‘One last ride’

QUINCY - Seniors Aidan Heikes and TreyVaughn Bierlink have led the Jacks basketball team all season with their leadership and points. The duo is also lifelong friends and have made history this season by becoming only the 5th and 6th athletes to score 1,000 career points at Quincy High School.

The two have accomplished many individual records and team goals this season, including the league title, district title, a state appearance, surpassing 1,000 career points, scoring the No. 3 most points for career and scoring the second-most points in a single season (the latter two by Bierlink).

The two explained that they have been friends since they were toddlers because they grew up in the same church and played on the same sports teams.

Both agreed their favorite parts in basketball are scoring and winning, things the two have had a lot of in the last year.

They said their team had a huge turnaround this year compared to the three seasons prior in which they’d had few wins. This year, the team finished with a 21-6 record along with the league and district titles that have not been taken by Quincy in more than 10 years.

“I mean, it was great. It was a blessing just to have the season at all after last year (when) we had that half season, so it was nice just to be there. But yeah, we reached pretty much almost every goal we had except the state title. So you can't ask for much more than that,” Heikes said.

He and Bierlink noted that they also aren't too upset with the games at state because two of the teams they lost to, Lynden Chrisitan and King’s, ended up playing each other for the state championship.

Bierlink noted that, while they have put in countless hours over the years, he felt like the drastic change in the team was due to a now or never mentality.

“I think we realized it was our last year together. Like, my dad's (Quincy head coach Scott Bierlink) been with us the whole way since first grade. So, one last ride, you got to go out big. That's what everyone figured,” said Bierlink.

Both young men are looking to play basketball after high school, but Heikes said he is more focused on college academically while Bierlink said he is more focused on the sport, trying to follow and maybe outdo his father who played college basketball at Whitworth University.

The two said they have mixed feelings about hoping that the younger players at Quincy High School will outdo their records and achievements because while they want to see them succeed, they do hope their records last awhile.

Bierlink’s advice to the next group of athletes is to bet on yourself, trust the process and keep working all those years. Heikes added to have confidence that the work you put in will pay off.