JWCC men head into new year with good vibes, right demeanor after back-to-back victories

John Wood Community College's Jake Wallingford defends a post pass intended for Kishwaukee's Joshua Bocher during Sunday's game at JWCC's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball players packed a six-game losing streak in their belongings and carried it home for the holidays. That’s where they left it. The Trail Blazers ended the 2023 portion of their schedule with back-to-back wins, beating Kishwaukee College 62-51 on Sunday in the JWCC New Year’s Classic…

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‘Weekend full of toughness’: Trail Blazers begin to forge identity with pair of victories

John Wood Community College men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt watched the Trail Blazers improve to 3-0 with a pair of victories in the John Wood Classic at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Hoyt used two words to describe the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s defensive effort last weekend he hopes will be the same two words he uses to characterize the Trail Blazers all season. Toughness and physicality. JWCC won a pair of games in the John Wood Classic last weekend at…

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Wallingford’s return helps Raiders kickstart Shootout weekend with victory over Indians

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Wallingford, left, and Braden Sheffield line up to rebound on a free throw during Friday night's game against Payson Seymour in the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit. | Ron Kinscherf photo

QUINCY — The gentle giant is back. Jake Wallingford, the soft-spoken big man with an even softer jump shot, is once again an integral part of the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team. The 6-foot-8 senior made his season debut Friday night, helping QND to a 70-42 victory over Payson Seymour in the KHQA-American Family…

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Another brick in the Wall: Junior center’s defensive work is backbone of regional title for Raiders

From left, Brady Kindhart, Braden Sheffield, Charlie Lavery and Josh Bocke are all smiles as they reach out for the Class 2A regional plaque held by teammate Calvin Lavery after Quincy Notre Dame's 48-37 victory over Pleasant Plains on Friday night in Beardstown, Ill. | David Adam

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Pleasant Plains’ Zach Powell dribbled across the lane midway through the third quarter and tossed up a right-handed hook shot that Quincy Notre Dame’s Jake Wallingford got a fingertip on. Powell grabbed the rebound, then went back up for a second shot — only for Wallingford to swat it into a group…

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Raiders punch Illini West in mouth in first quarter, cruise to easy victory; Pleasant Plains awaits in regional title game

Illini West's Cole Kirkham loses control of the ball as he tries to split Quincy Notre Dame defenders Jackson Stratton, left, and Alex Connoyer during Wednesday's Class 2A regional semifinal boys basketball game at Beardstown High School. | David Adam

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The rules of high school basketball call for a game to be played for 32 minutes, but the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team needed less than five Wednesday night. The Raiders dominated their Class 2A regional semifinal matchup with Illini West, scoring the game’s first 12 points and leading 30-10 at halftime…

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Raiders tighten defensive clamps, record 10th straight victory over Pittsfield

Pittsfield's Nate Scranton, left, looks for help while being guarded by Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Stratton, center, and Braden Sheffield during Friday night's basketball game at Voshall Gym in Pittsfield. | David Adam

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Offensively, work must still be be done. But the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team has been pretty stingy defensively of late. Pittsfield missed 23 of 35 shots from the field, and the Raiders forced 18 turnovers in a 43-31 victory on Friday night at Voshall Gym. QND has won 10 straight…

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Raiders use press to overwhelm Rock Falls while finally cranking up offense in State Farm Holiday Classic opener

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Calvin Lavery applies pressure to Rock Falls' Gavin Sands during Monday's opening-round game of the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal West High School. | David Adam

NORMAL, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer gave his Raiders a shiny new toy under their Christmas tree last week. It looked Monday afternoon like they had a lot of fun playing with it for the first time. The press. The Raiders used their 1-2-2 three-quarter court trap and a swarming…

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Raiders overwhelm Gateway STEM with 47-point run in season opener

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Hoyt passes the ball with his right hand as he falls between Gateway STEM's Jaylen Ross, left, and Shakaid Zevelun during Friday night's game at the Pit. | David Adam

QUINCY — Forty-seven straight points. It doesn’t happen often in football, but we’ve seen teams score seven straight touchdowns before. When was the last time you saw it happen in basketball? After Quincy Notre Dame’s Jake Hoyt and Gateway STEM’s Jaylen Ross traded 3-point baskets in the opening minutes, the Raiders scored the next 45…

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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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