‘I think we had an impact’: Meyer makes difficult decision to resign as QND boys basketball coach after nine seasons at helm

Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer resigned Friday after winning 176 games and five regional championships in his nine seasons at the helm. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The reaction Kevin Meyer received from the news he had resigned as the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach continually brought him to tears as Friday afternoon slowly rolled into night. “The overwhelming support and the reaching out from my players and coaches across the state has been incredible,” Meyer said. “I felt…

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Meyer resigns after nine seasons as head coach of QND boys basketball program

Kevin Meyer resigned Friday after nine season as the head boys basketball coach at Quincy Notre Dame. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Another successful Quincy Notre Dame athletic program is looking for a new leader. Kevin Meyer submitted his resignation Friday, stepping away from the QND boys basketball program after nine seasons at the helm — a span in which his teams won 20 or more games five times and he became the second-winningest coach…

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Connoyer calms down after technical foul, scores game-high 17 points to lead QND boys past Liberty

Quincy Notre Dame's Aiden Klauser | MRN File photo by Samantha Carmean

LIBERTY, Ill. – Quincy Notre Dame forward Jackson Connoyer had to refocus after receiving a technical foul following a scramble for a rebound under his own basket midway through the second quarter Friday night. His actions resulted in two free throws that gave Liberty a seven-point lead. “I said things I shouldn’t have said,” Connoyer…

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QND, Unity boys each dominate a half, but Raiders come out on top 78-66

Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Connoyer drives to the basket for a layup during Tuesday night's high school boys basketball game at the Pit in Quincy. Unity's Melvin McMillen defends on the play. | David Adam

QUINCY — Charles Dickens famously opened his historic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities,” with the line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”  During the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s 78-66 victory over Unity Tuesday night, both coaches felt those emotions — in the opposite order. In the…

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Winchester West Central escapes ‘dogfight’ at the Pit, snaps four-game winning streak for QND boys

Winchester West Central's Mason Berry dribbles while Quincy Notre Dame's Connor Young defends during Saturday night's high school boys basketball game in the KHQA Superfan Shootout at the Pit. | Photo courtesy of Mary-Ann Ervin

QUINCY — As he lowered his MVP trophy to the ground and attempted to find one more ounce of energy before loading the bus back to Winchester, Zack Evans tried to put into words what the previous 90 minutes felt like. “Anytime you come to QND, it’s going to be a dogfight,” Evans said. “That’s…

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Strong finish to second quarter propels Quincy Notre Dame boys to easy victory at home

Junior guard Alex Dance was one of five Quincy Notre Dame players to score at least nine points in Thursday night's victory over Western. | MRN File Photo

QUINCY — The lead was in double digits ,but as the second quarter neared an end in Thursday night’s home tilt with Western, Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer wasn’t exactly comfortable. “We had to challenge them a little bit during one of (Western’s) timeouts and tell them, ‘You’ve got to match their…

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Raiders follow forgettable first half with fabulous second half, rout Stanford Olympia in consolation bracket

Quincy Notre Dame's Tyler Bozarth rises to shoot the ball while defended by Stanford Olympia's Dylan Nowaskie during Thursday's game in the State Farm Holiday Classic at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill. | David Adam photo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Roller coasters certainly are fun if you ride them during a trip to Six Flags or Disney World, but they’re a little rough if they are used to describe a basketball season. The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team followed a sloppy first half with a snappy second half in Thursday afternoon’s…

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Offensive struggles send QND boys into consolation round of small school bracket for first time

Quincy Notre Dame's Jace Allensworth tries to get to the basket while Pecatonica's Brody Black defends him during Wednesday's boys basketball game during the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal West High School. | David Adam photo

NORMAL, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer is convinced his team’s record should be much better than what it is. “I told the guys I think that you’re a 10-1 team versus the 6-5 our record says,” Meyer said after the Raiders lost 55-50 to Pecatonica Wednesday night at Normal West…

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Raiders learn lesson, rally to edge Keokuk in overtime in regular season finale

Quincy Notre Dame's Charlie Lavery goes up to contest a shot by Keokuk's Brenton Hoard during Friday night's boys basketball game at Wright Fieldhouse in Keokuk, Iowa. | Photo courtesy of Doug Brenneman/Keokuk Daily Gate City

KEOKUK, Iowa — A trip to Wright Fieldhouse in Keokuk and a 69-65 overtime victory provided the Quincy Notre Dame Raiders boys basketball team with an important lesson with postseason play starting. “One thing we learned is that you can’t come out flat starting tomorrow,” Raiders coach Kevin Meyer said. “You’ve got to come out…

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Connoyer finds hole in West Hancock defense, scores 19 points to help Raiders win 20th game

Quincy Notre Dame's Braden Sheffield drives to the basket during Tuesday night's boys basketball game at The Pit. West Hancock's Alec Hymes defends the play. | David Adam

QUINCY — In the aftermath of Quincy Notre Dame’s 20th victory of the season on Tuesday night, Charlie Lavery was quick to point out the importance of his senior teammate Alex Connoyer. “Without him, we’re in trouble,” Lavery said. Connoyer scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the third quarter to help the Raiders pull…

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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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Raiders survive ugly start, use defense to tighten screws on McCluer

Quincy Notre Dame's Josh Bocke, left, tries to make a move to the basket while being guarded by McCluer's Martavious Miller. | David Adam

QUINCY — The first 3 ½ minutes of Quincy Notre Dame’s season opener against McCluer on Friday night was … almost unwatchable. The Raiders missed their first six shots, turned the ball over twice and missed three out of four free throws to trail 6-1. “It was really bad. Really bad,” senior Jackson Stratton said.…

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50 After 50: After getting pushed around as overmatched freshmen, No. 11 Raiders muscle up as seniors

From row from left, Robert Gallaher, Macker Little, Reed Hyer, Alex Kinsel, Troy Potts, Nick Schwartz, Aaron Smith, Sam Tuley. Back row, Clay Venvertloh, Johnny Ray, Tommy Ray, Justin Bottorff, Jacob Mayfield, Nathan Hoebing, Wade Willer, Carter Cramsey. | Photo courtesy of Bob Sheffield

The Illinois High School Association created a second class for boys basketball for the 1971-72 school year. The 2020-21 season would have been the 50th year of the boys basketball small-school tournament. Muddy River Sports is celebrating 50 years of small-school boys basketball by ranking the 50 best teams in Adams, Brown, Pike and Hancock…

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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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Liberty tunes up for possible state tournament run with impressive Senior Night victory over QND

Logan Robbins soars in for a dunk for the first basket of the game in Liberty's 57-43 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Friday night. Robbins had 15 points for the Eagles. | Photo courtesy of Russ Tate

QUINCY — Logan Robbins is growing a little weary of his dad’s stories. “I’ve heard them all,” the Liberty senior said with a roll of the eyes. His father, Don, was a starter on the 1990 Unity basketball team that won its first 30 games before losing to Pittsfield in the super-sectional.  “The stories are…

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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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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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After St. Joseph-Ogden star gets loose in third quarter, Raiders miss chance to complete comeback victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Wallingford goes past St. Joseph-Ogden's Ty Pence on his way for a layup during the first half of Tuesday's quarterfinal game at the Shirk Center in the small-school bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic. | David Adam

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — It might not look like it in the scorebook, but Quincy Notre Dame actually did a good job keeping St. Joseph-Ogden star Ty Pence in check. Well, except for the final three minutes of the third quarter. Pence, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored 11 of his 26 points during that time frame, turning…

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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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QND fails to stand up to No. 4-ranked Sacred Heart-Griffin’s defensive pressure

Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Stratton goes between Sacred Heart-Griffin's Zach Hawkinson, left, and Will Hamilton during Friday night's game at The Pit. | David Adam

QUINCY — Take a good look, Quincy Notre Dame fans. The level of play exhibited by the Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin boys basketball team on Friday is likely the standard any Class 2A team in western and central Illinois will need to meet if it hopes to make a deep postseason run. And not just this…

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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 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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