Posts Tagged ‘Quincy Notre Dame’
QHS, Hannibal fit to be tied, while QND overwhelms West Plains on tourney’s first night
QUINCY — Friday night felt more like November football weather than the spring soccer season at Flinn Stadium with temperatures dipping close to the freezing mark and wind chills falling below 30 degrees. It didn’t put a chill on the fervor of a cross-river rivalry. The Quincy High School girls soccer team built a one-goal…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, Hannibal, QND kick off weekend girls soccer tournament
QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Hannibal girls soccer teams played to a 2-2 draw Friday night at Flinn Stadium, while Quincy Notre Dame beat West Plains (Mo.) 6-0 on the opening night of the QHS Kickoff Showcase. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time at Flinn Stadium and put together this photo…
Read MoreGrabbing lead two batters into season opener allows QND softball team to roll
BOWEN, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team gave Caitlin Bunte all the support she’d need before she ever stepped in the pitcher’s circle. The Raiders scored three runs in the top of the first inning Thursday and Bunte allowed just two hits as they opened the season with an 8-0 victory over Southeastern.…
Read MoreQND tabs Carthage’s White to be next girls volleyball coach
QUINCY — Danielle White has watched enough of the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team play from afar to understand the kind of drive and determination the Raiders possess. “Knowing their talent matches their competitiveness is exciting, so is knowing those kids want to be great and work at it,” White said. It’s done with one…
Read MoreBundle of returning talent has QND softball players eyeing another deep postseason run
QUINCY — Brooke Boden hasn’t forgotten just how close the Quincy Notre Dame softball team came to winning a state trophy last season. “I’ll be sitting in class and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, man,’” the senior third baseman said. “I just look back on it and think, ‘Wow, we were there.’” The Raiders’ epic postseason…
Read MoreSuccess on set pieces helps QND girls soccer team ‘set the tone for the rest of the season’
QUINCY — Perfecting set pieces became a point of emphasis during the lead-up to the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s season opener. “For the past three days, we’ve worked on them every day,” junior midfielder Lilly Schuette said. “Even in walk-throughs.” The reason why became obvious 12 minutes into Saturday’s game against Jefferson City…
Read MorePair of QHS pitchers mow down QND to claim victory during head-to-head clash in SHG Slam
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The first crosstown showdown of the spring took place 110 miles from the Gem City, but it didn’t lack any down-to-the-last-out drama. With a runner on first base and the Quincy High School baseball team holding a two-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, right-handed reliever Jansen Lawson induced a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND girls soccer team opens its season with 3-2 victory over Helias
QUINCY — Lilly Schuette’s second-half penalty kick and a stout defensive effort over the final 40 minutes enabled the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team to open its season Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the afternoon next to…
Read MoreSchuckman: QND’s retirement of No. 5 puts love of family, love of baseball on full display
QUINCY — Tears were expected Friday afternoon, but the smiles elicited by the memories of Tucker Tollerton and the embrace his family received balanced everything out. That was as much of a tribute to Tollerton as seeing his jersey number retired. Anyone who accompanied the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team on last season’s record-setting journey…
Read MoreProblems with execution plague QND baseball team in season-opening loss to Sherrard
QUINCY — There is likely to be one word the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players are going to hear in the days to come. It’s going to be details, details, details. Or it may be fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. Better attention to details and a better performance fundamentally may have altered an exasperating outcome in Friday’s…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball program retires No. 5 in honor of Tucker Tollerton
QUINCY — With most of Tucker Tollerton’s extended family, friends and his entire college team in attendance Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball program retired No. 5 in honor of the Raiders’ former center fielder, who was killed last May in an auto accident. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team falls in season opener against Sherrard
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s youth and inexperience showed in a season-opening 10-0 loss to Sherrard on Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the sunny afternoon at the Ferd and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreRaiders ready to unveil new lineup carrying same hunger to be state tournament team
QUINCY — Come Friday, when the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team opens its season, there will be an angel in the outfield looking over the Raiders and every day moving forward. The school will retire the No. 5 worn by Tucker Tollerton, the starting center fielder on last year’s Class 2A third-place state team who…
Read MoreNew coach, same expectations as QND girls soccer team sets sights on return to state tourney
QUINCY — Aubrey Sparrow wasn’t naive enough to think the tempo and tenor of Mark Thomas-led practices would be similar to those run by former Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer Mark Longo. “I knew the style would change, just how it does with every coach,” the senior defender said. But she remained confident the Raiders…
Read MoreCSE’s Miller leads brigade of area girls players receiving all-state honors from IBCA
QUINCY — Lauren Miller’s ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her Central-Southeastern girls basketball teammates elevated her game to that of a first-team all-stater. The 5-foot-10 junior forward was named to the Class 2A all-state first team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, one of three CSE players to be honored by the…
Read MoreSchuckman: Strength of character shows in how Wires, Buehler handled adversity
QUINCY — Adversity doesn’t build character. It reveals it. That adage, originally coined by 19th century American novelist James Lane Allen, and variations of it have been used endlessly. But as I sat here mulling over what already has transpired this basketball postseason, that adage kept coming to mind. The toughest moments have shown us…
Read MoreCSE’s Miller receives second-team all-state honors, three others earn honorable mention
QUINCY — Lauren Miller’s game is drawing interest from NCAA Division I and II women’s basketball coaches throughout the Midwest. For good reason. The Central-Southeastern junior forward was named a Class 2A second-team all-stater this week by the Illinois Media. She is the only area girls player to be named all-state in any of the…
Read More‘I feel heartbreak for the kids’: Bid for sectional title falls one point short for Notre Dame girls
DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team couldn’t have asked for a better player to step to the free-throw line. Sophomore Ari Buehler, who had scored eight points in the fourth quarter and expertly handled Chatham Glenwood’s unrelenting defensive pressure to keep the Raiders close, was fouled near mid-court with eight-tenths of…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Buehler, Durst spark comeback for Raiders after trailing by 10 points in first half
DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team didn’t score a field goal in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, but it rallied to take the lead in the third quarter and several times in the fourth quarter in a 44-43 loss to Chatham…
Read MoreOffensive drought in first half of regional semifinal loss to Williamsville ends QND’s season
ATHENS, Ill. — The snowball effect turned into a full-blown avalanche. It carried the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team right out of the postseason. Trailing Williamsville 10-0 less than four minutes into Wednesday night’s Class 2A Athens Regional semifinal, Raiders coach Kevin Meyer burned a timeout in hopes of settling down his time and…
Read MoreRaiders shake off first-quarter slumber, advance to third straight sectional championship game
DECATUR, Ill. — Survive and advance. That’s all. “It was not our best game obviously,” Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne said after the Raiders eliminated Mahomet-Seymour with Tuesday night’s 63-46 victory in the semifinals of the Class 3A Decatur MacArthur Sectional. “But you know at this time of year, you got to…
Read More‘I kind of got my swagger back’: Uppinghouse rebounds to take third, make QHS wrestling history with second state medal
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Owen Uppinghouse admitted the sting wasn’t easy to shake. The Quincy High School 165-pound senior wrestler went to the Class 3A state tournament undefeated with his sights set squarely on becoming the fifth state champion in program history. A quarterfinal loss Friday morning to LaGrange Lyons’ Gunnar Garelli ruined that. Although he…
Read MoreChiefs’ size tips scale in fourth quarter as Raiders close regular season with loss at home
QUINCY — Kevin Meyer felt the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team was about to turn the “juice” loose. Alas, there was no juice. Only squeezing. And it was the Raiders who wound up getting squeezed over the final eight minutes Friday night in a 55-45 loss to Keokuk in front of a Senior Night…
Read MoreUppinghouse, two QND grapplers still chasing spots on podium at state wrestling tourney
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Owen Uppinghouse’s dream of becoming just the fifth Illinois High School Association state wrestling champion in Quincy High School history was dashed Friday morning. Yet his chance to make history still exists. The senior who entered the Class 3A state tournament undefeated and ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds suffered a 5-1…
Read MoreStratton clamps down on another top scorer, leads QND girls to 31st regional title in school history
JERSEYVILLE, Ill. — When Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne walked into the gym for practice on Tuesday afternoon, he noticed junior guard Sage Stratton was already shooting around. When Orne made eye contact with Stratton, he flashed the number two with his hand twice. Stratton quietly nodded and said, “I know.” Stratton…
Read MoreUppinghouse, Newbold end first day of state wrestling tourney alive in winner’s bracket
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Owen Uppinghouse’s title pursuit started with a flourish. Bryor Newbold’s began with a tussle. Both still have a shot at glory. The Quincy High School wrestlers opened the Class 3A state tournament at State Farm Center with first-round victories and will grapple in the quarterfinals Friday morning. Meanwhile, Quincy Notre Dame wrestlers…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Barrage of 3-pointers in second quarter fuels Raiders’ victory at Jerseyville
JERSEYVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team went a 19-2 run, punctuated by four 3-pointers, in the second quarter and went on to win 49-30 over Jerseyville on Thursday night in the Class 3A regional championship game. Tristan Pieper and Marie Eversman had one 3-pointer in the run and Sage Stratton made two…
Read MorePrairie State Profile: Five area wrestlers ready to chase state championships
QUINCY — The Illinois state wrestling tournament begins at noon Thursday with five area wrestlers having qualified to grapple at State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. Wednesday, they had the opportunity to visit the Illini wrestling facility in Huff Hall, get a workout in and prepare for the pursuit of…
Read MoreAllensworth’s career night carries Raiders past Titans, forges ties for WCC championship
WARSAW, Ill. — Fittingly, it was Jace Allensworth who sealed the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s 68-64 victory Tuesday night over West Hancock. Allensworth, a 6-foot sophomore guard, swished a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining to cap a brilliant offensive night for himself and punctuate an impressive turnaround for the Raiders.…
Read MoreRaiders settle in defensively, pull away from Crimsons to earn spot in Class 3A regional title tilt
JERSEYVILLE, Ill. — A minute into Monday night’s Class 3A Jerseyville Regional semifinal, Jacksonville led the top-seeded Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team 4-2 and maybe saw a glimmer of hope it could pull off an upset. That faded fast. The Raiders went on a 9-0 run to take the lead and then held the…
Read MoreQND’s Scott, Lahr respond with top-three finishes, earn state wrestling tournament berths
STANFORD, Ill. — The appropriate response to a setback earned Quincy Notre Dame wrestlers Taylin Scott and Bradi Lahr spots in the Class 1A state tournament field. Scott won twice after losing in the semifinals of the Class 1A Stanford Olympia Sectional to finish third at 215 pounds, while Lahr won four consecutive matches in…
Read MoreRaiders set up showdown with Titans for WCC supremacy by finishing off Rockets
QUINCY — The game featured all the ingredients of a blowout. The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team used full-court defensive pressure to hold Rushville-Industry without a field goal attempt during the opening four minutes Saturday night and created more turnovers (11) than points allowed (10) in the first half. The Raiders stretched their 21-point…
Read MoreConnoyer calms down after technical foul, scores game-high 17 points to lead QND boys past Liberty
LIBERTY, Ill. – Quincy Notre Dame forward Jackson Connoyer had to refocus after receiving a technical foul following a scramble for a rebound under his own basket midway through the second quarter Friday night. His actions resulted in two free throws that gave Liberty a seven-point lead. “I said things I shouldn’t have said,” Connoyer…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QND, Central-Southeastern hold steady
CHICAGO — Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (7) 31-0 79 1 2. Alton 27-2 65 2 3. Bolingbrook (1) 23-3 63 3 4. Maine South 27-1 48 5 (tie) Nazareth 24-3 48 4…
Read MoreQND, Unity boys each dominate a half, but Raiders come out on top 78-66
QUINCY — Charles Dickens famously opened his historic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities,” with the line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” During the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s 78-66 victory over Unity Tuesday night, both coaches felt those emotions — in the opposite order. In the…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Sophomores Connoyer, Allensworth lead Notre Dame boys to 14th victory
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team improved to 14-9 with a 78-66 victory over Unity on Tuesday night at the Pit. The Raiders were paced by sophomores Jackson Connoyer with a career-high 16 points and Jace Allensworth with 14 points. Unity (13-12) placed three players in double figures — Melvin McMillen with…
Read MoreQND girls dominate final three quarters 43-9 to blow out defending Class 1A state champions
QUINCY — No rest for the weary? Well, there is a bit of a respite now for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team. The Raiders completed a grueling five-games-in-five days sojourn with a dominating 52-25 victory Saturday night at The Pit over defending Class 1A state champ Okawville during the American Family Insurance-KHQA Superfan Shootout.…
Read MoreWinchester West Central escapes ‘dogfight’ at the Pit, snaps four-game winning streak for QND boys
QUINCY — As he lowered his MVP trophy to the ground and attempted to find one more ounce of energy before loading the bus back to Winchester, Zack Evans tried to put into words what the previous 90 minutes felt like. “Anytime you come to QND, it’s going to be a dogfight,” Evans said. “That’s…
Read MoreNotre Dame’s Lahr, Scott capture Class 1A regional wrestling championships
PETERSBURG, Ill. — A pair of Quincy Notre Dame wrestlers dominated their respective weight classes Saturday and propelled themselves to the Class 1A sectional by winning regional crowns. Bradi Lahr, a sophomore at 144 pounds, and Taylin Scott, a junior at 215, combined to go 5-0 with four pins during the Class 1A Petersburg PORTA…
Read MoreLunt helps Raiders overcome sickly week, scores 16 points in hard-fought victory over Madison
QUINCY — Kevin Meyer wasn’t sure what to expect from his Quincy Notre Dame basketball team on the opening night of the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout. “We were kind of a walking Infirmary for part of the week,” Meyer said of the Raiders’ battle with sickness that spread through the squad. What Meyer discovered…
Read MoreSweet Sixteen: Pieper turns in 19-point performance on birthday as QND girls edge Clopton
QUINCY — There are not many better ways for a 16-year-old to celebrate her birthday than to spend it with her friends. Tristan Pieper’s friends took care of her Friday night. Pieper, a sophomore, led all scorers with 19 points as the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team fought off Clopton 44-37 at the American…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: With defending champions on tap for Saturday, Raiders hold off late Clopton rally
Eight straight points, capped off by two 3-pointers, pulled Clopton within 40-37 with 6:40 to play in the game, but a driving layup by Raiders guard Ari Buehler broke Clopton’s momentum, and the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team held on for 44-37 victory on Friday night at the Pit. Junior Sage Stratton and sophomore…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Winning streak for QND boys reaches four, and guys join girls on dance floor
The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team held an explosive Madison (11-10) squad well below its season-average point total in a 54-47 victory on Friday night at the Pit. The Raiders kept the Trojans’ leading scorer Elijah Williams relatively in check. Williams averages 22 points a game and was limited to 13. QND has won…
Read MoreQHS girls climb one spot in Associated Press Class 4A poll; C-SE rises one spot in 2A, QND drops one spot in 3A
Here are the Associated Press girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (4) 29-0 66 1 2. Alton (3) 25-1 64 2 3. Bolingbrook 21-2 55 3 4. Nazareth 21-3 38 5 5. Maine South 25-1 37 4 6.…
Read MoreStratton reaches 1,000 career points as Notre Dame girls rebound after rare loss
QUINCY — When Sage Stratton dropped through a second-quarter field goal Wednesday night, the game came to an immediate halt. Public address announcer Frank Cash then informed the crowd at The Pit that Stratton, a junior guard for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, had become the 17th player in the long and storied…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Raiders bounce back after loss to QHS by overwhelming Pittsfield
The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team earned a much-needed victory Wednesday night with a 55-37 decision over Pittsfield at the Pit. The Raiders rebounded 24 hours after getting thumped by crosstown rival Quincy High School 47-24. Notre Dame led 34-10 halftime and 43-19 after three quarters. Pittsfield (10-11) rebounded with a strong fourth quarter,…
Read MoreOne off the checklist: Blue Devils lead wire to wire in victory over cross-town rival Raiders
QUINCY — How well is the Quincy High School girls basketball team playing at the moment? “I think we’re probably playing the best ball we have all season right now,” senior center Taylor Fohey said following Tuesday night’s 47-24 victory over rival Quincy Notre Dame at The Pit. It would be difficult to dispute Fohey’s…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Fohey, Brown combine for 31 points, 17 rebounds for QHS girls
The Quincy High School girls basketball team, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A, led wire-to-wire in a 47-24 victory on Tuesday night at the Pit. The Blue Devils held Quincy Notre Dame, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, to its lowest offensive output in 97 games, dating to late in the 2020-21 season when the…
Read MoreUppinghouse builds mark to 44-0, leads QHS to third place at 32nd QND Wrestling Invitational
QUINCY — Quincy High School’s Owen Uppinghouse had every right to be exhausted. And make no mistake about it, he most certainly was. Uppinghouse wrapped up the 165-pound championship Saturday in the 32nd annual Quincy Notre Dame Wrestling Invitational, and what followed was not so much a raised fist in the air signifying another win…
Read MoreStrong finish to second quarter propels Quincy Notre Dame boys to easy victory at home
QUINCY — The lead was in double digits ,but as the second quarter neared an end in Thursday night’s home tilt with Western, Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer wasn’t exactly comfortable. “We had to challenge them a little bit during one of (Western’s) timeouts and tell them, ‘You’ve got to match their…
Read MorePieper helps QND girls pull away in second half to defeat South Shelby
SHELBINA, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team held South Shelby to just 16 points in the second half in posting a 53-40 victory on Thursday night. The Raiders led 27-24 at halftime, and they made a concerted effort to get the ball inside to Tristan Pieper. She scored eight of her game-high…
Read MoreQHS girls stay at No. 8 in Class 4A poll, while QND girls move up one spot to No. 3 in Class 3A
Here are the girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, total points, and previous ranking. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (7) 27-0 106 1 2. Alton (3) 24-1 92 T2 3. Bolingbrook (1) 20-2 88 T2 4. Maine South 22-1 75 4 5. Nazareth 18-3 61 5 6. Normal…
Read MoreRaiders flourish in fourth quarter, show signs of starting late-season push
CARTHAGE, Ill. — In the eyes of Aden Genenbacher and Noah Lunt, it’s time to start focusing on the postseason. Following the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s 51-41 victory Tuesday night over Illini West, both Genenbacher and Lunt were looking into the not-too-distant future. “We’d like to put together a run before the postseason…
Read MoreTide turns on technical as QND uses late first-half boost to carry it to victory
QUINCY — Floundering and frustrated, the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team was in desperate search of a second quarter spark during Saturday night’s affair with Beardstown at The Pit. The Raiders found the flare from their opponent. With less than three minutes left before halftime and staring down a double-digit deficit, QND forward Jackson Meyer…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Scoreboard and schedule
QUINCY — The sixth Quincy Shootout kicked off Friday night with games at Blue Devil Gym and the Pit. Here are those results and a look at Saturday’s schedule: Friday’s games At Blue Devil Gym Wasatch Academy 83, iSchool of Lewisville 54 MVP — Wasatch Academy’s Chris Nwuli (18 points, 8 rebounds) Link Academy 69,…
Read MorePrincipia’s defense creates havoc, deficit QND is unable to erase
QUINCY — After having not played in 13 days, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players figured they would have to knock off a little rust. The Raiders just didn’t expect it would take them until the second half to do it. By that time, it was too late. Principia’s tenacious defense limited QND to…
Read MoreShutting out Chargers in second quarter propels state-ranked Raiders to victory
CARTHAGE, Ill. — A slow start didn’t translate to a sluggish finish for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team. Defense turned everything around. Trailing Illini West 9-7 at the end of the first quarter Thursday night, the state-ranked Raiders shut out the Chargers in the second quarter, then scored 23 points in the third…
Read MoreIllinois boys basketball state rankings: Blue Devils move to No. 3 in Class 4A
CHICAGO — Here are the Illinois boys prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Homewood-Flossmoor (6) 17-1 105 2 2. Curie (5) 17-1 104 1 3. Quincy 17-1 74 5 4. Waubonsie Valley 18-0 66 NR 5. Lisle (Benet Academy) 15-2 62 7…
Read MoreIllinois girls basketball state rankings: QHS up two spots in Class 4A, QND and Central-Southeastern remain in poll
CHICAGO — Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (5) 22-0 75 1 2. Alton (2) 21-1 67 3 (tie) Bolingbrook (1) 18-2 67 5 4. Maine South 20-1 42 2 5. Nazareth 15-3 38 6 6.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Area wrestlers rack up medals in Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — Winter weather may have impacted the number of teams that traveled here to participate in the Quincy Invitational, but it couldn’t diminish the ability of area wrestlers to showcase their talents. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent Saturday at matside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreQND girls return home for first time in 25 days, recover from slow start to beat Hinsdale South
QUINCY — A week of uncertainty and irregularities ended with what Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne had been craving the last few days. That was a chance to play a game at The Pit. “We want to give these kids an opportunity to play, and that’s why today was so important,” Orne…
Read MoreIllinois girls state basketball rankings: QND slides up to No. 3, QHS and CSE remain in top 10s
CHICAGO — Here are the Illinois girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record, and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (2) 18-0 45 1 2. Maine South 20-0 44 3 3. Alton (3) 15-0 40 2 4. Normal Community 18-2 23 4 5. Bolingbrook 14-2 22 5 6.…
Read MoreKoerkenmeier’s last-second field goal gives Mater Dei edge in rematch with QND girls
BREESE, Ill. — On the final possession of regulation in Saturday afternoon’s state tournament rematch, the Breese Mater Dei girls basketball team adapted Wee Willie Keeler’s most famous quote to suit its needs. Instead of “hit ‘em where they ain’t,” as the National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee is credited with saying, the Knights decided…
Read MoreUndefeated Rockets apply constant pressure in beating Raiders in Christie Clinic Shootout
ST. JOSEPH, Ill. — The response didn’t surprise Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer and it shouldn’t have surprised anyone. When the Raiders teetered, Tolono Unity went for the kill. The Rockets bolted to an 8-2 lead at the start of Saturday’s game in the Christie Clinic Shootout at St. Joseph-Odgen High School,…
Read MoreRaiders pull away in fourth quarter to win defensive slugfest against Saukees
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Pittsfield boys basketball teams renew rivalry at Voshall Gym
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…
Read MoreIron sharpens iron: QHS’s Newbold, QND’s Darnell, Pittsfield’s Cook benefit from head-to-head competition
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.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND, Pittsfield wrestlers square off at The Pit
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…
Read MoreIllinois girls state basketball rankings: QHS, QND, Central-Southeastern all in respective top 10s
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…
Read MoreYear in Review 2023: Majority of top stories take place off court or field of play
QUINCY — The biggest headlines of 2023 happened off the court or field of play rather than on it. Here is a look at most viewed stories on the Muddy River Sports site throughout the last season. The list is a direct result of the analytics that show which stories have been clicked on or…
Read MoreStrong effort in final tourney game gives QND boys basketball team something to build upon
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…
Read MoreRaiders follow forgettable first half with fabulous second half, rout Stanford Olympia in consolation bracket
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…
Read MoreOffensive struggles send QND boys into consolation round of small school bracket for first time
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…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: Raiders stay close with once-beaten Pecatonica but can’t regain lead
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…
Read MoreVictory over Indians enables Raiders to take some mojo with them to holiday tournament
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Santa Claus vs. Grinch grudge match highlights youth wrestling event at QND
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…
Read MoreRaiders show no let up in rumbling to victory over Burlington Notre Dame
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,…
Read MoreTale of two halves: QND outlasts Central-Southeastern despite Panthers’ epic rally
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…
Read More‘Get it done and get it done quick’: First-quarter blitz carries Blue Devils to runaway victory over Raiders in crosstown showdown
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.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND go head-to-head on hardwood in crosstown showdown
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…
Read MoreEversman’s baseline jumper caps comeback, lifts QND girls to victory in Rumble on the River
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Full slate of games on second day of Rumble on the River
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:
Read More‘We put defense first’: Raiders put clamps on Pirates’ attack to run away with Rumble victory
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Hannibal girls kick off Rumble on the River
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:
Read MoreLocking it down: Central’s defense takes QND out of game in second half of key WCC matchup
CAMP POINT, Ill. — When asked, Camp Point Central boys basketball coach James Barnett has no problem pointing out what is special about senior center Gavin Blewett. “Gavin brings such huge energy, and he stepped up big for us tonight,” Barnett said. Correct on both accounts, Coach. The 6-foot-2 Blewett produced game highs of 14…
Read MoreThree area girls basketball teams crack top 10 in first Illinois state rankings
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) …
Read MoreHome is where victories are: QND girls run win streak at The Pit to 24 straight by beating Palmyra
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…
Read MoreZero to hero: Genenbacher’s torrid 3-point shooting carries QND boys past Palmyra
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND boys and girls sweep cross-river doubleheader from Palmyra
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…
Read MoreSubtle reminder: Words written on Genenbacher’s wrist inspire strong shooting effort as QND beats Hannibal
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…
Read MoreValuing possessions enables Raiders to overcome turnover-laden start, cruise past Suns
QUINCY — It only took a couple hap-hazard early possessions for Kevin Meyer to practically become unglued. Rather than take a timeout to voice his frustration, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach pointed at a ball and gave his players a simple message: Value it. “Once we settled in, I thought our guys started…
Read MoreRaiders with strong bounce-back effort in taking wind out of Cyclones in first half
QUINCY — That first-half performance from the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team did not escape the eye of Raiders coach Eric Orne. “We were fully engaged,” Orne said. QND’s eventual 43-31 margin of victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin did not do justice to how the Raiders took control and dominated the first half Thursday…
Read MoreThree QND girls basketball teams will be part of IBCA Hall of Fame Class of 2024
QUINCY — Three Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball teams will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The IBCA announced its Class of 2024 honorees on Monday. The induction ceremony will be held May 4 at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena. Among the teams being inducted are QND’s 2011, 2012 and…
Read MoreKvitle resigns as QND volleyball coach to better serve her growing family
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…
Read MoreBombers make critical defensive plays late to force OT, outlast Raiders to remain unbeaten
MACOMB, Ill. — Malachi Conley played the hero at the end of regulation. In overtime, his teammates did the rest. Conley, a guard on the Macomb boys basketball team, made two critical defensive plays and scored the game-tying basket in the final minute of regulation Saturday night, helping the Bombers force Quincy Notre Dame to…
Read MoreRaiders narrowly miss completing rally, but gain confidence from fighting back against Cyclones
QUINCY — The start to the fourth quarter nearly deflated the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team. The end of the fourth quarter nearly made the disappointment disappear. “I thought that was a growing-up period,” Raiders coach Kevin Meyer said. QND’s attempt to rally from a nine-point deficit fell short in its 53-51 loss to Sacred-Heart…
Read MoreTitans give Raiders tussle, but third-quarter run tilts game in QND’s favor
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…
Read MoreRaiders hold off Bulldogs to secure 1,000th victory in girls basketball program’s history
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.…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: QND girls basketball team stays unbeaten with home victory over Highland (Ill.)
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…
Read MoreSizzling start allows QND boys basketball team to cap weekend with strong finish
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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