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

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

QUINCY — When Sage Stratton’s transition layup attempt rolled off the rim on the first possession of Saturday’s game, the best thing the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players could do was laugh it off. When Tristan Pieper’s shot from the block on the next possession missed the mark, there was a collective “Oh, no,…

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Blue Devils secure 200th victory of Dance’s coaching career by dominating Pirates

The Quincy High School girls basketball players celebrate coach brad Dance's 200th career victory at the end of Saturday's 55-29 victory over Boonville (Mo.) in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Brad Dance is a proven success as a girls basketball coach. As a math wiz, however, Dance may need to sharpen his skills. Moments after his Quincy High School team had dominated Boonville 55-29 on Saturday during the final day of the week-long 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College,…

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Panthers listen to words of wisdom, return to court energized in beating third straight Illinois opponent

Palmyra coach Brian Rea points something out to Panthers guard Pierce White, while Luke Sheppard, left, cheers during Saturday's game against Griggsville-Perry in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Even though the Palmyra boys basketball team had opened the season by winning seven of its first eight games, a group of former players thought a few things were amiss. So, they were granted permission to address the team during a Saturday practice, delivering a message that focused on improving in certain areas…

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Photo gallery: Scenes from final day of 17th Rumble on the River at JWCC

North Shelby guard Jay Miles passes the ball before getting trapped by Liberty's Reed Sparrow, left, and Jack Sparrow during Saturday's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A competitive week that brought the best in small-school basketball from West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri wrapped up Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The 17th Rumble on the River was a bonafide success, especially with teams walking out of the gym saying they will be back next year. Muddy…

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Scoreboard, schedule for 17th Rumble on the River

QUINCY — Here are the scores and schedule for the 17th Rumble on the River, taking place at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center: Monday, Dec. 16  Monroe City girls 56, Burlington Notre Dame 22 Tuesday, Dec. 17 Mendon Unity girls 54, Atlanta 22 Mendon Unity boys 62, Atlanta 54 Wednesday, Dec. 18 Brown…

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

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

QUINCY — No exaggeration of the number of field goal attempts the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team missed within 6 feet of the basket was going to be too high. “Way too many,” junior point guard Ari Buehler said. Raiders coach Eric Orne just shook his head. “They just didn’t fall,” he said. “I…

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Blue Devils find nice rhythm offensively, answer every one of Bearcats’ challenges

Quincy High School sophomore guard Myley Longcor sizes up the Hermann (Mo.) defense during the second half of Friday's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Dance is finding himself in the holiday spirit, and he wants the stockings of all of the Quincy High School girls basketball players to be filled with good vibes. “I told the girls we have to start finding the positives in things,” the Blue Devils coach said. Friday night, there was nothing…

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

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

QUINCY — The Monroe City boys basketball team made sure Friday night wasn’t an Illinois sweep. After the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball teams earned victories in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center, Monroe City dispatched Payson Seymour 66-50 in the nightcap. Muddy…

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Mayfield’s rhythm shooting from the perimeter enables Monroe City to waltz into break riding high

Monroe City guard Cole Hays, right, attempts to stop Payson Seymour's Lane Barker from getting to the basket during Friday night's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Mayfield has been searching for his shooting touch. He may have found it Friday night. The junior point guard sank five 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 23 points to help carry the Monroe City boys basketball team to a 66-50 victory over Payson Seymour in the 17th Rumble on the River…

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Monroe City boys continue building momentum heading toward Christmas break

Monroe City guard Marty Smyser III sets up the offense while being guarded by Troy Buchanan's Ren Askey during Thursday night's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — Brock Edris has his Christmas gift for the Monroe City boys basketball players neatly wrapped and ready to go. All that’s missing is a bow. A victory Friday night against Payson Seymour in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center would be the perfect accent.  The…

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Central-Southeastern’s defense swallows up Clopton, sets stage for run at Christmas tourney title

Central-Southeastern's Lexi Niekmap, right, pressures Clopton's Charleigh Spoonster during Thursday's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Physical defense wins games. “It does in our opinion,” Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach Matt Long said. And you can’t ease into that. “It’s even more important to do it out of the gate and get them down early,” Panthers guard Karly Peters said. It’s precisely what the Panthers did Thursday in overwhelming previously…

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Monroe City girls take advantage of being able to switch defensive assignments in shutting down Higbee

Monroe City's Cahlin Chapman gets fouled on her way to the basket during Thursday night's game against Higbee (Mo.) in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — The roster inside the 17th Rumble on the River program may define each of the Monroe City girls basketball players by their position, but truth be told, the Panthers feel they are essentially positionless. “We are all alike,” junior guard Ava Potterfield said. That makes finding a mismatch awfully difficult. The Panthers used…

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Photo gallery: Scenes from Thursday’s action during Rumble on the River at JWCC

Monroe City guard Marty Smyser III, right, gets pressured by Troy Buchanan's Tyler Gray during Thursday night's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — The Monroe City boys and girls basketball teams, along with Central-Southeastern, continued to show the strength of area hoops squads by picking up victories Thursday in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Central-Southeastern kicked off the night with a 64-31 victory over Clopton (Mo.), while…

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

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

QUINCY — The halftime disposition of Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne split the difference between Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk. Not too mild-mannered. Not too barbaric either. “A little bit of both,” junior forward Tristan Pieper said. “Kind of right in between.” The Raiders trailed Troy (Mo.) Buchanan 20-14 at the…

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Hornets apply consistent, constant pressure while rolling past Indians for Rumble on the River victory

Brown County's Maggi Henry puts up a shot while in traffic in the lane during Wednesday night's game against Van-Far in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brown County girls basketball coach David Phelps routinely harps on the Hornets’ need to run the alleys, spread the floor and share the basketball while in transition. “Every darn day,” Phelps said. He isn’t kidding. “Every day,” sophomore guard Kenzie Kassing said. “Yeah, it’s every day.” The reason why is so the Hornets…

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

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

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame and Brown County girls basketball teams rumbled to victories Wednesday in different ways. The Raiders went a 29-1 run to erase a 14-point deficit and rally in the second half for a 48-36 victory over Troy (Mo.) Buchanan in the 17th playing of the Rumble on the River at…

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Mustangs stay steady in chiseling away Hornets’ lead, taking control in second half

Mendon Unity's Skylor Goudschaal, left, blocks the shot of Atlanta's Emery Mason during Tuesday night's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A few months down the road, the Mendon Unity boys basketball team might look back at Tuesday night’s victory as a defining moment in its quest for the school’s first winning record since the 2016-17 season. The Mustangs, on the verge of being blown right off of Mountain Dew Court on the campus…

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Photo gallery: Mustangs sweep Hornets on second night of Rumble on the River

Mendon Unity girls basketball coach Cole Thompson, sporting a festive holiday look, talks to his players before the opening tip of Tuesday night's game against Atlanta (Mo.) in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Mendon Unity boys and girls basketball teams gave Illinois the edge after two nights of the 17th edition of the Rumble on the River, sweeping a pair of games from Atlanta (Mo.) at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Unity girls scored a 54-22 victory, and the boys followed with…

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Panthers rumble to victory behind Youngblood’s interior dominance, defensive pressure

Monroe City's Audri Youngblood shoots over a Burlington (Iowa) Notre Dame defender during Monday's game in the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — From the opening tip, the Monroe City girls basketball team’s game plan was evident — feed the ball to Audri Youngblood to set the tone in the post and use pressure defense to discombobulate Burlington (Iowa) Notre Dame. The Panthers accomplished each of those tasks in a 56-22 demolition of the Nikes in…

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Photo gallery: Monroe City cruises to victory in opening game of Rumble on the River

Monroe City junior guard Naaron Hays drives to the basket during the first half of Monday's game against Burlington Notre Dame in the Rumble at the River at the John Wood Community College Student Activity Center in Quincy. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Monroe City girls basketball team overwhelmed Burlington (Iowa) Notre Dame in a 56-22 victory Monday in the opening game of the 17th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:

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Big first quarter carries West Hancock, while Central-Southeastern relies on suffocating defense

Central-Southeastern's Claire Huston battles for a loose ball during Thursday night's game against Fort Madison (Iowa) in the 16th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A pair of girls basketball teams hoping to build momentum before tackling the challenging task of being the No. 1 seed in a holiday tournament gained a much-needed boost Thursday night. It just happened to come in vastly different ways. West Hancock, the No. 1 seed in the Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic, used…

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Photo gallery: West Hancock, Central-Southeastern cap Rumble on the River with victories

West Hancock's Lillie Woodworth fakes an inbounds pass during Thursday's game against Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The West Hancock and Central-Southeastern girls basketball teams put a cap on the 16th Rumble on the River Holiday Shootout with victories Thursday night. The Titans beat Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton 58-49 and the Panthers dispatched Fort Madison (Iowa) 49-16. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at John Wood Community…

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Rumble on the River final scoreboard

QUINCY — Here is a look at the scoreboard for the 16th Rumble on the River Holiday Shootout: Played at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center Friday, December 15 Quincy Notre Dame girls 59, Hannibal 21 MVP — QND’s Sage Stratton Saturday, December 16 North Shelby girls 38, Payson Seymour 33 MVP — North…

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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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Photo gallery: Missouri squads gain edge on third night of Rumble on the River

Palmyra's Bear Bock dives a loose ball while surrounded by sevreral Payson Seymour players during Monday night's matchup in the 16th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Monday night proved to be Missouri’s night. Three Missouri squads — the Monroe City boys and girls basketball teams along with the Palmyra boys — snared victories at the 16th Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Monroe City girls used eight points apiece from JWCC signee…

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Rumble on the River Day 3 scoreboard and upcoming schedule

QUINCY — Here is a look at the scoreboard and upcoming schedule for the 16th Rumble on the River: Played at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center Friday, December 15 Quincy Notre Dame girls 59, Hannibal 21 MVP — QND’s Sage Stratton Saturday, December 16 North Shelby girls 38, Payson Seymour 33 MVP —…

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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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QHS’s twin towers power way past Cairo Northwest during Rumble on the River victory

Quincy High School's Leah Chevalier pressures Cairo (Mo.) Northwest guard Mallori Hankins during Saturday's game in the Rumble on the River. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Taylor Fohey and Jada Brown are at opposite ends of their high school careers, one signed to play college basketball next season and the other about to finish the first semester of her freshman year. Yet, when they meet in the middle, they are as formidable as any twin towers around. Cairo (Mo.)…

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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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Rigg-ing up a victory: Suns guard buries game-winning 3-pointer at buzzer in state-ranked showdown

Mason Fry, left, and Owen Rigg, right, let their emotion out after Rigg hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a 45-42 victory over Bunker (Mo.) in the 15th annual Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Owen Rigg has played in dozens, if not hundreds, of basketball games in his life. But the Southeastern junior guard had never hit a game-winning buzzer beater. Not until Wednesday night. With the clock winding down and the game tied at 42, Suns senior Danny Stephens drew a double team and found Rigg…

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December to remember: Raiders cap hectic three-week schedule with another grind-it-out victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Abbey Schreacke alters the shot of Cardinal Ritter's Elyssa White, left, during Wednesday's game at the 15th annual Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eric Orne wants the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players to relish a well-earned holiday reprieve. “They get to rest,” the veteran coach said, “and they get to enjoy some family time.” The Raiders get to do so as far away from the gym as they wish. “He told us to forget about…

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Rumble on the River: Mustangs sweep Panthers behind two stout defensive efforts

Monroe City's Myra Jones, left, looks to pass before getting trapped by Unity's Ashlynn Arnsman, center, and Sophia Shaffer during Tuesday night's game in the Rumble on the River at JWCC's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Nick Maynard made two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining in regulation Tuesday night to help the Unity boys basketball team seal a 45-41 victory over Monroe City in the 15th annual Rumble on the River. It also completed a sweep for the Mustangs, as the Unity girls, ranked third in Class 1A,…

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Panthers use toughness, tenaciousness to finish off weekend with solid Rumble on the River victory

From left to right, Camp Point Central's Drew Paben, Gavin Blewitt and Isaac Genenbacher surround Madison's Carlis Wilson during Saturday's game in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Camp Point Central boys basketball coach James Barnett admits the preparation for this weekend’s pair of challenges included some uneasiness. “Nervous,” Barnett said of the one word he thought of having to travel to play West Central Conference opponent Quincy Notre Dame on Friday night and then play a neutral site affair against…

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QND girls developing depth during December’s endless run of games

Quincy Notre Dame guard Sage Stratton, left, drives to the basket during the second half of Saturday's game against Moberly in the Rumble on the River at John Wood Commnunity College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — No rest for the weary. At least not for a few more days. The December schedule that has the top-ranked Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team playing 13 games in 21 days is nearing its end. Two games in a three-day span will wrap it up before the Raiders go 17 days until…

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Second-quarter surge carries top-ranked Raiders to victory in milestone moment for Orne

Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne won his 500th career game Friday night when the Raiders beat Mascoutah 58-42 in the opening game of the Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eric Orne’s milestone moment came at home … sort of. The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach reached the 500 career victory plateau Friday night with a 58-42 victory over Mascoutah in the opening game of the four-day, 16-game Rumble on the River at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Although the…

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Rumble on the River provides prep basketball smorgasbord before Christmas

Liberty's Breiton Klingele, right, gets position for a rebound during Wednesday night's game against Lewistown in the Rumble on the River. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A three-day, 15-game prep basketball extravaganza wrapped up Wednesday night at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center with a glimpse of what’s to come. The Liberty boys basketball team improved to 9-1 with their victory in the Rumble on the River. The Payson Seymour boys improved to 6-3 with back-to-back victories. The…

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Perfect dozen: Raiders head into Christmas break 12-0 with tough schedule looming

Quincy Notre Dame's Lia Quintero, left, gets fouled by Lewistown's Makenna Johnson on her way to the basket during Wednesday night's game in the Rumble on the River. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The easy part is over, although Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne might argue nothing about the first half of the season could be considered easy. Compared to what lies ahead, it wasn’t quite as taxing. The Raiders get a four-day break following Wednesday night’s 66-38 victory over Lewistown in the…

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