Jacks turn Cinderella into pumpkin

QUINCY — Sure Wapato came into their Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) district semifinal game at Quincy on Tuesday night full of momentum.

Two straight road wins over Othello and East Valley gave the Wolves a Cinderella feel to their run to a hoped for state berth.

But then they ran into the CWAC North champs Quincy and let’s just say the glass slipper turned into a pile of pumpkin seeds.

A first half penalty kick and a dominating second half performance by the host Jacks was enough for Quincy to cruise to a 3-0 win and clinch a berth in Saturday’s District Championship match and berth into the Class 2A state tournament.

The CWAC final will be hosted by Quincy (16-1) at 1 p.m. against CWAC South champions Toppenish (12-5).

“They just went out there and controlled the ball,” Quincy coach Thomas Turner said about his team. “We got all the 50-50 balls and were working the sidelines and making the crossover for plenty of shots. We got a lot of shots today.”

Manuel Hernandez got Quincy on the board in the 29th minute, scoring on  a penalty kick and that tally would hold until halftime as the Jacks led 1-0.

Coming out of the locker room the Jacks pounced again within moments of the start of the second half.

Facing a direct kick just outside the Wapato (7-10) 18-yard box, J.C. Romero struck the shot home and Quincy had doubled their lead in the 41st minute.

Jesus Diaz clinched the win with a pass from Efrain Alvarado in the 73rd minute which he calmly put into the back of the net.

Quincy outshot Wapato 23-4.

Now they face Toppenish who they beat 3-0 earlier this season.

Turner noted that Toppenish is much improved from their first contest.

With a win Saturday, Quincy would potentially host their first two state playoff games assuming they won their initial contest.

“We played really well and just never let Wapato in the game,” Turner said. “If we win against Toppenish it would be big for us to be able to host those two games with a chance to go to the state semifinals.”

This year’s Class 2A state soccer semifinals are in Sumner on the weekend of May 28-29.