Posts Tagged ‘Quincy Notre Dame’
Interference call ends pitchers’ duel as Raiders outlast Warriors at softball slam
QUINCY — Whether the play was savvy, lucky or both, Alyssa Ley’s instincts paid off. With the bases loaded, two outs and the Quincy Notre Dame softball team leading Hardin Calhoun 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning Saturday, Ley ranged to her left from her shortstop position to field a ground ball off…
Read MoreWhite’s speed turns tide in Raiders’ favor during one-run win over Warriors
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame freshman outfielder Sophia White has earned the nickname “Flash.” On Saturday, she showed why. White led off the third inning of a scoreless game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard with one task — get on base. With that in mind, Raiders coach Eric Orne told White to bunt for…
Read MorePayson Seymour splits games at softball slam, while Illini West suffers pair of setbacks
QUINCY — Four teams provided a day full of action at Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Softball Slam at The Backyard. The finale provided plenty of drama with QND squeaking out a 1-0 victory over Hardin Calhoun. Here is a recap of the three games preceding that showdown: Archer’s timely hits give Indians lift Corin Robinson…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Stratton guides QND girls basketball team to remarkable success, earns Player of the Year honor
QUINCY — Standing in the hallway leading from the locker room to the gym in Illini West High School, Sage Stratton experienced a moment that set her up to be a leader, a contributor and arguably one of Quincy Notre Dame’s all-time greats. The Raiders had just beaten Illini West 40-38 in a battle of…
Read MoreWiewel finishes what he starts, makes defensive play to end Raiders’ one-run win over Blue Devils
QUINCY — Bradi Lahr had no doubt Abram Wiewel would make the play. “It’s Abram Wiewel,” said Lahr, a junior right-handed pitcher for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. “He’s the best ballplayer I’ve been on a team with. I had trust in him the whole time.” With the Raiders leading Quincy High School 5-4,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, QHS baseball teams open season Saturday at QU Stadium
QUINCY — Opening day for the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams showed what fans have come to expect from both programs — grit, tenacity and tight games in the city series. After both teams dropped their season openers to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, QND took the upper hand in the city rivalry…
Read MoreQND softball team manufactures walk-off victory, completes season-opening sweep
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The next time Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne tells his team good things happen when you put pressure on the opposing defense, he has a prime example to use to back that up. The Raiders opened their season Friday afternoon with a 3-2 victory over East Dubuque in which they…
Read MoreBoyer joins Bunte to create formidable one-two punch for QND softball team’s pitching staff
QUINCY — Madalyn Boyer used to fear facing Caitlin Bunte. “I’ve always struggled hitting off of her,” Boyer said. “Everybody struggles hitting off of her.” Now there is no need to fear. Boyer, a senior pitcher and third baseman who transferred from Illini West to Quincy Notre Dame prior to this school year, will combine…
Read MoreFinding balance between youthful exuberance, veteran leadership will define QND’s spring success
QUINCY — A mix of young talent and veteran leadership will shape the success of Quincy Notre Dame’s collection of teams this spring. Baseball A young, speedy QND baseball team will take the field for the first time at the QHS Slam on Saturday against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Quincy High School at QU Stadium.…
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 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 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 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 MoreRight on target: Bullets guard leads second-half offensive surge, ending Raiders’ season
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Brayden Saling’s second-half performance was so impressive that it even caught his coach off guard. As a matter of fact, Williamsville boys basketball coach Nick Beard was dumbfounded to learn his senior southpaw guard was held scoreless for the first two quarters. “I had no idea,” Beard said. But Beard wasn’t completely…
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 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 MoreCollective effort carries Raiders to lopsided victory over Bluejays in regional semifinal
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix was curious leading up to Wednesday’s Class 2A Pittsfield Regional semifinal game against Petersburg PORTA just how the Raiders would react. “When you come into a new program, you never know how guys are going to respond in the postseason,” said Altmix, the first-year…
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 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 MoreGrand entrance: Former QND baseball standout Kindhart belts grand slam in first collegiate at-bat
ST. LOUIS — Brady Kindhart didn’t know where the baseball ended up after it landed beyond the center field wall. He later found out it was in the perfect hands. Mike Kindhart retrieved what will now be a forever family treasure and a reminder of how his son’s collegiate baseball career began. Monday afternoon, in…
Read MoreFourth-quarter rally enables QND to end regular season with confidence after beating Keokuk
KEOKUK, Iowa — All that Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix wanted was a chance. Through two and a half quarters of Friday’s affair with Keokuk, it looked like that opportunity may never materialize. But the Raiders never relented. “The guys just kept battling,” Altmix said. “They didn’t give up.” Down double digits…
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 MoreSchuckman: Darnell’s pursuit of state wrestling glory happening with his dad right by his side
QUINCY — As he sat down to talk about his looming trip to the state wrestling championships, Ryan Darnell tussled his sweaty mop of hair and asked if the interview was going to be recorded for video purposes. You could sense the relief when he was told it wasn’t. “Good,” the Quincy Notre Dame senior…
Read MoreVictory of Titan-ic proportions: West Hancock wins West Central Conference title, beats QND at The Pit
QUINCY — As he dribbled from one side of the court to the other, West Hancock senior guard Gavin Grothaus found himself dangerously close to a five-second violation. A turnover could have changed the outcome of the game. Instead, Grothaus avoided the mishap and made the biggest pass of Tuesday’s showdown with Quincy Notre Dame,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Titans, Raiders trade punches in postseason atmosphere
QUINCY — The West Hancock boys basketball team went toe-to-toe with Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday night with a packed house at The Pit raising the decibel levels to as loud as the gym has been all winter. The Titans put a stamp on their West Central Conference title with a 65-58 victory. Muddy River…
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 MoreQND’s Darnell, Illini West’s Watkins Jr. qualify for state wrestling championships
CLINTON, Ill. — Ryan Darnell and Shawn Watkins Jr. will end their prep wrestling careers on the state’s biggest stage. It took some tenacity and resilience to get there. Darnell, the Quincy Notre Dame senior wrestling at 215 pounds, finished as the runner-up in the Class 1A Clinton Sectional, pinning his first two opponents before…
Read More‘We knew it was our moment’: Seniors help Raiders take 20-2 lead, roll to victory over Liberty
QUINCY — Alex Dance and his four Quincy Notre Dame senior teammates don’t get many chances to play together at the same time on the basketball court. Naturally, they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity on Senior Night. “We knew this was one of our last chances to start together,” Dance said. “We just…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: QND boys race to huge lead in claiming West Central Conference victory
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team led 20-2 after one quarter and 39-8 at halftime as they rolled to a 71-29 victory over Liberty during Friday’s West Central Conference tussle at The Pit. Four seniors — Alex Dance, Conner Young, Jackson Pyatt and Carter Miller — combined for 11 points in the…
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 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 MoreSnow day anticipation: Raiders bring energy to West Central Conference victory over Mustangs
MENDON, Ill. — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players prepared to take the floor Tuesday night, they had a little extra pep to their step. Credit, in part, goes to Mother Nature. “After we heard there’s a snow day (Wednesday), that just got us excited and we got after it,” Raiders junior guard…
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 MoreMexico’s blistering shooting continues, while turnovers continue to plague QND
QUINCY — Darren Pappas has seen this act before. The coach of the Mexico (Mo.) boys basketball team has had a front row seat to the Bulldogs’ perimeter prowess. “When we get our feet set, I like our chances,” Pappas said with a grin. Mexico made eight of its first nine shots, had seven first…
Read MoreFive individual regional champions lead wrestling brigade into next week’s sectionals
QUINCY — The Quincy High School wrestling team qualified six grapplers for sectionals, while Quincy Notre Dame will be sending five wrestlers forward after top-three finishes Saturday as the postseason got started with regional action. Overall, five area wrestlers won individual regional titles and 24 advanced to sectionals. The Blue Devils, competing in the Class…
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 MoreHelias capitalizes on swing moment in fourth quarter, fends off QND’s comeback
QUINCY — The pass was perfect and the shot was open. “Everything was right there,” Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix said. Everything except the tide-turning moment it was set up to be. The Raiders had cut an 18-point, second-half deficit to seven in the early stages of the fourth quarter of Friday’s…
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 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 More‘They just kept battling and battling’: Raiders dig out of 13-point hole, rally to beat state-ranked Panthers
MONROE CITY, Mo. — When their team allows the first 13 points of a game, a basketball coach may be inclined to make significant adjustments. But even when the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team fell behind by a baker’s dozen in the first 4:45 against Monroe City on Saturday, Raiders coach Greg Altmix did…
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 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 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 MorePhoto gallery: Strong start pushes QND boys basketball team past Illini West
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team scored eight of the game’s first 10 points Tuesday night and never trailed in a 61-48 victory over Illini West at The Pit. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:
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 MoreRaiders adjust to how officials call tight, physical game and run away from Tigers for WCC victory
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Greg Altmix didn’t have to think too long when asked to describe how his Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team regrouped following a first quarter riddled with fouls and even more free throw attempts. “We started moving our feet more and hands less,” the Raiders coach said. The defensive shift allowed QND…
Read More‘We were kind of shocked’: Simeon’s blitz puts QND on its heels, leads to lopsided loss for Raiders
QUINCY — The first six minutes the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team played against Chicago Simeon in the Quincy Shootout on Friday were as close to as perfect as Raiders coach Greg Altmix could have asked for. “If we can do that for 32 minutes, there’s no team in Class 2A we can’t play…
Read MoreSecond-ranked Raiders need time to get back in groove, roll past Chargers once they find rhythm
QUINCY — Fresh off a much-needed four-day break following an 11-day gauntlet that saw it face five state-ranked teams, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team was eager to get off to a good start Thursday night against Illini West. A little too eager, as it turned out. “We didn’t start out the best,” admitted…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, Central-Southeastern, Brown County remain in top 10
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Illinois Associated Press girls basketball state rankings, as compiled by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from across the state. First-place votes are in parenthesis. Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Benet (8) 20-1 125 1 2. Lyons (4) 22-1 114 2 3. Alton (1) 20-1 93…
Read MoreQND’s Thomas embracing opportunity to improve her game, work toward spot on ODP national roster
QUINCY — With the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team playing high-caliber opponents seemingly every night during a three-week January stretch, Sierra Thomas knew what she’d be missing as she stepped away. “It’s so hard to not be there,” the sophomore guard said. Yet, her reason for taking a midseason hiatus came from an opportunity…
Read MoreRaiders show composure, willingness to battle in knocking off Normal U-High in MLK Challenge
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Greg Altmix debated taking a timeout as Normal U-High inched closer and closer to erasing the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s lead in the third quarter Monday afternoon. “But I’m like, ‘What do I tell them? Make your shots?’” the QND coach said. “We were getting good shots. They just have…
Read MorePanthers’ third-quarter burst provides separation in victory over No. 1-ranked Raiders
HARRISBURG, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s inability to clear the defensive glass proved costly early. The inability to get defensive stops proved costly late. Centralia (Mo.) scored the final eight points of the first quarter — all off offensive rebounds — and rattled off a 9-0 run in the third quarter,…
Read MoreCovering the spread: QND girls switch philosophy in fourth quarter to hand South Shelby first defeat
QUINCY — Try as it might, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team couldn’t gain separation from South Shelby for the first three quarters of Friday night’s showdown between two state-ranked teams. Raiders coach Eric Orne decided he needed to change his team’s offensive approach as it nursed a six-point lead through three quarters, “We…
Read MorePhoto gallery: First night of Quincy Invitational features milestones, nail-biting matchups
QUINCY — The Quincy Invitational brought a gym full of wrestlers to the Gem City and produced some epic matches on Friday’s first night of competition. The championship matches will take place Saturday afternoon at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent his evening matside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreTop-ranked Raiders gear up for challenging weekend by controlling victory over Rockets
QUINCY — A basic geometric principle applies to basketball as well. The quickest way from Point A to Point B is a straight line. “We’re trying to keep a straight line every game,” Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler said. That means snaring the lead, applying pressure, building an advantage and emptying the bench…
Read More‘She’s put the work in’: Stratton breaks QND record for career 3-pointers during victory over Rochester
QUINCY — Sage Stratton knows the tally thanks to her teammates. A senior four-year starting guard on the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, Stratton broke the program record for career 3-pointers made with her second trey of the first quarter Thursday night in a 66-31 victory over Rochester at The Pit. But did she…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND girls basketball team rolls past Rochester at The Pit
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team lived up to the ranking Thursday night. Tied with Washington as the No. 1 team in Class 3A in the latest Associated Press state poll, the Raiders rolled past Rochester 66-31 at The Pit. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this…
Read MoreHome, sweet home: Raiders return to The Pit for first time in nearly four weeks, steamroll Saukees
QUINCY — The fact the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team hadn’t played on its home floor in nearly a month wasn’t lost on the Raiders. “It’s been a while,” QND senior guard Alex Dance said. It had been 26 days as a matter of fact. “Felt good to be back,” Dance said. Playing at…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND plays with high level of energy in comfy confines of its home court
QUINCY — Playing at home for the first time since Dec. 20, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team looked comfortable in familiar surroundings, running away from Pittsfield in a 69-40 victory Wednesday night at The Pit. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was courtside and put together this photo gallery.
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND climbs into tie for No. 1 in Class 3A
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 in parenthesis: Class 4A School Record Total Points Previous 1. Benet (3) 17-1 48 1 2. Lyons (1) 19-1 43 2 3. Kenwood (1) 18-1 40 3 4. Alton…
Read MoreRaiders fend off pesky Saukees, escape with road win in battle of state-ranked teams
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Ari Buehler knew the Pittsfield girls basketball team would not go away. “They’ll fight,” said Buehler, Quincy Notre Dame’s junior point guard. “They’ll keep coming back.” So will the Raiders. “We’re not going to step down when things get hard,” Buehler said. So when the Saukees erased an 11-point third quarter deficit…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Raiders, Saukees engage in one of top showdowns of season
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A matchup of state-ranked teams turned out to be a nail-biter for the second week in a row. And the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team found a way to come out on a top again. One week after beating fifth-ranked Central-Southeastern by a point, the Raiders knocked off Pittsfield, ranked ninth…
Read MoreRaiders suffer first loss of season after scoring just three second-quarter points against Cougars
BREESE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team couldn’t speed up top-ranked Breese Central the way it has so many opponents during the undefeated start to this season. That explains why the Raiders suffered their first loss Saturday. Breese Central committed just 11 turnovers, while shooting 45.7 percent from the field in a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Second-ranked QND overwhelms Beardstown with defensive intensity
QUINCY — There was no hangover from a showdown. Two days after playing state-ranked Central-Southeastern in arguably one of the most physical and intense games of the season and earning a 37-36 victory, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team showed no signs of letting down. The Raiders, ranked second in Class 3A, held Beardstown…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND climbs to No. 2, CSE moves in at No. 5 and Pittsfield at No. 9
CHICAGO — Here are the Associated Press girls basketball state rankings as compiled by a statewide panel of sportswriters and sportscasters. First-place votes in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Benet (4) (15-1) 72 2 2. Lyons (2) (16-1) 68 1 3. Kenwood (1) (16-1) 64 3 4. Alton (1) (16-1) 53…
Read More‘I just kind of had my fingers crossed’: QND outlasts CSE as showdown comes down to final shot
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Karly Peters diplomatically handled the question of whether Tristan Pieper fouled her. “I don’t know,” said Peters, a senior guard on the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team. “I mean, I think so, but it doesn’t really matter now.” With Quincy Notre Dame leading CSE 37-34 and three seconds left in Tuesday’s West…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Battle of state-ranked foes lives up to hype as QND, CSE go head-to-head
CAMP POINT, Ill. — A battle of state-ranked teams unfolded the way you might expect — no breathing room for either. The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, ranked sixth in Class 3A, outlasted Central-Southeastern, receiving votes in the Class 2A poll, 37-36 Tuesday night in Central’s North Gym. Muddy River Sports Photographer Addi Zanger…
Read MoreRaiders set appropriate tone for new year by dispatching Mustangs in WCC matchup
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s mission on Friday was simple — set the tone, not only for their West Central Conference game against Mendon Unity, but for the new calendar year and the grueling schedule that lies ahead. The Raiders did just that in dispatching the Mustangs 67-20. “You can’t be…
Read MoreRaiders unable to convert in waning seconds, lost back-and-fourth affair on road against Cyclones
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The play wasn’t executed exactly as Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix had intended, but he can live with the shot, even if it didn’t go in. QND had the ball trailing Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 56-55 and 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter Friday night at Jim Belz Gym.…
Read MoreAfter winning final game at holiday tourney, Raiders ready for rest to fight off flus and colds
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — When all was said and done, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players wanted to go home. “So we kicked it in gear and got home,” Raiders coach Greg Altmix said. The need for rest and recuperation is why. QND finished its stay at the State Farm Holiday Classic with Saturday night’s…
Read MoreRaiders hang with top-seed Pecatonica until wheels come off in fourth quarter
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — One night after giving up just 24 points in a resounding victory over Aurora Christian, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team allowed 24 points in the first quarter to Pecatonica. One night after forcing Aurora Christian into 25 turnovers, the Raiders turned it over 23 times themselves. Yet with 6:42 remaining…
Read MoreRaiders unleash 1-2-2 press, force 25 turnovers to overwhelm Aurora Christian by 39 points
NORMAL, Ill. — The first round in the small school boys basketball bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic figured to be chock full of competitive games, with seven of the 16 teams receiving votes in the first AP state polls. Three top seeds narrowly won by a combined nine points, and No. 13 seed…
Read More‘You can’t stop it’: QHS goes on second quarter tear to turn crosstown showdown into rout
QUINCY — Anyone who caught sight of Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas on the sideline after the Blue Devils forced a turnover on Quincy Notre Dame’s third possession of Saturday night’s game might have been a little perplexed. Douglas stomped his left foot, slammed his right fist into his left hand and…
Read More‘They’re just really good’: Raiders learn firsthand why Blue Devils are among state’s top-ranked teams
QUINCY — There wasn’t much Quincy Notre Dame’s Beau Etink could say about the Raiders’ crosstown counterparts other than the painstakingly obvious. “It’s quite simple. They’re just really good,” Eftink said. The few words Eftink used to describe the state-ranked Quincy High School boys basketball team couldn’t have been more accurate. After a relatively back-and-forth…
Read MoreShots fall to allow Raiders to run away from top-ranked opponent, cap challenging week with victory
QUINCY — When Sage Stratton’s transition layup attempt rolled off the rim on the first possession of Saturday’s game, the best thing the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players could do was laugh it off. When Tristan Pieper’s shot from the block on the next possession missed the mark, there was a collective “Oh, no,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND boys basketball teams square off in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball, ranked second in Class 4A, showed its well deserving of a high ranking as it steamrolled Quincy Notre Dame in the second quarter Saturday night at cruised to a 70-40 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this…
Read MoreRaiders unable to make shots fall, so they rely on defense to rumble past Pirates
QUINCY — No exaggeration of the number of field goal attempts the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team missed within 6 feet of the basket was going to be too high. “Way too many,” junior point guard Ari Buehler said. Raiders coach Eric Orne just shook his head. “They just didn’t fall,” he said. “I…
Read MoreQND coach turns to bench brigade to ‘reignite the whole team’ in victory over Camp Point Central
QUINCY — Robbie Reed knows when he hears his coach call his name he better be ready. The same applies to the rest of the non-starters on the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team. “When (coach Greg Altmix) calls on us, we got to just reignite the whole team and bring us all together,” Reed…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND girls and Monroe City boys win Rumble on the River matchups
QUINCY — The Monroe City boys basketball team made sure Friday night wasn’t an Illinois sweep. After the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball teams earned victories in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center, Monroe City dispatched Payson Seymour 66-50 in the nightcap. Muddy…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Volleyball Player of the Year Annie Eaton discusses QND’s season, her victory-filled four-year career
QUINCY — Coaches, teammates and opponents have used a variety of adjectives to describe Annie Eaton’s impact on the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team and the area volleyball scene the past four years. Strategic. Intelligent. Savvy. Composed. Savage. Dynamic. Lethal. Those are just a few. One sums up her career better than any other. Winner.…
Read MoreRaiders go on tide-turning run to erase slow start and rumble to victory over Trojans
QUINCY — The halftime disposition of Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne split the difference between Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk. Not too mild-mannered. Not too barbaric either. “A little bit of both,” junior forward Tristan Pieper said. “Kind of right in between.” The Raiders trailed Troy (Mo.) Buchanan 20-14 at the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Brown County girls basketball teams pick up Rumble on the River victories
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame and Brown County girls basketball teams rumbled to victories Wednesday in different ways. The Raiders went a 29-1 run to erase a 14-point deficit and rally in the second half for a 48-36 victory over Troy (Mo.) Buchanan in the 17th playing of the Rumble on the River at…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND only area team remaining in top 10
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Association Press girls basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the state. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Lyons (6) (11-0) 60 1 2. Benet (9-1) 51 2 3. Kenwood (11-1) 40 8 4.…
Read MoreBoost from Smith’s 3-pointer ignites Panthers’ closing kick in victory over Raiders
PALMYRA, Mo. — It was as if Mason Smith had flipped a switch. As soon as the Palmyra senior guard’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ clash with Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday swished through the net and the home crowd erupted, Smith could feel the electricity pulsing through…
Read MorePieper’s presence looms large as Raiders fend off Panthers in second half
PALMYRA, Mo. — Tristan Pieper never flinched. After Pieper, a junior forward on the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, watched the Raiders’ 27-8 lead over Palmyra dwindle to 31-27 thanks to a 16-point second quarter by Panthers point guard Clare Williams capped off by a buzzer-beating half court shot, she knew the Raiders would…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Palmyra split basketball doubleheader in Flower City
PALMYRA, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame and Palmyra boys and girls basketball teams split a twinbill Tuesday night at Palmyra High School as the Raiders won the girls matchup 58-44 and the Panthers won the boys game 66-58. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was there and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreWashington, Pirates see victory over Raiders as springboard to better days ahead
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Darrion Washington wants to be a part of the team that changes the basketball culture at Hannibal. A diminutive point guard who is listed at 5-foot-8 stood the tallest Saturday night. Washington scored a game-high 25 points to lead Hannibal to a 58-55 victory over previously unbeaten Quincy Notre Dame before a…
Read MoreRaiders work through up-and-down effort to run away from Suns and stay undefeated
AUGUSTA, Ill. — The cushy four-game homestand to start the season came to an end Friday night for the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team. The Raiders learned they can’t get away with simply playing two good quarters. The other two matter just as much. “You come out the first quarter and you don’t do what…
Read MoreRaiders take wind out of Cyclones’ offense throughout first half in earning road victory
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Possession by possession and minute by minute, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s lead grew and the goose egg on Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin’s side of the scoreboard loomed larger. It was that way for the first 14 minutes of Thursday night’s game. The Raiders, ranked fifth in the Class 3A state…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND moves to No. 5, CSE up one spot to No. 8
CHICAGO — Here are the latest Associated Press Illinois boys basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the stat. First-place votes are in parenthesis: Class 4A Rank School Total Points Previous 1. Lyons (2) (8-0) 64 3 2. Benet (7-1) 52 T6 3. Whitney Young…
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