Keeping the faith: Entrup’s run of service points helps QND rally to win sectional volleyball title

The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team won the Class 2A Riverton Sectional title with a 25-16, 20-25, 25-20 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Thursday night in the Hawk Center in Riverton, Ill. | Submitted photo

RIVERTON, Ill. — Sydney Entrup believed a little divine intervention wouldn’t hurt. So as she lined up to serve with the third set of Thursday night’s Class 2A Riverton Sectional volleyball championship hanging in the balance, the Quincy Notre Dame senior gave herself an inspirational pep talk. “I just kept going back there and saying,…

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Loud and clear: Raiders quiet Cyclones, big plays offensively lead to statement-making victory

Quincy Notre Dame linebacker Taylin Scott (42) and the Raiders' defense stack up a Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin ballcarrier during Friday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Mathew Kirby photo

QUINCY — A lopsided victory against a six-time state champion may open plenty of eyes around the state of Illinois.  It came as no surprise to the Quincy Notre Dame football team. “(QND coach Jack Cornell) emphasized to us this whole week that we need to make a statement, and obviously we did,” junior running…

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‘They deserved it’: Cyclones flex muscle, end Raiders season in sectional championship

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Makayla Patton drives past Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin defender Callie Huston during Wednesday's Class 1A sectional championship in Riverton, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

RIVERTON, Ill. — The tone of Mark Thomas’ voice almost never changes. This was the case even as the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team fell behind in the first half of Wednesday’s Class 1A Riverton Sectional championship game against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin. “If we keep this at 2-1 at halftime, we’re fine,” the Raiders…

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Cyclones walk off with victory over Saukees after scoring twice in seventh of regional title game

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The start was nearly perfect. The ending proved imperfect. After Pittsfield senior first baseman Brennan Tomhave launched a one-out home run to center field in the top of the first inning Saturday, Saukees right-hander Konner Allen retired Sacred Heart-Griffin without trouble in the bottom of the frame. However, the lead didn’t last.…

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Pitchers’ duel ends with Cyclones ending Raiders’ season in Class 2A regional semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame junior right-hander Abram Wiewel took a no-hitter into the fifth inning of Wednesday's Class 2A regional semifinal loss to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin. | Matt Schuckman photo

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — One swing changed everything. Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Abram Wiewel held the second-seeded Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin baseball team hitless for a 4 ⅓ innings Wednesday in the semifinals of the Class 2A Pittsfield Regional. Then SHG designated hitter Gage Luttrell blasted a one-ball, one-strike pitch to center field for a solo home…

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Lantz’s free throws enable Central-Southeastern to fend off SHG for Class 2A regional title

The Central-Southeastern players and bench react to beating Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 44-41 for the Class 2A regional championship Thursday night in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Karly Peters’ response was both euphoric and prophetic. “This feeling is amazing, and we’re not done yet,” said Peters, a 5-foot-9 junior forward for Central-Southeastern’s No. 6-ranked Class 2A girls basketball team. Peters was one of several Panthers who figured prominently in the CSE’s 44-41 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin during…

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Photo gallery: Central-Southeastern wins regional championship clash with SHG

Central-Southeastern coach Matt Long talks to his team during a timeout during Thursday night's Class 2A regional championship game against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team took advantage of the friendly confines of its home gym Thursday night, earning a 44-41 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the Class 2A regional championship in front of a standing room-only crowd. The Panthers went 14-0 at home this season while advancing to the Beardstown…

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SHG clamps down defensively after first quarter, knocks West Hancock out of postseason

West Hancock's Lillie Woodworth, left, drives the baseline during the first quarter of Monday's Class 2A regional semifinal against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at Camp Point, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The West Hancock girls basketball team opened Monday night’s Class 2A regional semifinal game with an impressive 16-point first quarter against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin. Unfortunately, the Titans only scored 16 more points the rest of the game. Sacred Heart-Griffin’s defense and a ball-control offense in the fourth quarter combined to eliminate…

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Raiders begin title defense by hammering Hawks, set up regional final matchup with Cyclones

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Weather and scheduling conflicts forced the regular-season matchup between the Quincy Notre Dame and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin girls soccer teams to first be postponed and then shelved. Nothing will stop them from going head-to-head now. QND began the defense of its Class 1A state championship by hammering Riverton 8-0 Tuesday night in…

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Perfect 10s: Raiders improve to 10-0 with 10-run rout of Cyclones behind Bunte’s no-hitter

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore left-hander Caitlin Bunte delivers a pitch during Monday's game against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at The Backyard. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte didn’t expect a blustery wind blowing straight out to center field Monday afternoon to alter anything she needed to do in the pitcher’s circle. “If I’m hitting my spots, even with the wind blowing, I knew we’d be fine,” she said. Then the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s left-handed hurler saw…

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Photo gallery: QND softball team stays undefeated with five-inning victory over SHG

Quincy Notre Dame third baseman Brooke Boden connects and drives the ball during Monday's game against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at The Backyard. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte was unhittable in the circle and unstoppable at the plate. The Quincy Notre Dame sophomore tossed a five-inning no-hitter in leading the QND softball team to a 10-0 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Monday at The Backyard. Bunte also belted two home runs as the Raiders improved to 10-0. Muddy…

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Top of the charts: QU men’s basketball signee breaks SHG’s career scoring record

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin's Jake Hamilton, who has signed a national letter of intent with Quincy University, recently became the Cyclones' all-time leading scorer. | Photo courtesy Greg Puckel

QUINCY — The way the numbers added up, Jake Hamilton needed one more shot at history. So Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin boys basketball coach Tim Allen obliged. With a sizable second-half lead over North Chicago in the opening round of the State Farm Holiday Classic on December 27, Allen was set to sub out all of…

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C-SE knocks off SHG with dynamic defensive effort in second half of tourney quarterfinal

Central-Southeastern's Lauren Miller, left, and Tori Fessler, center, helped the Panthers reach the semifinals of the State Farm Holiday Classic by upending second-seeded Springield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Wednesday night. | File photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Matt Long made it sound so simple. “In the second half, I thought we had a lot of energy and effort and it turned the game for us,” the veteran Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach said. The tenaciousness defensively brought about by playing with more energy and effort certainly did that. A five-point…

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Defense helps carry Raiders to brink of another state tournament appearance

Quincy Notre Dame junior sweeper Eva Dickerman shields the ball away from a Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin attacker during Friday's Class 1A QND Sectional championship game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Longo readily admitted Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin controlled the bulk of play Friday. “It was probably 60/40 in their favor,” he said. “It may have been 62/38 or something like that.” Even so, Longo never fully fretted. His stout defense is why. Raiders sophomore goalkeeper Aly Young…

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