Quincy boys to battle for district title

QUINCY – The Quincy High School boys basketball team bounced back from a more than 20-point deficit to defeat Chelan High School on Tuesday – another step toward its first league championship in more than 20 years.

The Quincy High School gym was packed for the league matchup. This was the third time the two teams clashed, but on Tuesday night a lot more was on the line. Both teams were 8-1 in the Caribou Trail League going into the game, having each lost to the other once in the season. This game was expected to define which team would have a chance at the league championship.

Quincy immediately got possession of the ball from the tip-off. Chelan; however, was quick to get the possession and get on the board first with a three-pointer from senior Nate Harding. Quincy’s first point came from senior Aidan Heikes making a free throw. The first quarter was a rough one for the Jacks, letting Chelan get ahead 15 points. The first quarter ended with Quincy at only 7 points, and Chelan at 22.

The second quarter saw a pick up in speed by the Jacks; however, Chelan was able to maintain their lead. The first half of the game ended with Chelan ahead, with 28, and Quincy slightly behind at 27.

Quincy came out of halftime with a renewed sense of drive. Bit by bit, Quincy worked to shorten the gap. While improving, Quincy was still behind at the end of the third quarter, 44-52.

The fourth quarter is where the game got intense. Quincy continued its drive to catch up to Chelan. About halfway through the final quarter, the Jacks were within inches of Chelan. Between five minutes, 18 seconds left and three minutes, 55 seconds left, Quincy was able to flip the score from 53-55 to taking the lead, with 56-55. Both teams battled on and Quincy was able to have a five-point lead going into the final minute of the game.

After several free throws and last minute attempts by Chelan to score, Quincy took the game 67-63.

Quincy head coach Scott Bierlink said he had his doubts about his team being able to come back from a more than 20 point deficit. He said he definitely didn’t expect the game to start out the way it did, with lots of mistakes and turnovers on Quincy’s part, which led to Chelan’s initial lead.

Throughout the game, many basic mistakes were made by both teams, such as traveling and double dribbling.

Bierlink said those mistakes were uncharacteristic for his team and he felt like the team’s sub par performance in the first half was due to nerves and the time it took to get going.

He noted he was very proud of his team for not giving up and digging themselves out of the deficit, and teams of the previous few years would not have done so.

“We’ve got some good offensive firepower,” Bierlink said. “Aidan Heikes tonight was just phenomenal. He can really score the ball when he gets going.”

Heikes was the high scorer of the night, with a total of 32 points, scoring 21 of the team’s 27 points in the first half. He was also the only Jack to make any three-pointers during the game, and made three.

To secure their league title, the Jacks must win their game against Omak High School on Friday. If the Jacks can pull it off, this will be the program’s first league title in more than 20 years. The last time the Jacks took home a league title, Bierlink was on the team as a player in 2000.

“Kudos to the kids, they deserve it, they put in a ton of time and so it’s really cool to see them kind of see the fruits of their labor so to speak,” said Bierlink.

Beirlink said this title is also a little more special because not only is his son on the team, but because he had coached most of the kids on the team all together since they were in the first grade.

“It’s been a special year, but we’re not done yet,” Bierlink said.

He noted the team has high goals of not only taking the league title, but also the district championship and even a state title.

The Jacks will take on Chelan for a fourth time this season at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 at Wenatchee High School for the district title.

Box Score

Quincy - 7 20 17 23 - 67

Chelan - 22 16 14 11 - 63

Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.