Posts Tagged ‘The Pit’
QND 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 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 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 MoreEmotional end to home slate comes with Raiders finishing off perfect season at The Pit
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,…
Read MoreVideo highlights: QHS, QND square off on volleyball court on ‘Pink Night’ at The Pit
QUINCY — Videographer Frank Cann put together a highlight package from Monday night’s crosstown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame volleyball teams at The Pit. The Raiders won 25-19, 25-15.
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND volleyball team sweeps Payson Seymour at The Pit
QUINCY — Coming off a second-place finish at the Lincoln Tournament in which it went 4-1 against Class 3A and 4A competition, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team returned home Wednesday for a West Central Conference matchup with Payson Seymour. A balanced attack that featured three hitters leading the way with five kills apiece led…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND volleyball team beats West Hancock in home opener at The Pit
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team finished off back-to-back victories on back-to-back nights with back-to-back sweeps. The Raiders beat West Hancock 25-8, 25-11 on Thursday night at The Pit to open the season 2-0. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was at The Pit and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND welcomes home Class 2A third-place baseball team
QUINCY — Mark McDowell did what he needed to do in order to get the job done. He adjusted. To kick off the pep rally welcoming home the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team following its third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament, the QND principal planned to begin his opening remarks by playing the…
Read MoreSecond-quarter shutout shows Raiders how dominant they can be defensively
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer could have waited another 35 seconds until the first quarter ended to address the issues he saw with how the Raiders were interacting defensively. It wouldn’t have had the same impact. So when Liberty coach Greg Altmix used a timeout with 34.8 seconds remaining in…
Read MoreSurging at right time gives Raiders momentum with plenty of practice on horizon
QUINCY — The stage at which the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team found itself — both in Tuesday night’s game and its season — screamed of a need for momentum. Charlie Lavery provided it. With QND leading Illini West 24-23 with 2 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the first half at The Pit, the…
Read MoreDefensive traction not enough to turn tide in QND’s favor in setback against Father Tolton
QUINCY — The traction gained repeatedly on defense didn’t translate to offensive efficiency, handcuffing the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team in its comeback effort Friday night. Despite holding Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton to a pair of fourth-quarter field goals, the Raiders managed just three field goals themselves, resulting in a 49-41 loss in the…
Read MoreBig leads force top-ranked Raiders to dig deep to stay focused and energetic
QUINCY — Maybe this was inevitable. Coming off a 53-point victory and riding the momentum of a double-digit win streak, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team built a 21-point halftime lead Thursday night against Illini West. That’s when it happened. Complacency set in. The Raiders, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, were never in…
Read MoreAll eyes on them: Top-ranked Raiders match hype of return home with balanced scoring in victory
QUINCY — After seeing the volleyball team’s creative use of The Pit’s videoboards, which were installed last spring, the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players wanted to have their turn implementing hype videos. Initially, Raiders coach Eric Orne hedged. “He told us we had to earn it with the December stretch that we had and…
Read MoreRaiders continue to zero in on letting defense dictate success, quiet Saukees’ offense
QUINCY — The scoreboard lacked the zero the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players yearned to see. A goose egg in the scorebook sufficed. The Raiders held Pittsfield without a field goal in the first quarter Friday night at The Pit, allowing only a single Adam Musgrave free throw while building a 13-1 advantage. The…
Read MoreRaiders get back to who they are in ending three-game skid with 13-point victory
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team’s search for its identity seems to be over. All the Raiders had to do was rediscover who they really are. “Play tough defense, get in our offense fast, run in transition, and do the little things right,” senior guard Jackson Stratton said Tuesday night after a…
Read MoreOpening possession of second half sets tone for Panthers to pull away from Raiders
QUINCY — Having chiseled a 10-point deficit down to two over the final 3 minutes, 45 seconds of the first half Friday night, the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team had a simple plan of attack for the start of the second half and keep the momentum rolling. “We said, ‘OK, go out and get…
Read MoreBuehler? Buehler? Buehler? Yes, Buehler hits clutch free throws as QND rallies past Unity
QUINCY — The moment required Ari Buehler to ignore, focus and follow through. Not an easy task on any front. Fouled with 14.4 seconds remaining in regulation and the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team clinging to a two-point lead, the freshman guard first had to become oblivious to the chatter from the Unity players…
Read MoreHalftime discussion enables QND boys basketball team to alter tide in victory over Macomb
QUINCY — As the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coaching staff met in the office adjacent to the locker room at halftime Saturday night, the Raiders were engaging in their own discussion. The theme of both conversations seemed to be the same. What is the Raiders’ identity going to be? The second half — particularly…
Read MoreQND girls basketball team ramps up pressure, completes weekend sweep with easy victory
QUINCY — By the midpoint of the first quarter there was only one real question surrounding the Quincy Notre Dame-Warrenton girls basketball matchup that was playing out at The Pit. Would Warrenton wind up with more points or turnovers by game’s end? If your choice had been “points” you would have been correct, but only…
Read MoreRaiders open title defense with familiar out-of-the-gate knockout punch of Warriors
QUINCY — The knockout punch came quickly. Quincy Notre Dame scored early and often Friday night, opening its girls basketball season with a relatively easy 68-39 victory over Hardin Calhoun at The Pit. “I felt we played with a lot of confidence,” QND senior Blair Eftink said. “We were excited to play.” The game was…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND volleyball team beats Illini West in Class 2A regional championship
QUINCY — For the seventh time in the last eight seasons, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team can call itself a regional champion. This time, the Raiders gave their seniors a lasting memory in their final game at The Pit. QND beat Illini West 25-13, 25-17 to advance to the Farmington Sectional, where the Raiders…
Read MoreEaton guides power-hitting QND to quick victory over Pittsfield in regional semifinals
QUINCY — Annie Eaton’s smile is infectious, but don’t let that nice-girl persona fool you. She’s the quiet assassin of the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team. And she relishes that role. “I like to control things out there,” Eaton said. “I like to run the offense.” The Raiders’ floor general was at her directorial best…
Read MorePrelude to a rematch? Macomb volleyball team beats QND in three-set thriller between sectional foes
QUINCY — With her Macomb High School classmates milling around and her Bomber volleyball teammates screaming in the background, senior outside hitter Kennedy Adair tried to sum up Wednesday night’s three-set victory over Quincy Notre Dame. “That was amazing,” a smiling Adair said after the Bombers survived a 25-17, 17-25, 25-23 thriller at The Pit.…
Read MoreRaiders, Bombers take care of business ahead of showdown between top Class 2A volleyball teams
QUINCY — Looking forward could have meant falling behind. The Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb girls volleyball teams both faced that scenario Tuesday. Both handled it with aplomb. The Raiders dispatched Southeastern 25-13, 25-15 at The Pit, while the Bombers put away Havana 25-17, 25-23 at the Washington Street Gym. Now, both squads can turn…
Read MoreQND volleyball seniors make sure to put outcome of match first on night they are feted
QUINCY — Everything about Senior Night is designed to bring out emotion. The swelling pride of parents. The camaraderie of classmates. The realization the end is near. It tends to make the game — no matter the sport — a secondary component to everything else. Wednesday night at The Pit, the six seniors on the…
Read MoreBlockbusters: Improved play at net makes Raiders tougher defensively in sweep of Chargers
QUINCY — Ali Entrup’s reaction spoke volumes. Her play at the net resonated even louder. During a tug-o-war portion of the first set Thursday night against Illini West at The Pit, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s senior right side hitter stuffed a Chargers attack, giving the Raiders the point, the serve and the momentum.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND and Illini West square off in volleyball at The Pit
QUINCY — Here is a look at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s 25-15, 25-18 victory over Illini West on Thursday night at The Pit through the camera lens of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:
Read MoreIf you’re happy and you know it: QND volleyball players’ enjoyment shows in dominant results
QUINCY — The Pit is their happy place. To see how true that is, take a gander at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players during warmups or pregame introductions. Smiles and laughter overtake everyone. “We love to be here,” senior outside hitter Laela Hernandez-Jones said. “We love games. We love getting to perform what we’re…
Read MoreDominant run on Hoing’s serve sends QND volleyball team to 10th straight victory
QUINCY — As each Emma Hoing topspin serve befuddled the Rushville-Industry volleyball players, the Quincy Notre Dame advantage grew more insurmountable. “It’s kind of fun,” said Hoing, the junior outside hitter who enjoyed a nine-point run on her serve during the second set of Wednesday night’s match at The Pit. “I just want to keep…
Read MoreGirls just want to have fun: Raiders start season with two-set victory over Mustangs
QUINCY — Faith Kientzle’s smile never fades. Why should it? Volleyball season is officially here. “It’s supposed to be fun,” said the Quincy Notre Dame senior libero, who has already verbally committed to Lincoln Land Community College. “And that’s what Coach told us. Just go out there and have fun and the other stuff will…
Read MoreRaiders rebound from tough loss, find confidence and momentum heading into postseason
QUINCY — Enough was enough. The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players needed to address the reasons why they lost to West Hancock on the road Tuesday night and what was contributing to the Raiders’ recent slump. So when the coaching staff gathered them for practice at the Pit, the Raiders seized the opportunity to…
Read MoreStrong connection: Raiders share basketball, scoring and responsibilities in dismantling Rockets
QUINCY — One of the themes Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer touched on during his team’s shootaround Saturday afternoon was staying connected. The Raiders were locked together front to back and side to side Saturday night in a 74-38 dismantling of Rushville-Industry at The Pit in the first meeting between the schools…
Read MoreSuperFan Shootout: Talton’s field goal gives Panthers final edge in epic state-ranked showdown with Eagles
QUINCY — Tied up, off target, then true. Joshua Talton smiled knowing the last one was the only one that mattered. Stymied at the end of regulation when his drive to the basket resulted in a jump ball and foiled at the end of the first overtime when his elbow jumper caromed off the rim,…
Read MoreSuperFan Shootout: Edwardsville pulls away from QND in fourth quarter in showdown of two girls basketball dynasties
QUINCY — Sydney Harris said she and her Edwardsville girls basketball teammates tend to struggle following a long bus ride. That haul from Madison County to Quincy, however, proved to be little or no problem when the Tigers outlasted Quincy Notre Dame 66-54 in Saturday night’s marquee matchup in the SuperFan Shootout at The Pit.…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: QND rallies, then falls in overtime to Confluence Prep
QUINCY — It hurt like any loss. It hurt even more because it was an overtime loss. Yet a grin kept crawling across the face of Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball coach Kevin Meyer afterward. The Raiders fought back from a 10-point deficit to lead at halftime, then was a half-second away from winning in…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: SLUH’s Kramer finds range, rhythm in second half
QUINCY — St. Louis University High and Math, Civics and Sciences Charter out of Philadelphia played to nearly a draw in the first half, with the Jr. Billikens taking a 28-25 lead at halftime of their matchup in the Quincy Shootout at the Pit on Friday night. Then Nick Kramer took over. The senior guard…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Memphis East goes on 23-point spurt to dispatch Father Tolton
QUINCY — Memphis East scored 23 consecutive points late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter to blow open a close game and defeat Father Tolton Catholic from Columbia, Mo., 71-53 on Friday night in the first game of the Quincy Shootout at the Pit. Neither team led by more than four…
Read MoreDefensive pressure, QND’s scoring duo too much for QHS to overcome in rivalry game
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team didn’t score off the opening tip Tuesday night like it so often does. The Raiders didn’t convert on their opening possession either, which negated their ability to jump into a full-court press and create havoc for Quincy High School’s backcourt. It took 52 seconds for all…
Read MoreNo dunk, no worries: Sheffield, Raiders create chaos with defense against Wildcats
QUINCY — Braden Sheffield set his sights on the rim. Unfortunately, the Quincy Notre Dame junior guard never got the chance to get his hands on it. “Some things aren’t meant to be,” he said with a wry smile. Teaming with the Raiders’ Alex Connoyer and Jackson Stratton to create chaos each time the Western…
Read MoreRaiders’ in-your-face defense leaves Cyclones spinning ineffectively on offense
QUINCY — Blair Eftink started it with a 1-2 punch. Abbey Schreake followed with a couple of haymakers. And the knockout blow came from the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s in-your-face defense that befuddled Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin’s backcourt Thursday night at the Pit. Eftink’s layup off the opening tip and 3-pointer on the Raiders’…
Read MoreRaiders get on same page, ignore distractions to sweep Blue Devils
QUINCY — Abbey Schreacke was keenly aware of the inherent distractions Tuesday night’s match brought. The city rivalry was front and center. The Pink Night celebration drew a bigger crowd. And a planned post-match recognition of Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle’s 100th career victory would lose some luster if the Raiders fell to…
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