Prep basketball: Jasinsky leads Camas past Columbia River on opening night

So many storylines …

This was the return of the best boys basketball team from the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League.

This was the first game for a team hoping to make an impact, a real impact, in the 4A Greater St. Helens League.

For Columbia River, Nathan Hawthorne was back on the court, just off the football field. The football sensation also happens to be the reigning basketball player of the year from the 3A GSHL.

For Camas, it was the start of the final season for Trevor Jasinsky, who had the dunk of the fall. (Dunk of the fall? How is that possible? Well, Jasinsky’s jam during an exhibition game in the fall was selected as the “dunk of the day” for Ball is Life, a website dedicated to the basketball lifestyle.)

Oh, and of course, it was opening night.

Across Clark County, across Washington, it was the first night of high school basketball.

At Camas, the Papermakers opened the season with a thrilling win over Columbia River.

Jasinsky showed he is much more than a dunk machine. He was 7 of 7 from 3-point range and scored 31 points in a 66-64 victory.

“You get shots up and they’re just going in, and then you start throwing up ‘heat checks.’ My teammates were giving me the ball, they were telling me to shoot,” Jasinsky said.

Heat check? He was smokin’ hot.

He owned the third quarter, making five 3-pointers, erasing a six-point deficit and giving the Papermakers a four-point lead going into the final quarter.

Hawthorne did Hawthorne things, too, including a steal and a three-point play to tie the game at 51 with three minutes to play.

Ethan Unger responded for Camas with a 3-pointer. Hawthorne got two back for River. Then it was Jasinsky and Andre De Los Rios with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 60-53 for Camas.

Columbia River cut the deficit to one point twice in the final 15 seconds and had a chance to tie from the free throw line with seven seconds to play. Instead, a missed shot led to a free throw the other way. River’s last desperation shot, from about 35 feet away, bounced off the back rim.

“That was a fun game to be part of, that’s for sure,” Jasinsky said.

Even the coach from the losing team enjoyed himself. It’s basketball season, after all.

“I really liked the way we played,” Columbia River coach David Long said. “I just didn’t like the way we shot. I’m not worried. We’re a good shooting team.”

Columbia River’s defense had 19 steals, too.

“Our defense kept us in the game, and their shooting won it for them,” Long said. “But I saw way more good things than bad things, especially for the first time out.”

Camas coach Sklyer Gillispie is excited that basketball is back, too. Although, he could have used more time to prepare.

“If you’d ask me two hours ago, I’d say it was way too soon,” Gillispie said. “It came quick. I was hoping for a snow day.”

Now, though, the Papermakers are 1-0.

“Good momentum, and a lot of learning,” the coach said.

Jasinsky opened the season with a dunk for the first two points of the game. He then missed his only other two-point attempts. But he was true on all seven of his 3-pointers to finish with his 31 points. De Los Rios had three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points for the Papermakers.

Hawthorne and Joey Bean each had 16 points to pace Columbia River. Spencer Long added 14.

Day one is complete. Still a lot to write about, though, as the season winds through the end of fall and into winter.

In summer league, in fall ball, then into November practice, there are plenty of storylines building. Now, the season has started. It is time for the players and teams will begin to shape their own stories.

To be continued …

CAMAS 66, COLUMBIA RIVER 64

COLUMBIA RIVER — Nathan Hawthorne 16, Joey Bean 16, Andrew Vickers 11, Spencer Long 14, Chad Pedigo 4, Jacob Hjort 3, Christian Stromme 0. Totals 22 (7) 13-17 64.

CAMAS — Jake Hansel 2, Andre De Los Rios 11, Jordan Anderson 2, Matt Murphy 4, Trevor Jasinsky 31, Ethan Unger 7, James Price 4, Kantas Zalpys 3, Bryan Nguyen 2. Totals 22 (12) 10-18 66.

Columbia River 12 10 17 25—64

Camas 16 9 18 23—66