QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks (1-3) fell to the Grandview Greyhounds 71-29 at home Saturday. Head coach Johan Farias remained optimistic despite the loss.   

“We've just got to keep battling,” he said. “We got the top four teams that we're playing right now in the league, and we just got to keep battling. That's the main message I got from my girls. We're young and we just got to keep fighting for everything.”  

The Greyhounds brought their up-tempo attack to the hardwood on Saturday as they jumped out to a commanding lead in the first half. Coach Farias cited issues with transition defense as a contributor to their 42-16 deficit at halftime. In the second half, the Jacks struggled to slow down Grandview and rack up scores of their own. After double-digit scoring runs in the third and fourth quarters, Grandview came out victorious over the Jacks.   

“Transition and defense is the name of the game,” Farias said. “We've got to be able to transition on offense and then transition back after we score a bucket.”  

Farias said Grandview's fast-tempo offense created havoc for them on defense in the first half. The Greyhounds built a strong lead throughout the first half and limited the Jacks' ability to find the basket. By halftime, Quincy fell behind by 26.   

Coach Farias said his players missed some of their assignments, which allowed Grandview to jump out as far as they did. Regardless, they kept battling. He said they are a young team, and he has emphasized the mental side of the game as the season has tipped off.   

“We're really pushing, trying to know personnel, and then just pushing the IQ of basketball. It's one thing to play it, but another thing to know the next level, like what's next? I'm here because the ball is over there. I got to be over here. Pushing that IQ part for these young girls,” Farias said.   

In the third quarter, the Greyhounds continued to push the pace on the Jacks' defense. After they made a couple of three-pointers, they started to force Quincy to turn over the ball and score in transition.   

On offense, the Jacks' errors may have been a result of rushing and making risky passes, Farias said.   

“Sometimes we were just in our own head and just trying to move the ball and then seeing something that wasn't there, just because there was somebody like five feet from us, and it just making us feel uncomfortable,” he said. “We did what we could, and we just battled. It's only going to go up from here.”  

In the fourth quarter, the Jacks found some rhythm and scored off a few free throws. However, the Greyhounds still outscored them 12-8 to seal the 71-29 win.   

Despite the loss, Farias said he was happy to see his players battle from start to finish. He noted their first few games of the season came against some of their tougher opponents like Lakeside, Kittitas and Prosser. After their game against Grandview, he is hopeful that a couple of days to rest will be enough to help his players reset and get their season back on track.   

Quincy was also without freshman guard Juniper Thorsen due to a concussion, Farias said. However, they anticipate her returning to the hardwood this upcoming week. Her presence will be a welcome addition to their lineup going forward, he said.   

“She's our other little floor general, even as a freshman, she just knows the game so well and just plays at her pace and really takes stress off our point guard,” Farias said. “When she gets back, it should be a nice little switch-up. These girls have been doing a good job while she's been gone, stepping up, but obviously it's a little different.”  

The Jacks return to the court Tuesday to host the Selah Vikings at 5:30 p.m. 

    Estrella Renteria (24) and Karaline Townsend (11) gets set on defense while Grandview takes over on offense.
  

    The Jacks’ Janely Ramirez Farias (22) looks for a pass option while on offense. Head Coach Johan Farias said the Jacks battled hard despite being a young team overall.