‘We wanted this super bad’: Stratton, Raiders blitz Bulldogs in sectional title game whitewashing

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players celebrate their 57-17 victory over Mahomet-Seymour in Thursday's Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional championship game in Chatham, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Raiders’ sectional championship victory stacks up with most dominant in four-class history

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tristan Pieper rises for a layup during Thursday's Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional championship game against Mahomet-Seymour in Chatham, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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?…

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Photo gallery: QND erases memories of last year’s sectional loss by winning championship game

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players pose for a photo following their 57-17 victory over Mahomet-Seymour in Thursday's Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional championship game in Chatham, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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:

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Collective effort carries Raiders to lopsided victory over Bluejays in regional semifinal

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Robbie Reed makes a pass during Wednesday's Class 2A Pittsfield Regional semifinal game at Voshall Gym in Pittsfield, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Raiders stay composed, survive late push by Generals to advance to sectional title game

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler makes a pass during Tuesday's Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional semifinal game against Decatur MacArthur in Chatham, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND to play for Class 3A sectional title after surviving MacArthur’s late surge

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton orchestrates the offense during Tuesday's Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Sectional semifinal game against Decatur MacArthur in Chatham, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Grand entrance: Former QND baseball standout Kindhart belts grand slam in first collegiate at-bat

Maryville redshirt freshman third baseman Brady Kindhart, a Quincy Notre Dame graduate, belted a grand slam in first collegiate at-bat Monday against Saginaw Valley State at Weber Field in St. Louis. | Photo courtesy Maryville athletics

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…

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Fourth-quarter rally enables QND to end regular season with confidence after beating Keokuk

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Beau Eftink made four 3-pointers in the second half of Friday night's 64-62 victory over Keokuk at Wright Fieldhouse in Keokuk, Iowa. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Raiders survive Senators’ fourth quarter surge by grinding out regional championship victory

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players pose with the Class 3A Jacksonville Regional championship trophy after defeating Springfield 46-42 Thursday at the Jacksonville Bowl. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Schuckman: Darnell’s pursuit of state wrestling glory happening with his dad right by his side

Quincy Notre Dame senior Ryan Darnell, who has won more than 100 matches in his career, will try to add a state medal to his collection this weekend in the Class 1A state championships at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Victory of Titan-ic proportions: West Hancock wins West Central Conference title, beats QND at The Pit

West Hancock junior center Cooper Knowles, right, blocks a shot by Quincy Notre Dame's Jace Allensworth during the first half of Tuesday night's West Central Conference game at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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,…

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Photo gallery: Titans, Raiders trade punches in postseason atmosphere

West Hancock coach Jeff Dahl, left, gives instructions to the Titans' Hunter Froman, center, and Lewis Siegfried in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Takin’ care of business: Raiders use blistering run to pull away from Crimsons in regional semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler rises for a layup during Monday's Class 3A regional semifinal game against Jacksonville at the Jacksonville Bowl. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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QND’s Darnell, Illini West’s Watkins Jr. qualify for state wrestling championships

Quincy Notre Dame senior Ryan Darnell earned a spot in the Class 1A state wrestling championships by finishing second at 215 pounds at the Clinton Sectional. | Muddy River Sports file photo

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…

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‘We knew it was our moment’: Seniors help Raiders take 20-2 lead, roll to victory over Liberty

Quincy Notre Dame's Alex Dance defends Liberty's Tate Huber from making a pass to teammate Reed Sparrow in the lane during Friday night's boys basketball game at the Pit. | David Adam photo

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…

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Photo Gallery: QND boys race to huge lead in claiming West Central Conference victory

Liberty's Jack Sparrow gets an earful from the Quincy Notre Dame student section during Friday night's boys basketball game at the Pit. | David Adam photo

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…

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‘I know she’s never going to leave my side’: Raiders play to honor Pittsfield’s Ramsey in final home game

Quincy Notre Dame senior Sage Stratton, left, and sophomore Marie Eversman address the crowd prior to Thursday night's game against Jefferson City Helias at The Pit to share their thoughts and memories on Pittsfield's Reese Ramsey, who passed away Tuesday in an automobile accident. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Emotional night at The Pit as QND wraps up against Jefferson City Helias

Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne hugs senior guard Sage Stratton as she leaves Thursday night's game after scoring 23 points in the 61-36 victory over Jefferson City Helias at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, CSE hold steady in final regular-season poll

The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team sits at No. 6 in the Class 2A state poll as the regular season wraps up Thursday night. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘They are very dynamic’: Alton girls pull away in fourth quarter for victory over Notre Dame

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler, right, looks to pass round the double team of two Alton defenders during Saturday night's game in the KHQA/American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Mexico’s blistering shooting continues, while turnovers continue to plague QND

Mexico's Holden Aulbur tries to trach down a ball near midcourt while guarded by Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Connoyer during Saturday night's game at The Pit. | David Adam photo

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…

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Five individual regional champions lead wrestling brigade into next week’s sectionals

Quincy High School's Brody Baker gets his arm raised after he defeated Belleville East's Killian Rauch 10-7 in sudden victory to win the 157-pound title at the Class 3A Edwardsville Regional on Saturday. | Photo courtesy Matt Kamp, Edwardsville Intelligencer

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…

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Stratton’s future teammates give ovation as she celebrates senior night with current teammates

Quincy Notre Dame senior Sage Stratton dribbles up the floor during Friday night's game at the Pit against Clopton. | David Adam photo

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…

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Helias capitalizes on swing moment in fourth quarter, fends off QND’s comeback

Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Connoyer looks to pass while defended by Jefferson City Helias' Alex Wood, left, and Jordan Sykes during Friday night's game in the KHQA/American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit. | David Adam photo

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…

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Raiders 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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND slips to No. 3, while Central-Southeastern sits No. 6

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton and the Raiders are No. 3 in this week's Class 3A state poll. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Redemption road: Raiders travel across town to avenge loss to Blue Devils, take control from start

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tristan Pieper gains position in the post with Quincy High School's Jada Brown on her back during Tuesday night's game at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Durst heeds coach’s advice and lets it fly, scoring career-high 27 points in crosstown showdown

Quincy Notre Dame's Jenna Durst looks to move the ball around the perimeter while being pressured by Quincy High School's Madelyn Hamby during Tuesday night's game at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND takes lead for good in second quarter of victory over QHS

Quincy Notre Dame guard Ari Buehler, right, looks to runs the offense while being defended by Quincy High School's Khloe Nicholson during Tuesday's game at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘They just kept battling and battling’: Raiders dig out of 13-point hole, rally to beat state-ranked Panthers

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Alex Dance, foreground, celebrates with his teammates after QND's 66-57 victory over Monroe City on Saturday in Monroe City, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Defense dictates QND girls basketball team’s ability to control tempo in victory over Monroe City

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton applies defensive pressure to Monroe City's Myra Jones during Saturday's game in Monroe City, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND boys and girls sweep hoops doubleheader from Monroe City

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton applies defensive pressure to Monroe City's Myra Jones during Saturday's game in Monroe City, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: Spots remain unchanged for QND, Central-Southeastern

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team remained No. 2 in this week's Associated Press Class 3A state poll. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Strong start pushes QND boys basketball team past Illini West

Quincy Notre Dame senior Joe Warning, who is the Raider mascot, runs down the sideline during a timeout during Tuesday night's boys basketball game against Illini West at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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:

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Raiders work themselves out of frantic mode, gain separation in victory over Saints

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton attacks the Bloomington Central Catholic defense during Saturday's game at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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‘We were kind of shocked’: Simeon’s blitz puts QND on its heels, leads to lopsided loss for Raiders

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Jace Allensworth begins his drive to the basket during Friday's game against Chicago Simeon in the Quincy Shootout at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Second-ranked Raiders need time to get back in groove, roll past Chargers once they find rhythm

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton, right, scored 24 points in Thursday night's victory over Illini West at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, Central-Southeastern, Brown County remain in top 10

The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team remains No. 6 in the Class 2A state poll. | Addi Zanger photo

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…

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QND’s Thomas embracing opportunity to improve her game, work toward spot on ODP national roster

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Sierra Thomas represented the Midwest Regional during the Olympic Development Program InterRegional Event in Orlando, Fla., over the past week. | Submitted photo

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…

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Covering the spread: QND girls switch philosophy in fourth quarter to hand South Shelby first defeat

South Shelby's Jayda Lanpher tries to pass the ball to teammate Bella Cook while defended by Quincy Notre Dame's Marie Eversman (back) and Tristan Pieper (left) during Friday night's high school basketball game at The Pit. | David Adam photo

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…

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Photo gallery: First night of Quincy Invitational features milestones, nail-biting matchups

Friends and family of Quincy High School wrestler Gunnar Derhake celebrate his 100th career victory, which took place Friday night during the Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym. | Shane Hulsey photo

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:

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Top-ranked Raiders gear up for challenging weekend by controlling victory over Rockets

Quincy Notre Dame guard Ari Buehler gets fouled on a drive to the basket during Thursday night's 66-31 victory Rochester at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘She’s put the work in’: Stratton breaks QND record for career 3-pointers during victory over Rochester

Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton, right, drives past Rochester's Taylor Offer during Thursday night's game at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND girls basketball team rolls past Rochester at The Pit

Quincy Notre Dame forward Lauren Hummel steals the ball from Rochester during the first quarter of Thursday night's game at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Home, sweet home: Raiders return to The Pit for first time in nearly four weeks, steamroll Saukees

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Robbie Reed drives the baseline looking to score during Wednesday night's game against Pittsfield at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND plays with high level of energy in comfy confines of its home court

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Alex Dance gets fouled on a drive to the basket during Wednesday night's game against Pittsfield at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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.

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND climbs into tie for No. 1 in Class 3A

Junior guard Ari Buehler and her Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball teammates moved into a tie for the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Class 3A state poll this week. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Raiders fend off pesky Saukees, escape with road win in battle of state-ranked teams

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler examines her options during Monday's game against Pittsfield at Voshall Gymnasium in Pittsfield, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Raiders, Saukees engage in one of top showdowns of season

Pittsfield freshman guard Reese Ramsey, left, attacks Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton off the dribble during Monday night's game at Voshall Gym in Pittsfield, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Raiders suffer first loss of season after scoring just three second-quarter points against Cougars

Quincy Notre Dame forward Lauren Hummel attacks off the dribble while being guarded by Breese Central's Lily Butler during Saturday's game in the PAWS Shootout in Breese, Ill. | Photo courtesy Jeremy Chawgo

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…

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Photo gallery: Second-ranked QND overwhelms Beardstown with defensive intensity

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton applies backcourt pressure during Thursday's game against Beardstown at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND climbs to No. 2, CSE moves in at No. 5 and Pittsfield at No. 9

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler and the Raiders are No. 2 in the Associated Press Class 3A state poll after improving moving to 16-0. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘I just kind of had my fingers crossed’: QND outlasts CSE as showdown comes down to final shot

A loose ball results in a scrum for possession during the first quarter of Tuesday night's battle between the Quincy Notre Dame and Central-Southeastern girls basketball teams in Camp Point, Ill. | Addi Zanger photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Battle of state-ranked foes lives up to hype as QND, CSE go head-to-head

Quincy Notre Dame point guard Ari Buehler, left, sizes up the defense applied by Central-Southeastern's Karly Peters before running the offense during Tuesday night's game in Camp Point, Ill. | Addi Zanger photo

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…

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Raiders set appropriate tone for new year by dispatching Mustangs in WCC matchup

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tristan Pieper executes a post move against Mendon Unity's Kodi Duke during Friday's West Central Conference game at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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After winning final game at holiday tourney, Raiders ready for rest to fight off flus and colds

Quincy Notre Dame's Carter Miller tries to dribble to the basket past North Lawndale's Nicario Knox during Saturday night's game in the boys small school bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic at Bloomington High School. | David Adam photo

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…

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Raiders hang with top-seed Pecatonica until wheels come off in fourth quarter

Quincy Notre Dame's Jace Allensworth goes up for a shot while being defended by Pecatonica's Jaxon Diedrich during Friday night's quarterfinal game in the small school boys basketball bracket at the State Farm Holiday Classic in the Shirk Center. | David Adam photo

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…

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Raiders unleash 1-2-2 press, force 25 turnovers to overwhelm Aurora Christian by 39 points

Quincy Notre Dame's Carter Miller, left, and Alex Dance double team Aurora Christian's Asa Johnson during the first half of Thursday night's game in the small school boys bracket of the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal West High School in Normal, Ill. | David Adam photo

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…

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‘You can’t stop it’: QHS goes on second quarter tear to turn crosstown showdown into rout

Quincy High School's Keshaun Thomas, left, and Bradley Longcor III rect to Thomas making a 3-pointer during the first half of Saturday night's 70-40 victory over Quincy Notre Dame at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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‘They’re just really good’: Raiders learn firsthand why Blue Devils are among state’s top-ranked teams

Quincy Notre Dame guard Beau Eftink looks to make a pass up the floor during Saturday night's game against Quincy High School at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Shots fall to allow Raiders to run away from top-ranked opponent, cap challenging week with victory

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ellie Bozarth attacks the rim while being defending by Cairo (Mo.) Northeast's Avery Brumley, left, during Saturday's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

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,…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND boys basketball teams square off in crosstown showdown

From left, Quincy High School's Trace Routh, Rico Clay Jr., Dom Clay, Mark Louthan and Bradley Longcor III watch a pregame video honoring teammate Keshaun Thomas for becoming the Blue Devils' career rebounding leader. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Raiders unable to make shots fall, so they rely on defense to rumble past Pirates

Quincy Notre Dame guard Ari Buehler, right, pressures Boonville's Lillian Newham during Friday night's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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QND coach turns to bench brigade to ‘reignite the whole team’ in victory over Camp Point Central

Quincy Notre Dame's Connor Young calls out a play while being guarded by Camp Point Central's Kruze Miles duirng Friday night's game at The Pit. | Addi Zanger photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND girls and Monroe City boys win Rumble on the River matchups

Boonville's Effie Morris attempts to drive baseline against the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team's defense during Friday night's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Schuck 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.…

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Raiders go on tide-turning run to erase slow start and rumble to victory over Trojans

Quincy Notre Dame's Ari Buehler, left, and Jenna Durst, right, battle Troy Buchanan's Miley Twellman during Wednesday's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND, Brown County girls basketball teams pick up Rumble on the River victories

Brown County sophomore Kenzie Kassing pulls down a rebound during the second half of Wednesday's victory over Van-Far in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND only area team remaining in top 10

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tristan Pieper and the Raiders are ranked No. 6 in Class 3A in the latest Associated Press state basketball polls.

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.…

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Boost from Smith’s 3-pointer ignites Panthers’ closing kick in victory over Raiders

Palmyra senior guard Mason Smith celebrates his go-ahead 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 66-58 win over Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday night in Palmyra, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Pieper’s presence looms large as Raiders fend off Panthers in second half

Quincy Notre Dame's Tristan Pieper puts up a free throw during Tuesday night's game against Palmyra in Palmyra, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND, Palmyra split basketball doubleheader in Flower City

Quincy Notre Dame guard Sage Stratton directs the offense during Tuesday night's game against Palmyra in Palmyra, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

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:

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Washington, Pirates see victory over Raiders as springboard to better days ahead

Hannibal point guard Darrion Washington shoots over a Quincy Notre Dame defender during Saturday night's game at Korf Gym in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

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…

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Raiders take wind out of Cyclones’ offense throughout first half in earning road victory

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Jenna Durst was one of three Raiders to score nine points in leading the offense during Thursday's 47-27 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in Springfield, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

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…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND moves to No. 5, CSE up one spot to No. 8

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team moved from No. 8 to No. 5 in this week's Class 3A state poll. | Matt Schuckman photo

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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‘Let’s just bury them’: Third-quarter blitz carries Raiders to lopsided victory over Cardinals

Quincy Notre Dame guard Ari Buehler, left, runs the offense while being pressured by Pleasant Plains' Bailey Leach during Tuesday night's game at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players decided they had allowed Pleasant Plains to hang around long enough. So when they went to the locker room at halftime Tuesday night with an eight-point lead, there wasn’t much need for a discussion on how to approach the second half. The plan was quite simple:…

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Photo gallery: QND girls basketball team nearly pitches second-half shutout

Quincy Notre Dame's Marie Eversman sets herself to go up with a shot from the right block during the first half of Tuesday night's game against Pleasant Plains at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team outscored Pleasant Plains 28-4 in the second half Tuesday at The Pit, rolling to a 53-21 victory to improve to 6-0. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was courtside and put together this photo gallery:

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‘Our intensity changed things’: Raiders shut down Bombers in third quarter, finally get offense rolling

Macomb guard Drew Watson gets caught among three Quincy Notre Dame defenders during the second half of Saturday night's game at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It was the worst of offenses, it was the best of offenses. Now, that’s a little overdramatic for what took place Saturday night at The Pit. And Charles Dickens likely would have found something a little less overused and a little more poetic to describe the tale of two halves. Still, it seems…

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Pyatt’s suffocating defense helps QND boys pull away in fourth quarter from pesky Payson Seymour

Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Pyatt, right, hounds Payson Seymour's Blake Schwartz during Friday night's prep boys basketball game at The Pit. | David Adam

QUINCY —Jackson Pyatt didn’t flinch when his number was called. After watching Blake Schwartz, Payson Seymour’s top player, torch the Quincy Notre Dame defense for 18 points through the first three quarters, Pyatt had one job in the final eight minutes. “The goal was just make sure (Schwartz) doesn’t score,” Pyatt said. Consider it mission…

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Photo Gallery: Balanced scoring helps Raiders overcome blistering 3-point shooting from Indians

Quincy Notre Dame's Robbie Reed drives to the basket during Friday night's prep basketball game against Payson Seymour in The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Payson Seymour boys basketball team made 11 3-pointers on Friday night at The Pit, but Quincy Notre Dame held on for a 71-62 victory. Jackson Connoyer and Jace Allensworth scored 15 points for the Raiders, while Beau Eftink pitched in 13 points. Blake Schwartz scored 18 points for Payson Seymour, and Lane…

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Illinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, Central-Southeastern crack top 10

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team is tied for eighth in the first Class 3A state poll of the season. | Addi Zanger photo

CHICAGO — Here is a look at the first Illinois Associated Press girls basketball state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sports writers and sportscasters from throughout the state: Class 4A Rank School Total Points 1. Loyola (4) (5-0) 40   2. Whitney Young (1-0) 35   3. Lyons (5-0) 27   4.…

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Blistering start enables QND girls basketball team to roll past Carrollton, remain undefeated

Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton, right, defends Carrollton's Harper Darr during Saturday's QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tournament game at The Pit. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Eric Orne could see it in his players’ eyes and attitude during Saturday morning’s shootaround. The “rough game” he referred to Friday wasn’t going to repeat itself 24 hours later. “They knew (Friday) night wasn’t what we wanted to represent,” Orne said.  However, few could have anticipated what transpired in the early stages…

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Raiders putting their unselfishness, ability to make game-to-game improvements on full display

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Alex Dance sets himself to shoot a free throw during Saturday's victory over Gateway STEM (Mo.) during the QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tournament at The Pit. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Two games into the high school boys basketball season, and Quincy Notre Dame coach Greg Altmix already likes what he sees. Eleven players entered the scoring column, with four reaching double figures, as the Raiders overcame an early deficit to cruise to a 77-48 victory over Gateway STEM (Mo.) Saturday night in the…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND induct newest members into Halls of Fame during Saturday ceremonies

Sloan Douglas, the daughter of Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, gives flowers to Jordan Lepper, the daughter of former QHS assistant coach Tom Lepper, who was inducted into the QHS Hall of Fame on Saturday night. | Samantha Carmean photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame athletic departments held their Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Saturday night during their respective Thanksgiving weekend basketball tournaments. Inducted into the QHS Hall of Fame were Zach Burry, Kadi Fauble, Tom Lepper, Tiffany Terwelp-Smith and the 1994 boys soccer team. Inducted into the QND Hall…

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Get it and go: Raiders employ up-tempo attack to run away from Comets in season opener

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Jackson Connoyer leads the break during Friday night's game against McCluer (Mo.) in the QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tournament at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix hoped his team would be in midseason form in its  season opener even if he knew that wasn’t likely.  Still, the effort he witnessed from start to finish was the next best thing. “Working hard and hustling can cover up for a lot of mistakes,”…

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Shifting gears: Raiders ratchet up intensity in second half to put away Warriors in home debut

Quincy Notre Dame guard Ari Buehler sets up the offense during Friday night's game against Calhoun in the QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tournament at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s energy was far from coach Eric Orne’s liking in the first 16 minutes of the Raiders’ home opener against Hardin Calhoun on Friday. “We weren’t playing Lady Raider basketball in the first half, just sluggish, a lot of standing around,” Orne said. “I thought with our…

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Photo gallery: Raiders sweep first night of QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tourney

Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Greg Altmix gives instructions in a huddle during Friday night's season debut against McCluer (Mo.) at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys and girls basketball teams made it a successful home debut Friday night at The Pit. The QND boys beat McCluer (Mo.) 65-40 in Greg Altmix’s first game as head coach, while the QND girls ran away from Calhoun 62-32 in the QND/Gully Transportation Tip-Off Tourney. Muddy River Sports…

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2024 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: T.J. Kistner

T.J. Kistner was a three-sport standout at Quincy Notre Dame who went on to play baseball at Western Illinois University. | Photo courtesy QND Hall of Fame

Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2024 QND Tip-Off Tourney at The Pit. Below is the biography used by the QND Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — T.J. Kistner completed a rare trifecta…

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2024 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: 2001 girls volleyball team

The 2001 Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball team finished as the Class A state runner-up. | Photo courtesy QND Hall of Fame

Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2024 QND Tip-Off Tourney at The Pit. Below is the biography used by the QND Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — A magical postseason run that ended…

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2024 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Rick Day

Rick Day spent more than two decades coaching defense with the Quincy Notre Dame football program. | Photo courtesy QND Hall of Fame

Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2024 QND Tip-Off Tourney at The Pit. Below is the biography used by the QND Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — When Bill Connell became the head…

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2024 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Steve Havermale

Steve Havermale, second from left, served as a ticket taker and fix-it man for the Quincy Notre Dame athletic department for more than 30 years. | Photo courtesy QND Hall of Fame

Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2024 QND Tip-Off Tourney at The Pit. Below is the biography used by the QND Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Anytime someone from Quincy Notre Dame…

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2024 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Greg Hellhake

Greg Hellhake excelled at every level he pitched — at Quincy Notre Dame, with Quincy American Legion Post 37, with the Quincy Gems and at Creighton University. | Photo courtesy QND Hall of Fame

Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2024 QND Tip-Off Tourney at The Pit. Below is the biography used by the QND Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — When the conversation regarding the best…

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Countdown to tipoff: Raiders put focus on playing physical, earning minutes in Altmix’s first season

Quincy Notre Dame coach Greg Altmix, right, works with the Raiders during a preseason practice at The Pit. | Shane Hulsey photo

Coverage of the QND boys basketball team brought to you by: QUINCY — Greg Altmix has embraced the challenges of fitting the puzzle pieces together. Altmix’s tallest task as the first-year Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach is putting those pieces into the correct places to get the clearest picture possible. “It’s going to be…

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