Raiders pull away in fourth quarter to win defensive slugfest against Saukees

Quincy Notre Dame's Jace Allensworth split the Pittsfield boys basketball team's defense to get to the basket in the first half of Friday night's game at Voshall Gym in Pittsfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Pittsfield boys basketball coach Brad Tomhave and Quincy Notre Dame coach Kevin Meyer shared a common assessment of their respective team’s defensive effort in Friday night’s game at Voshall Gym. Both were encouraged by the engagement. Offensively, however, their critiques were polar opposites. Meyer liked how the Raiders worked the ball from…

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Photo gallery: QND, Pittsfield boys basketball teams renew rivalry at Voshall Gym

From left, Pittsfield's Eli Mendenhall, QND's Noah Lunt, Pittsfield's Konner Allen and QND's Aiden Klauser get set for an inbounds play during Friday night's game at Voshall Gym in Pittsfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield and Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball teams collided in their 2024 openers Friday night at Voshall Gym. The Raiders built a double-digit lead, saw the Saukees whittle it to eight points on two separate occasions in the second half and then pulled away for a 50-31 victory. Muddy River Sports…

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Iron sharpens iron: QHS’s Newbold, QND’s Darnell, Pittsfield’s Cook benefit from head-to-head competition

Quincy High School's Bryor Newbold, right, controls the leg of Quincy Notre Dame's Ryan Darnell during Wednesday night's dual at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Tucker Cook understands it may be a while before he can get a tattoo, especially one of any significant size, but he already has a plan for what he wants it to look like and say. The words “iron sharpens iron” will be prominent. “I believe in that,” the Pittsfield junior wrestler said.…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND, Pittsfield wrestlers square off at The Pit

Quincy Notre Dame's Taylin Scott, top, puts the squeeze on Payson Seymour's Bryson Davis during Wednesday night's dual at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Wrestling took center stage Wednesday night at The Pit as the Quincy High School, Quincy Notre Dame and Pittsfield squad engaged in a series of duals. The Blue Devils beat the Raiders 67-0 and the Saukees 54-6, while Pittsfield scored a 35-33 victory over QND. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat matside…

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Illinois girls state basketball rankings: QHS, QND, Central-Southeastern all in respective top 10s

The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team is one of three area teams to be ranked in the Associated Press state polls. | David Adam photo

CHICAGO — Here are the Associated Press girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous rank. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (3) 18-0 62 2 2. Alton (3) 15-0 58 3 3. Maine South (1) 18-0 52 7 4. Normal Community 17-1 42 8 5. Bolingbrook…

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Strong effort in final tourney game gives QND boys basketball team something to build upon

Quincy Notre Dame's Conner Young gets into the middle of the Minonk Fieldcrest defense during Friday's consolation semifinal game in the State Farm Holiday Classic. | David Adam photo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — After playing arguably its worst half of the season Friday afternoon, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team returned three hours later to turn in perhaps its most complete overall performance. Thirteen players scored, with eight sinking at least one 3-pointer, to carry the Raiders to a convincing 78-56 victory over Rockford…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Photo Gallery: Raiders stay close with once-beaten Pecatonica but can’t regain lead

Quincy Notre Dame's Aden Genenbacher, right, looks to pass around Pecatonica's defensive pressure during Wednesday night's game in the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal West High School. | David Adam photo

NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team never trailed by more than six points but failed to regain the lead in the final 12 minutes of Wednesday night’s 55-50 loss to Pecatonica in the first round of the small school boys bracket during the State Farm Holiday Classic at Normal West High…

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Victory over Indians enables Raiders to take some mojo with them to holiday tournament

Quincy Notre Dame's Noah Lunt looks to make a move against the Payson Seymour defense during Thursday night's game in Payson, Ill. | Samantha Carmean photo

PAYSON, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s 65-37 victory over Payson Seymour left Aden Genenbacher satisfied, but not necessarily overjoyed. “We’re still trying to find our identity,” said Genenbacher, a 6-foot-4 senior guard who scored a game-high 21 points Thursday night. The victory came after back-to-back losses for QND (6-4), which is…

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Photo gallery: Santa Claus vs. Grinch grudge match highlights youth wrestling event at QND

The Grinch tries to gain control of Santa Claus during an exhibition match during the youth wrestling event Wednesday night at The Pit on the Quincy Notre Dame campus. | Samantha Carmean photo

QUINCY — Five days before Christmas and Santa Claus is in prime form. Once again, that spelled trouble for the Grinch. In the marquee match of the Wednesday’s youth wrestling event held at The Pit by the Quincy Notre Dame wrestling program, Santa Claus beat the Grinch in an exhibition with dozens of young wrestlers…

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Raiders show no let up in rumbling to victory over Burlington Notre Dame

Quincy Notre Dame's Tristan Pieper, right, goes up for a shot during Wednesday's game against Bulrington (Iowa) Notre Dame in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — After seeing an apparent blowout turn into a nail-biting victory Monday night against Central-Southeastern, Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne reiterated to his team the importance of playing with the same intensity for four quarters. Consider the message received. Behind the perimeter shooting of guard Sage Stratton and a smothering defense,…

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Tale of two halves: QND outlasts Central-Southeastern despite Panthers’ epic rally

Central-Southeastern's Lauren Miller, right, pressures Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton during Monday night's game at The Pit. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Eric Orne’s post-game expressions captured his thoughts perfectly. There was the occasional wince, coupled with the rubbing of the top of his head with the palm of his hand. Even an occasional sigh. “Today is my birthday … and I feel like I aged 10 years tonight,” said Orne, the veteran Quincy Notre…

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‘Get it done and get it done quick’: First-quarter blitz carries Blue Devils to runaway victory over Raiders in crosstown showdown

Quincy High School's Camden Brown, right, wins the tip against Quincy Notre Dame's Aden Genenbacher at the start of Saturday night's crosstown showdown at The Pit. | Samantha Carmean photo

QUINCY — The mindset was simple for the Quincy High School boys basketball team entering its annual crosstown showdown against Quincy Notre Dame. “We wanted to stomp on their throats at the beginning,” senior Camden Brown said. “Get it done and get it done quick.” The state-ranked Blue Devils did just that with deft precision.…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND go head-to-head on hardwood in crosstown showdown

Quincy High School junior forward Keshaun Thomas directs traffic during the first half of Saturday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The energy and intensity you’d expect when the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball teams square off was on full display Saturday night at The Pit. The Blue Devils won 77-47 in front of a raucous crowd. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and photographer Samantha Carmean were courtside and…

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Eversman’s baseline jumper caps comeback, lifts QND girls to victory in Rumble on the River

Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton, left, looks to pass out of trouble during the Raiders' 51-49 victory over Troy (Mo.) Buchanan in the Rumble on the River on Saturday at John Wood Community College. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Sage Stratton could see it in Marie Eversman’s approach. “She was not scared,” Stratton. Not at all. The freshman guard’s baseline jumper with two seconds remaining in regulation Saturday afternoon gave the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball a 51-49 victory over Troy (Mo.) Buchanan in the 16th Rumble on the River at John…

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Photo gallery: Full slate of games on second day of Rumble on the River

Hannibal's C.J. Anderson attempts to avoid a trap from Illini West's Reece Shoup, top, and Colby Robertson, right, during Saturday's game in the Rumble on the River. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Rumble on the River rumbled on Saturday with eight games being played at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was there for half of the slate and put together this photo gallery:

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‘We put defense first’: Raiders put clamps on Pirates’ attack to run away with Rumble victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Marie Eversman, right, pressures Hannibal's Malia Stolte during the first half of Friday night's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Sage Stratton’s assessment of the nearly 12-minute stretch in which the Hannibal girls basketball team went without a field goal Friday night should attract as much attention as the effort itself. “We put defense first and we work hard on defense,” the Quincy Notre Dame junior guard said. “It doesn’t matter what court…

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Photo gallery: QND, Hannibal girls kick off Rumble on the River

Quincy Notre Dame's Ari Buehler, left, and Sage Stratton react to a play made by a teammate during the fourth quarter of Friday night's victory over Hannibal in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s defensive dominance led to a 59-21 victory over Hannibal on Friday night in the opening game of the 16th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and put together this photo gallery:

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Three area girls basketball teams crack top 10 in first Illinois state rankings

Central-Southeastern coach Matt Long's team is ranked No. 8 in Class 2A in the initial Associated Press state poll. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CHICAGO — Here is a look at the Illinois Associated Press girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School                       W-L   Pts  1. Bolingbrook (4)           9-0   71   2. Loyola (2) …

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Home is where victories are: QND girls run win streak at The Pit to 24 straight by beating Palmyra

Quincy Notre Dame's Tristan Pieper, right, attempts to block a shot by Palmyra's Candra King during Tuesday night's game at The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Above all else, protect The Pit. That’s more or less an unwritten rule when it comes to the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team. The Raiders’ home floor — a.k.a. The Pit — is more than a safe haven for the QND team. It has become a full-fledged basketball sanctuary for one of…

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Zero to hero: Genenbacher’s torrid 3-point shooting carries QND boys past Palmyra

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Aden Genenbacher scored 20 points Tuesday night to lead the Raiders to a 12-point victory over Palmyra at The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — As he walked out of the locker room and sat down following Tuesday’s affair with Palmyra, Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Aden Genenbacher couldn’t help but reflect on what transpired last season against the Raiders’ cross-river rival. “I did not score a single point in that (game) and that kind of pissed me…

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Photo gallery: QND boys and girls sweep cross-river doubleheader from Palmyra

Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton dives for a loose ball during Tuesday night's game against Palmyra at The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Pit is a tough place for opposing teams to win. Tuesday night, the Palmyra boys and girls basketball teams saw why. A strong start by the Quincy Notre Dame boys led to a 54-42 victory, while the QND girls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 45-35 victory — their 24th…

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Subtle reminder: Words written on Genenbacher’s wrist inspire strong shooting effort as QND beats Hannibal

Quincy Notre Dame's Aden Genenbacher watches as Hannibal's Michael Ford makes a pass to the wing during the first half of Saturday night's game at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Aden Genenbacher pulled back the sleeve of his hoodie to reveal some white athletic tape wrapped around his left wrist and two words written on it. “Don’t suck,” it read. There’s a cross underneath it, too. “I have to think, ‘I need to be aggressive tonight,’” said Genenbacher, a senior shooting guard for…

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Kvitle resigns as QND volleyball coach to better serve her growing family

Courtney Kvitle resigned as the Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball coach following six seasons at the helm. | Mathew Kirby photo

QUINCY — Courtney Kvitle and her husband, Jason, began discussing her future as the Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball coach during the season when she learned she was pregnant with the couple’s third child. Ultimately, Kvitle decided she had to put family first. Monday morning, Quincy Notre Dame athletic director Bill Connell announced he had…

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Titans give Raiders tussle, but third-quarter run tilts game in QND’s favor

Quincy Notre Dame's Tristan Pieper was one of four players to score in double figures during Thursday night's victory over West Hancock at The Pit. | Muddy River Sports file photo

QUINCY — Tristan Pieper cut right to the chase in her postgame assessment of the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s 60-54 victory over West Hancock. “We knew they’d be strong,” said Pieper, a 6-foot sophomore who was one of four Raiders to score in double figures Thursday night at The Pit. In a game…

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Raiders hold off Bulldogs to secure 1,000th victory in girls basketball program’s history

Quincy Notre Dame’s Tristan Pieper, right, looks to shoot while being defended by Highland’s Larissa Taylor during the second half of Saturday night’s girls basketball game during the Gully Transportation Shootout in The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s 37-31 victory over Highland on Saturday evening was the 1,000th in program history. But that historic win did not come without a struggle. QND, which remains undefeated at 4-0, was not able to put away Highland (1-4) until the final minute of play at The Pit.…

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Photo Gallery: QND girls basketball team stays unbeaten with home victory over Highland (Ill.)

Quincy Notre Dame's Marie Eversman looks to pass the ball while Highland's Sophia Fleming guards her during Saturday night's girls basketball game at The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team remained unbeaten after four games with a 37-31 victory over Highland (Ill.) on Saturday during the Gully Transportation Basketball Shootout in the Pit. Jenna Durst had 14 points, and Sage Stratton had 12 for the Raiders. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the action from…

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Sizzling start allows QND boys basketball team to cap weekend with strong finish

Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Dance, right, is fouled on his way to the basket by Gateway STEM’s Ben Dura during the first half of Saturday night’s boys basketball game during the Gully Transportation Shootout in The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — As they heard the Hall of Fame names being introduced and a crowded gym erupt prior to the start of Saturday night’s  main event, the Quincy Notre Dame basketball players waited patiently for their chance to provide an exclamation point to the festivities. “We talked about it in the locker room (before the…

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Photo Gallery: Five players score in double figures as QND boys basketball enjoys perfect weekend

From left, Quincy Notre Dame's Noah Lunt and Connor Young fight for possession of a loose ball with Gateway STEM's Kevin Spencer during first-half action on Saturday night of a boys basketball game in the Gully Transportation Shootout in The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team finishes its opening weekend with a perfect record after defeating Gateway STEM 76-54 on Saturday night during the Gully Transportation Basketball Shootout to improve to 2-0. Alex Dance led the Raiders with 13 points, and Aden Genenbacher scored 11 points. Jace Allensworth, Jackson Connoyer and Jackson…

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Unselfish Raiders get 10 players in scoring column during victory over McCluer in season opener

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Jace Allensworth dribbles down the lane during Friday night's boys basketball game against McCluer at the Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Kevin Meyer said he didn’t expect Quincy Notre Dame’s boys basketball team “to be perfect” on opening night. But minus a few rough-around-the-edges stretches, the Raiders’ first game was not too shabby. “I’m excited about this season,” said Meyer, beginning his ninth year as coach at 10th and Jackson. “Our players have checked…

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In-your-face defense never goes out of style for QND girls basketball team

Quincy Notre Dame’s Jenna Durst, background left, and Marie Eversman force a jump ball with Belleville Althoff’s Emilee Travnicek during Friday night’s girls basketball game in the Gully Transportation Shootout in The Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The players may graduate, but the in-your-face style the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball program plays year-to-year doesn’t seem to go anywhere. The Raiders’ suffocating defense once again was on display in their 52-27 win over Belleville Althoff in Friday’s start to the two-night Gully Transportation Shootout at The Pit. QND (3-0) forced…

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Photo Gallery: QND boys use 16-0 run to start game in season opener at The Pit

Quincy Notre Dame's Tyler Bozarth, left, drives past McCluer's Tereze Williams during Friday night's boys basketball game at the Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — Sophomore Jace Allensworth scored 14 points in the first half and finished with 18 in the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s 60-41 victory over McCluer in the season opener on Friday night during the Gully Transportation Shootout in The Pit. MRN Editor David Adam caught some of the action.

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Photo Gallery: QND girls force 32 turnovers in victory over Belleville Althoff

Quincy Notre Dame's Ari Buehler, right, goes up with her left hand for a layup while Belleville Althoff's Riley Fairborn defends during Friday night's game in the Pit. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team remained unbeaten after three games with a 52-27 victory over Belleville Althoff on Friday night during the Gully Transportation Shootout in The Pit. Tristan Pieper led the Raiders with 13 points and Sage Stratton added 11. QND forced 32 turnovers by the Crusaders. MRN Editor David…

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2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Tom VanderBor

Tom VanderBor has been a teacher at Quincy Notre Dame and a youth basketball coach since 1991. | 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 2023 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 Tom VanderBor came to Quincy…

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2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Rachel Stuckman

Rachel (Powers) Stuckman was a two-time state golf medalist at Quincy Notre Dame. | 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 2023 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 — Rachel (Powers) Stuckman, a 2010 graduate,…

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2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: 2004 football team

The 2004 Quincy Notre Dame football team reached the Class 4A state semifinals. | 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 2023 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 — The 2004 Quincy Notre Dame football…

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2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Jack Cornell

Quincy Notre Dame offensive lineman Jack Cornell went from an all-state blocker to an NFL lineman. | 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 2023 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 — Before Jack Cornell strolled the sidelines…

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2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: John Sparrow

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 2023 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 — John Sparrow, a 1995 graduate, was…

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2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Jordan Frericks Kvitle

Jordan Frericks Kvitle graduated from Quincy Notre Dame in 2013 as the girls basketball program's all-time leader in points, steals and rebounds. | Photo submitted by 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 2023 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 — As a sophomore, Jordan Frericks Kvitle…

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Four Illinois prep football standouts receive first-team all-state honors from coaches association

Quincy High School quarterback Bradyn Little received first-team all-state honors in Class 7A from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association after throwing for 3,422 yards and 45 touchdowns this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A quarterback who helped his team make history, a linebacker who tackled everything in sight and a pair of all-purpose performers who have pushed their team into the state semifinals share one thing in common. They have been named first-team all-staters. The Illinois High School Football Coaches Association released its all-state teams Tuesday…

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‘We never lost faith and we never gave in’: Resilient effort not enough to keep Raiders’ postseason run alive

Quincy Notre Dame running back Ivan Hun, left, gets hit by a Nashville defender during Saturday's Class 2A second-round playoff game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The team which grasped onto a flicker of hope weeks ago and let it light the way to the playoffs tried everything imaginable Saturday to keep that flame from dying out. Still, the Quincy Notre Dame football players discovered what flickers usually fades away. Nashville brought the extinguisher. An Isaac Blazier 5-yard touchdown…

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Photo gallery: QND fights to overcome first-half deficit, falls short in second-round playoff loss

Quincy Notre Dame's Gavin Doellman, left, heads into the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown during the second half of Saturday's Class 2A second-round playoff game against Nashville at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior center Ben Schwartz called the never-give-in attitude of the QND football team is tradition. Saturday, the Raiders upheld the tradition, battling until the final snap in a 27-18 loss to Nashville in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was at Advance…

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Playoff primer: Undefeated teams hit road for second-round games, QND comes home with momentum

Quincy High School senior offensive lineman Chris Flachs and the Blue Devils travel to Wheaton North for a Class 7A second-round playoff game. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The second round of the Illinois football playoffs means a five-hour road trip for Quincy High School, a rematch for Camp Point Central and the return to Advance Physical Therapy Field for Quincy Notre Dame. Here’s a look at what Saturday’s slate looks like: Quincy High School (10-0) at Wheaton North (7-3), 2…

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Reaching second round of playoffs doesn’t change Raiders’ approach to practice and prep

Junior linebacker Taylin Scott, left, and senior linebacker Reese Frericks have been important parts of the Raiders' defensive effort. | Muddy River Sports file photo

QUINCY — Jack Brenner noticed one significant difference when it came to practicing in November for the first time. “It’s a little cold,” the Quincy Notre Dame junior defensive back said as temperatures dipped to 40 degrees on Wednesday night. There was another significant difference, too. “It’s the playoffs,” Brenner said. “Everything is a little…

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Raiders’ Cann gives QND boys soccer program 10 straight seasons with all-state honoree

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Leo Cann became the Raiders' 10th all-state selection in the last 10 seasons and finished his career with 69 career goals. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Leo Cann makes it a perfect 10. The senior forward on the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team received all-state honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association, marking the 10th straight season a QND player has earned all-state plaudits. “That’s a pretty good run,” QND coach Greg Reis said. Cann led…

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Crim: High school football postseason games offering intriguing storylines

Quincy Notre Dame coach Jack Cornell gives a fiery speech to his players following their 21-14 victory over Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs last Saturday. | Photo courtesy Steve Hoffman

QUINCY — High school playoff potpourri: • Quincy Notre Dame is nothing if not resilient. The Raiders easily could have played out the string after losing back-to-back winnable games against Southern Boone and Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton to fall to 1-5, seemingly extinguishing their postseason chances. Instead, they won their final three games in convincing…

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Carrying the right tune: Raiders’ resiliency leads to comeback, first-round upset of Knights

Quincy Notre Dame's Noah Alger gets dragged down from behind by Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond's Payton Warrior during Saturday's Class 2A first-round playoff game in Arthur, Ill. | Photo courtesy Steve Hoffman

ARTHUR, Ill. — From his seat at the front of the charter bus, as it worked its way across county roads in search of a four-lane highway, Jack Cornell could hear the music blaring and the Quincy Notre Dame football players singing loudly behind him. He sat there and smiled. “This is what you do…

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‘We just didn’t show up to play’: Macomb steamrolls mistake-prone QND in regional final

Quincy Notre Dame setter Annie Eaton, left, watches the Macomb volleyball team celebrate after the final point in the Bombers' 25-18, 25-14 loss on Thursday night in The Hangar at Macomb High School. | David Adam photo

MACOMB, Ill. — Senior Delaney Beard had a difficult time comprehending what had happened. Quincy Notre Dame had been dominant this season, losing just 14 sets while winning 32 out of 36 matches and earning the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A girls volleyball regional. The Raiders only needed to beat fifth-seeded Macomb, which…

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‘I felt threatened, and I felt violated’: QND coach berated in locker room by parents after regional title match loss

Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle walks the sideline during the first set of Thursday's Class 2A regional championship game at the Hangar at Macomb High School. | David Adam photo

MACOMB, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle went into the locker room for a talk no coach wants to have after a disappointing 25-18, 25-14 loss to Macomb in Thursday night’s Class 2A regional championship game at the Hangar at Macomb High School. However, Kvitle’s final words with her team were interrupted when…

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Photo Gallery: Macomb uses 17-4 run to close out first set, blow away QND in second set

Macomb's Kathryn Lukkarinen, right, spikes the ball around the block of Quincy Notre Dame's Lauren Hummel, left, and Annie Eaton, middle, during Thursday night's Class 2A regional volleyball championship at the Hangar at Macomb High School. | David Adam photo

MACOMB, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball team saw its season end Thursday night in a 25-18, 25-14 loss to Macomb in the Hangar on Thursday night at Macomb High School. Macomb (27-9) advances to play No. 2 seed Pleasant Plains in the Class 2A sectional semifinals at 6 p.m. Monday at Pleasant…

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‘Soul-crushing goal’ enables Chargers to upend Raiders, end defense of QND’s state title

Quincy Notre Dame midfielder Rylan Fischer, right, goes flying after battling for possession with Peoria Christian's Myles Zimmerman during Wednesday night's Class 1A sectional championship in Chillicothe, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The response was swift, sudden and significant. “That was a bit of a soul-crushing goal,” Quincy Notre Dame’s Mason Monteyne said. Title-dashing, too. In the 14th minute of Wednesday night’s Class 1A Chillicothe IVC Sectional championship, senior forward Leo Cann gave the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team a 2-1 lead over…

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Photo gallery: QND, Peoria Christian clash in Class 1A boys soccer sectional championship

Peoria Christian's Caden Schmidgall, left, keeps the ball inbounds while being pressured by Quincy Notre Dame's Mason Monteyne during Wednesday night's Class 1A sectional championship in Chillicothe, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The reign is over. The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team, the defending Class 1A state champion, was eliminated from the postseason Wednesday night, losing 5-2 to Peoria Christian in the championship game of the Class 1A Chillicothe Sectional. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was at IVC High School and put…

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QND, Macomb volleyball teams win regional semifinals, will clash for championship

Junior setter Annie Eaton and the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team will face Macomb in the Class 2A regional championship at 6 p.m. Thursday in Macomb, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MACOMB, Ill. — The rematch is set. The Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb volleyball teams will go head-to-head at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Hangar at Macomb High School to decide the Class 2A regional championship. This will be the fourth meeting in the last two years between two staunch programs. QND beat Macomb in…

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QND receives final spot in Illinois football playoff field, while QHS, Central, Unity-Payson also learn postseason paths

The Quincy Notre Dame football team made the field for the Class 2A playoffs as the last team to qualify, getting in with a 4-5 record. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — An answered prayer, a unique draw and a top spot on the bracket. The revealing of the Illinois High School Association’s football playoff pairings had some of the intrigue teams crave and an intriguing twist with the final team to qualify for the 256-team field spread over eight classes. Quincy Notre Dame, which…

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Max-imum effort: Frericks’ save on first PK in shootout carries QND to sectional semifinal win

Quincy Notre Dame goalkeeper Max Frericks dives over the top of Mendota's Isaac Diaz to make the save during the second half of Saturday's Class 1A sectional semifinal in Chillicothe, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The value of Max Frericks’ presence in goal can’t be overstated or undersold. He’s a game changer. The Mendota boys soccer team became the latest to realize so Saturday in a penalty-kick shootout to decide who plays for a Class 1A sectional championship. The 6-foot-3 Quincy Notre Dame senior goalkeeper stopped the…

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Photo gallery: QND upends Mendota in Class 1A boys soccer sectional semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame's Leo Cann, left, boots a ball past Mendota defender Kaleb Kleckner during Saturday's Class 1A sectional semifinal in Chillicothe, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — One hundred minutes Saturday afternoon wasn’t enough for either the Quincy Notre Dame or Mendota boys soccer team to can any separation. So the recent postseason nemesis went to a penalty kick shootout to decide who advanced. The Raiders won the shootout 4-1, giving them a 3-2 victory and a spot in Wednesday’s…

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Final kick carries QND’s Genenbacher top regional cross country championship

Illini West's Emma Whitaker, left, and Quincy Notre Dame's Abigail Genenbacher run side-by-side during the Class 1A girls regional cross country race Saturday at South Park. | Photo courtesy Jessica Genenbacher

QUINCY — A little dose of “secret sauce” was all Abigail Genenbacher needed. The Quincy Notre Dame senior used a burst to catch and pass frontrunners Chloe Kelly of Monmouth-Roseville and Emma Whitaker of Illini West over the final 50 meters Saturday morning to win the girls individual title in the Class 1A cross country…

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Raiders hold on to hope playoff bid materializes after finishing season with three straight victories

The Quincy Notre Dame football team finished its regular season with a 23-7 victory over John Burroughs on Friday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Photo courtesy Jessica Genenbacher

QUINCY — As Collin Altgilbers paraded through the picture line, chatted with friends and family members, and soaked in the final moments following likely the last game on his home field, the Quincy Notre Dame senior lineman tried to find the words to explain what the next 24 hours will be like as the Raiders…

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IHSA nullifies red card issued to QND goalkeeper, making Frericks eligible for sectional semifinal

Quincy Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Max Frericks will play in Saturday's sectional semifinal after the Illinois High School Association overturned the red card he was issued in the regional championship game against Monmouth-Roseville. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Illinois High School Association promotes a sportsmanship program entitled “Do What’s Right!” Thursday, the IHSA followed its own motto and did the right thing. IHSA executive director Craig Anderson and assistant executive director Beth Sauser acknowledged the red card issued to QND goalkeeper Max Frericks during the second of the boys soccer…

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‘I’ll be grateful forever’: QND seniors relish opportunity to be part of football program

Quincy Notre Dame's Aiden Klauser, a senior wide receiver and cornerback, will play his final regular season game at Advance Physical Therapy Field on Friday night against John Burroughs. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — While there is a miniscule chance it could sneak into the Illinois high school playoffs with a 4-5 record by beating John Burroughs at home Friday night, the Quincy Notre Dame football team is treating the game as if it will be the last. “We’re all aware it could be our last game…

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‘Sully’ disposition: Sophomore midfielder’s goal gives QND halftime edge en route to regional title

Quincy Notre Dame's Elliott Hendrian, right, slaps hands with Sullivan Walker after Walker scored late in the first half for the Raiders' first goal in a 5-2 victory over Monmouth-Roseville in the Class 1A regional championship game at Pattee Fields in Monmouth, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MONMOUTH, Ill. — What Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach Greg Reis preaches in practice seems to resonate with his players. At the very least, sophomore midfielder Sullivan “Sully” Walker is listening. “(Reis) has been telling me ever since I scored my first goal to crash the goalie because you’re always there to make something…

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Interpretation of ‘ball in hand’ rule results in red card for QND goalkeeper, could keep Frericks out of sectional semifinal

Quincy Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Max Frericks picks up a ball rolling toward him during Wednesday's Class 1A regional championship against Monmouth-Roseville at Pattee Fields in Monmouth, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

MONMOUTH, Ill. — The definition of a “ball in hand” is going to determine if Max Frericks will be the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s starting goalkeeper come Saturday. Right now, sophomore Carter Hankins needs to be ready to fill that role. Frericks, the senior goalkeeper who was the backstop on last year’s Class…

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Emotional end to home slate comes with Raiders finishing off perfect season at The Pit

The Quincy Notre Dame defense blocks a shot by Quincy High School outside hitter Kaley Summers during Monday night's match at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Pit provided the perfect atmosphere to goodbye, even if it had Emma Hoing shedding tears. “I was so emotional tonight,” Hoing said. “I cried.” She also delivered. A senior outside hitter on the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team, Hoing threw down a team-leading eight kills to power the Raiders to a 25-19,…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND volleyball teams square off in front of raucous crowd at The Pit

Quincy Notre Dame middle blocker Eva Breckenkamp, left, hammers a kills past the block of Quincy High School's defense during Monday night's match at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Two rambunctious student sections, splashes of pink throughout the gym and lively play on both sides of the net made for an entertaining crosstown showdown Monday night at The Pit. The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team capped an undefeated regular season at home with a 25-19, 25-15 victory over Quincy High School on…

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QHS, QND each sending doubles team to state tennis tournament

The Quincy High School doubles team of Phoebe and Lily Hayes finished fourth at the Class 2A Belleville West Sectional and will play in the state tournament. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A pair of doubles teams will represent Quincy at the girls state tennis tournaments this weekend in the Chicago suburbs. In Class 2A, the Quincy High School senior tandem of Lily and Phoebe Hayes finished fourth at the Belleville West Sectional, while the Quincy Notre Dame duo of Morgan Zanger and Kaitlyn Brown…

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No Reis, no worries: Raiders open state title defense with whitewashing of Tornadoes

The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team looks to capitalize on a ball played into the box during Saturday's Class 1A regional semifinal against Abingdon-Avon in Monmouth, Ill. | Photo courtesy Frank Cann

MONMOUTH, Ill. — If Greg Reis had any long-distance concerns, all he would have had to do is pull out his phone and take one glance at social media to alleviate them quite quickly. The updates, like the goals, came fast and furious. The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach missed Saturday’s postseason opener in…

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QND continues to finish season with flourish, buries Soldan with first-quarter TD flurry

The Quincy Notre Dame defense pitched its first shutout of the season Friday night, beating St. Louis Soldan 55-0 at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman file photo

QUINCY — The playoff hopes might be slim and the likelihood of the season ending in one week may be setting in, but the Quincy Notre Dame football team continues to play as if there’s plenty more at stake. For the second consecutive week, the Raiders dominated the opponent in front of them. QND scored…

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QND’s Eftink joins select company with runner-up finish at Class 1A state golf tournament

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Beau Eftink fired a 1-under 71 during Saturday's second round of the Class 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Ill., and finished as the state runner-up. | Photo courtesy Brian Hendrian

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Beau Eftink learned the value of patience through the agony of waiting Saturday afternoon. The Quincy Notre Dame sophomore golfer posted a 1-under 71 in the second round of the Class 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course and was the clubhouse leader at 1-over 145 when he finished his round.…

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Raiders rebound to finish sixth at state golf tourney, Chargers’ Bruns shoots 73

Brown County's Rioth Wort lines up a putt during the second round of the Class 1A state golf tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Ill. | Photo courtesy Greg Wort

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Saturday turned into a bounce-back day for the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team and several area golfers. After tying for eighth and narrowly making the cut following the first round of the Class 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course, the Raiders shot the third lowest round of the day,…

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Raiders dominate Bulldogs from start to finish as Hun, special teams make big plays

The Quincy Notre Dame defense limited Decatur St. Teresa to just six first downs and 122 total yards in Friday night's 55-6 victory in Decatur, Ill. | Photo courtesy Jessica Genenbacher

DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame football team made sure this game didn’t slip away. After back-to-back near misses that dashed their playoff hopes, the Raiders put together their finest overall performance of the season Friday night to swamp defending Class 2A state champion Decatur St. Teresa 55-6. QND dominated from start to finish…

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Whipping wind blows QND boys golf team’s chances off course in opening round at state

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Beau Eftink fired a 2-over 74 and sits tied for fifth after the first round of the Class 1A state golf tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Ill. | Matt Schuckman file photo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame boys golf coach Brian Hendrian was monitoring the barrage of birdies coming from the first wave of golfers to hit Prairie Vista Golf Course on Friday morning when he received a text message. Michael Venvertloh’s father, Bruce, let Hendrian know his senior golfer had holed out for an eagle…

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No cramping his style: Dede scores game-winner as Blue Devils fend off Raiders in city rivalry game

Quincy High School's Andrew Brown hugs teammate Nolan Dede after Dede scored the go-ahead goal in Thursday night's 3-2 victory over Quincy Notre Dame at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Nolan Dede wanted to join the celebration, but that required getting to his feet and ignoring his cramping right calf. “It was such a conflict of emotions,” he said. “There was the pain and there was the excitement.” And there was the magnitude of the moment. Dede’s header off an Evan Sohn restart…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND boys soccer teams split city series

Quincy High School defender Nolan Dede, left, tries to take away any attack angle from Quincy Notre Dame striker Leo Cann during Thursday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The seniors on the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer teams had different goals in mind Thursday night. The Blue Devils sought their first victory in the city series during the seniors’ four-year careers, while the Raiders’ Class of 2024 was looking to stay undefeated. Nolan Dede’s second-half goal tipped…

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Match-play mentality on back nine carries QND boys golf team to sectional championship

The Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team poses for a team picture after winning the Class 1A Auburn Sectional title Monday at Edgewood Golf Course in Auburn, Ill. | Submitted photo

AUBURN, Ill. — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys golfers made the turn Monday, the situation seemed pretty cut and dry. Beat Bloomington Central Catholic head-to-head and win a sectional championship. Raiders coach Brian Hendrian didn’t shy away from telling his golfers that. “We went out there and played it like a Ryder Cup format…

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Photo gallery: Doubles victories give QHS girls tennis team head-to-head edge against QND

Quincy High School's Anika Reddy returns a shot during her No. 1 singles match against Quincy Notre Dame's Aly Young on Monday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A week after sweeping its crosstown rival in a dual match, the Quincy High School girls tennis team had to fight for a pair of doubles victories to finish off a victory against Quincy Notre Dame on Monday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. The No. 1 doubles team of Lily…

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Photo gallery: QND, Macomb girls golf teams see seasons end at Class 1A Roxana Sectional

Quincy Notre Dame golfer Meredith Eversman chips from the rough onto the sixth fairway during the Class 1A Roxana girls golf sectional Monday at Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River, Ill. | Photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

WOOD RIVER, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls golfers figured Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin was the bona fide favorite to win the Class 1A Roxana Sectional, but after that it would be a dogfight to see which two additional teams qualified for the state tournament. The Raiders didn’t happen to be in that fight at…

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Crim: Raiders’ near misses mean playing for pride instead of playoffs over final three games

Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell congratulates his players after a scoring drive last Friday night against Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Ron Kinscherf photo

QUINCY— The Quincy Notre Dame football team can only think of what might have been. The Raiders were eliminated from playoff consideration Friday night with a 35-28 loss to Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton at Advance Physical Therapy Field, a game in which they held a 12-point lead five minutes into the second half and seemed…

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Another one-possession loss sinks QND, eliminates any chance of playoff push

The Quincy Notre Dame football team engineers a running play during Friday night's game against Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Ron Kinscherf photo

QUINCY — Mistakes and missed opportunities will haunt the Quincy Notre Dame football team. The Raiders saw their playoff hopes evaporate Friday night when Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton scored three touchdowns in a six-minute stretch overlapping the third and fourth quarters to erase a 12-point deficit and post a 35-28 victory at Advance Physical Therapy…

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QND girls golf team’s steady play leaves regional field in a fog as Raiders four-peat as champions

The Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team won its fourth consecutive regional championship, beating the field by 29 strokes Thursday at Rolling Greens Golf Course in Mount Sterling. | Submitted photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — From the moment the Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team left the school parking lot Thursday morning until the Raiders reached Rolling Greens Golf Course, a dense fog made visibility a challenge. Still, the Raiders never lost sight of their goal. A four-peat. The fog forced an adjustment to the tee…

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Beau knows: Up-and-down for par on No. 18 caps impressive regional round by QND sophomore

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Beau Eftink sizes up his putt on the par-3 ninth hole Wedesday during the Class 1A QND Regional at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The number of strokes Beau Eftink needed to get up and down from behind the 18th green was going to determine just how pleased he would be with his final score. The moment he hit his chip shot from above the green’s collar, the Quincy Notre Dame sophomore golfer felt a twinge of…

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Photo gallery: Westview Golf Course plays host to Class 1A Quincy Notre Dame boys regional

Quincy Notre Dame's Michael Venvertloh hits out of the bunker on the 10th hole at Westview Golf Course on Wednesday during the Class 1A QND Regional. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Beau Eftink went low, the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team took advantage of playing on its home course and three teams that had been in the mix all season advanced to the Class 1A Auburn Sectional at Edgewood Golf Course. It turned out to be a remarkable day at Westview Golf Course.…

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Postseason primer: Tournament success preps area golfers for pursuit of state tourney bids

The Hannibal girls golf team won the North Central Missouri Conference championship, a perfect springboard into the postseason, which begins Oct. 6 with the district tournament in Wentzville, Mo. | Photo courtesy HHS golf

QUINCY — The postseason is nigh, and it could be an eventful one on the links. Here are five things to keep in mind as regional play for Illinois boys begins Wednesday and girls Thursday and district play for Missouri girls tees off next week: Minor success, major results for Pirates The growth of the…

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Crim: Four decades later, QND football team’s remarkable turnaround remains impressive

The 1983 Quincy Notre Dame football team finished 8-2 and reached the playoffs. | Photo courtesy QND

QUINCY — It has been 40 years since the Quincy Notre Dame football team engineered one of the biggest one-season turnarounds in school history. The Raiders were coming off back-to-back 2-8 seasons in 1983 and had lost 19 of their previous 23 games, dating to the tail end of the 1980 campaign. It had been…

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