80 victory over Missouri in Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase boys basketball game, Hoyt walked toward midcourt to receive his plaque and shrugged and smiled at the person about to…

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Muddy River Showcase Spotlight: Quincy Notre Dame’s Jake Hoyt

Quincy Notre Dame guard Jake Hoyt will play in the Muddy River Showcase on Saturday at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. QUINCY — Jake Hoyt…

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Hoyt delivers on cue as Raiders beat Titans to capture Class 2A regional championship

Quincy Notre Dame guard Jake Hoyt, left, drives around West Hancock's Bryan Gerhardt during Friday night's Class 2A regional championship game at The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Jake Hoyt made sure the playful razzing he received ended with an exclamation point.  At Friday’s pregame shootaround, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coaches ran a set play for their senior point guard to shoot a 3-pointer and Hoyt missed the first attempt. “We teased him a little bit,” Raiders coach Kevin…

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‘All I know is it was close’: Officials rule Hoyt’s 3-pointer comes split-second late as Raiders fall

Quincy Notre Dame coach Kevin Meyer and the Raiders react to the officials waving off Jake Hoyt's 3-pointer at the buzzer, saying it came after time expired and saddling QND with a 56-54 loss to Highland on Saturday in the 31st Highland Optimist Shootout in Highland, Ill. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

HIGHLAND, Ill. — Jake Hoyt was very diplomatic with his answer when asked if the 3-pointer he launched as time expired beat the buzzer. “All I know is that it was close,” he said. Close enough for a debate. With the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team trailing Highland by three points and 2.5 seconds…

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Catch me if you can: Raiders accept challenge to chase down point guard, thrive in transition

Quincy Notre Dame point guard Jake Hoyt dishes a pass during Tuesday's game against Providence St. Mel in the opening round of the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal West High School in Normal, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

NORMAL, Ill. — Fully aware his team’s offense needed to ratchet everything up a notch or two, Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer presented the Raiders with a challenge heading into the State Farm Holiday Classic. Catch Jake. Meyer told his point guard — senior Jake Hoyt — to push the pace at…

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‘I can fully say I had a blast out there’: Despite loss, Raiders’ effort changes team’s entire vibe

Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Stratton puts up a free-throw attempt during the second half of Saturday's game against Quincy High School at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — For one night at least, and probably a couple of days to follow, the angst was eased. No one associated with the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball program is going to accept losing, not even to a state-ranked Class 4A squad on its home floor, but the positive vibes felt after Saturday night’s…

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Raiders pick up fourth victory in five games, but rotten third quarter leaves sour taste in mouth

Quincy Notre Dame's Josh Bocke, left, and Hannibal's Haden Robertson battled for a rebound during Saturday night's game at Korf Gym in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team enjoyed a solid first half on Saturday night against Hannibal. Then the third quarter happened. The Raiders led by 16 points at halftime, then made 10 of 11 free throws in the final four minutes of the game to hold off the Pirates 49-39 at…

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Ingredients in place for unified Raiders to continue winning ways as season opener looms

Quincy Notre Dame seniors Alex Connoyer, left, and Josh Bocke are part of an experienced class looking to lead the Raiders to another 20-win season. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — What do the Three Musketeers, DJ Khaled and the Navy SEALs have in common? They each could be the inspiration for the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team this season. Start with the Three Musketeers. In the legendary novel by Alexandre Dumas, the Musketeers stick together with the motto “Tous pour un, un…

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Front to back: Hoyt, Kurk transition to defensive stalwarts to bolster QND soccer team

Quincy Notre Dame senior Jake Hoyt has made the transition from forward to center back to help bolster the Raiders' defensive back line. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Jake Hoyt doesn’t have an explanation for how he ended up in such unfamiliar territory. “Honestly, I still really don’t know,” the senior said of being moved from forward to center back to fill a void in the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s defense. There’s really only one viable reason. A master…

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SuperFan Shootout: After three quarters of ‘horrible,’ ‘ugly’ basketball, Raiders’ rally falls one point short

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Hoyt defends Jacksonville Routt's Nolan Killion during Saturday night's game at the SuperFan Shootout at the Pit in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — Jake Hoyt called it “horrible.” Kevin Meyer called it “ugly.” No matter how exciting the finish was in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game between the Quincy Notre Dame and Jacksonville Routt boys basketball teams during the SuperFan Shootout at the Pit, the Raiders couldn’t overcome three quarters of abysmal play in…

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Three for Three: Hoyt keeps attacking basket in overtime to give Raiders victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Hoyt goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter while McCluer's Brandon Johnson tries to block it during Saturday night's game at the Pit. | David Adam

QUINCY — Each time Jake Hoyt darted to the basket, he knew punishment was coming. “That was pretty much the thought process,” he said. “I knew I had to try to score.” Hoyt completed one old-fashioned three-point play in the fourth quarter, then made two more in overtime and finished with a career-high 24 points…

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Raiders hope to turn Pit into raucous environment with up-tempo style, 3-point barrage

Quincy Notre Dame coach Kevin Meyer, left, talks to his team before junior forward Jake Wallingford inbounds the ball during a practice at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Kevin Meyer isn’t sure how raucous the Pit will get this weekend. He’s hoping loud enough to be hostile, but since it has been 21 months since the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team last played with a fill-all-the-seats crowd and continuing concerns with the coronavirus pandemic, the Raiders’ head coach isn’t sure…

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