Jacks win CTL title

QUINCY – The Jacks’ 1-0 win over Cascade (Leavenworth) on Tuesday wasn’t just the 11th-straight victory for Quincy – it also locked up the regular season Caribou Trail League title for the Jacks.

“It was something that we set for ourselves early in the season,” Quincy Head Coach Francisco Tafoya said. “Even though we won at Cascade to put us tied on the records, it was because we took it to PK’s that we got second place because of the point system – so they won the league title. It was something that the boys were shooting for, a small fraction of what we’re shooting for. Getting the league title first, then hopefully getting a district title and making an appearance at the state final.”

The game remained tied at zero until second-half stoppage time, where Quincy was awarded with a penalty kick attempt following a Kodiak handball.

“Rafa Perez had the ball down the left side, and he was looking to get a cross off,” Tafoya said. “In the process, a Cascade player, he had his hand out a little bit further from his body. The ball just happened to hit his hand in the process of trying to get that cross off.”

Senior Isaac Lopez connected on the kick, which moved Quincy to 12-1 on the season and the regular season champions of the CTL.

“I know (Lopez) missed a PK at the game in Overlake, probably still hanging over his head a little bit,” Tafoya said. “We showed him that we have confidence in him to keep taking them – and he finished it. Hopefully, that’s something that he takes on and he keeps going forward.”

Locking up a CTL title on the road against Cascade made the win even sweeter, Tafoya said.

“Especially on their home turf, it was their senior night too,” Tafoya said. “It made it more pleasant for the entire team.”

Quincy came into Tuesday’s contest against Cascade off a 3-2 road win over Overlake in Redmond. Traveling over to the west side for a regular season game helps prepare for state playoffs, Tafoya said.

“It gives us a different view of what those teams on the other side of the mountains have to offer,” Tafoya said. “When you’re on this side, you get more of the flare type of players where they like to have the ball at their feet and take players on. When you go over to that side, you get teams that are more tactical and have a game plan, and play very simple. It’s a completely different ballgame that we have to experience and learn from.”

The lone setback in Quincy’s 12-1 record was a 5-4 loss to 4A Wenatchee in a home game on March 14.

“Even though it was a non-league game against Wenatchee, we like to consider it a rivalry since we play it every single year,” Tafoya said. “In other seasons, a lot of the guys would come off very upset and taking it to heart that we lost to Wenatchee. This year, I feel like the entire mood of the team was different. They were motivated by how well they did, and it showed in the game. They took that game and worked to improve on it, rather than dropping off.”’

Following Thursday’s home match against Cashmere, the Jacks will close out the regular season with a road game against Omak on May 3.

“Keeping our foot on the gas and going full-throttle,” Tafoya said. “We have team talks, and we set a goal where it would be awesome to not lose another game this season.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.