Quincy, Royal and Wahluke soccer begin state playoffs
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months AGO
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | May 17, 2024 1:30 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN – Three Basin soccer teams will hit the field for the state tournament, all of which are 1A squads; Royal, Wahluke and Quincy.
The Knights earned the highest seed of the three, taking the No. 3 seed in the tournament. Royal (16-3-1) won its final four games before the state tournament; its regular season finale April 25 against Warden, the district opener against Wapato on May 2, a district semifinal against Highland on May 7 and the South Central Athletic Conference district final against Wahluke on May 11.
Up first for the Knights is No. 19 Meridian, who defeated No. 14 King’s Way Christian 2-1 in the opening round Tuesday. The 14-4-1 Trojans defeated Lynden Christian 2-0 in Saturday’s 1A Northwest Conference district championship game, qualifying for the state tournament in the process.
Kickoff of Friday’s loser-out match between the Trojans and Knights is at 5 p.m. at Royal High School.
While Wahluke’s 13-game win streak came to an end in Saturday’s SCAC district championship game against Royal, the Warriors earned a No. 6 in this year’s 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament.
Wahluke (19-2) takes on No. 11 Seton Catholic in the second round on Friday; the 12-4-2 Cougars reached the state tournament after defeating La Center 2-0 in the consolation round of the Trico 1A district tournament Saturday.
Kickoff between the Cougars and Warriors is at 7 p.m. Friday at Royal High School. The winner of Friday’s match goes on to face the winner of the Royal-Meridian match Saturday at 1 p.m. at Royal High School.
Quincy, the No. 10 seed in the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament, rides a four-game win streak into the state tournament; the Jacks (13-5-2) defeated Warden 6-1 in the regular season finale, then Manson and Bridgeport in the opening and second rounds of the 1A District 6 tournament before defeating Cascade (Leavenworth) 1-0 in the district title game Saturday.
The Jacks match up against No. 7 Toppenish (17-3-1) to open up the state tournament Friday; the Wildcats took down Wapato 2-1 in a shootout win to qualify for the state tournament, then defeated Highland 1-0 to take third in the SCAC district tournament.
Kickoff between the Jackrabbits and Wildcats is at 5 p.m. Friday at Vashon Island High School. The winner goes on to play either No. 2 Vashon Island or No. 15 Cashmere on Saturday at 2 p.m., while the loser is eliminated from the tournament.