Boys basketball preview capsules
Girls basketball preview capsules
The tour started in Camas.
There was a stop at Hudson’s Bay. Then Washougal for a doubleheader.
The next day, north a bit to Prairie. By Friday, it was back east to Evergreen.
Five gyms in five nights. Six games. Three boys contests, three girls matchups.
Basketball is back. Oh yes, basketball is back.
The first week of March will determine the best teams in the state. The first week in December, though, is just a way to say “welcome back basketball.” Winter officially begins Dec. 21, but winter sports really picks up with hoops.
Here is a little bit of what we saw:
Monday Mania
Trevor Jasinsky scored the first two points of Camas’ season with a dunk.
Guess he figured that was too easy, way too close. So the next seven shots he made came from 3-point range.
Jasinsky went 7-for-7 from 3-point range, leading the Papermakers to a 66-64 win over Columbia River. In all, Camas made 12 of 20 from long distance.
It was such a good performance, Columbia River coach David Long was the happiest I’d ever seen after a loss. He said his team played well. Even defensively, his Chieftains were in the right spots at the right times, most of the time. Sometimes, the other team just gets hot.
Jasinsky was the hottest of hot. An opening night to remember. Making it better, Jasinsky said, was the Camas crowd. The community is known for supporting its athletes, especially in the fall. Well, they show for the winter, too.
“Look at the fans out here,” Jasinsky said. “It carries over from football. We have the best fan base out here. I’m proud to play for Camas.”
Tuesday triumph
The Trappers had not won a girls basketball game since Jan. 29, 2013. Yes, the Trappers went oh-fer last season.
On this night, the losing streak came to an end. Players grabbed their phones and took pictures of one another during the celebration. It was a great day to be a Trapper.
Yimei Kerr made 5 of 9 shots and led Fort with 12 points and five steals in a 40-36 win over rival Hudson’s Bay.
Fort led after the first, second, and third quarters, but Bay took a four-point lead with 3:42 to play in the fourth. But instead of fading, Fort flourished. Kerr and Devyn Tilley had back-to-back baskets to tie the game.
Later, Emily Hengster, Esmeralda Espinoza, and Tilley combined to go 5 for 6 from the free throw line to secure the victory.
Second-year coach Arlisa Hinton said she is thrilled to be working the Trappers.
“I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids. They’re willing to work, and that’s what makes us much improved,” she said before the game.
Win or lose, the Trappers are better than last year, she said. The win just made it even better.
Fort Vancouver girls basketball and clutch. The two did go together on this night.
Washougal Wednesday
The Panthers got two wins for the price of one admission on this night.
The Washougal girls pulled away in the second half to beat Mountain View 70-49 and then the Washougal boys topped the Thunder 61-41.
Both games had similar feels. Washougal’s defenses forced a lot of turnovers, giving the offenses plenty of looks. The Washougals did not shoot the ball particularly well, but with so many more attempts than their opponents, well, that’s a successful strategy.
The Washougal girls took 24 more shots than Mountain View. The Washougal boys took 28 more shots than Mountain View.
RaeAnn Allen was Washougal’s leading scorer this night, with 23 points. Ryan Taylor and Noah Prangley each scored 14 for the Washougal boys.
Like so many others on this week, they were just thrilled to be on the court for games.
“I’ve been waiting for this since summer ball ended,” Allen said.
“I couldn’t wait for this day,” Prangley said. “Senior year. It’s going to be fun.”
Thursday Thriller
Could this be the start of something huge for the Camas girls basketball team?
Nikki Corbett is back from injury. Brenna Khaw has the ability to take over a game. And a sophomore just proved she could be a prime-time player with the best game of her life.
Camas beat Prairie 52-48, with Teague Schroeder hitting the game-winner and scoring a team-high 14 points in a non-league girls basketball game.
Any time a Clark County team beats Prairie in girls basketball, it is headline news. That is a compliment to Prairie, of course, because it rarely happens. It also obviously means that the team that beat Prairie must be doing something right.
On this night, the Papermakers had only one turnover in the fourth quarter against a program known for its defense. In fact, it was Camas’ defense that took over this one, forcing the Falcons into 13 second-half turnovers and holding the Falcons to 23 percent shooting.
No doubt Prairie will bounce back. But this night belonged to Camas. A big win for sure. The Papermakers hope it will lead to bigger things.
Fort Friday
It is not a stretch to say Fort Vancouver team sports have struggled in recent years. Boys basketball, though, has been a bright spot. While the Trappers might not have won any recent league or district championships, they have been competitive and they have won plenty of games.
This year’s team, with new coach James Ensley, hopes to do more than just win plenty of games. They want to win plenty of games that matter.
A non-league game in the first week of December might not matter in any hunt for a playoff berth or a trip to state, but this one sure gave the Trappers reason to be optimistic.
Fort Vancouver won their third game of the first week, but first against a Class 4A opponent. This one came against Evergreen and Washington State signee Robert Franks. This one was, in their words, a statement.
Jordan Suell scored 29 points and Malachi King added 16, leading to a 79-67 Fort win.
And the Fort crowd showed up at Evergreen, making the game feel like a league matchup in late January.
There was a buzz.
Of course, the will be a buzz any time Evergreen plays, too. Because Robert Franks is Robert Franks. The future Cougar always puts on a show. He had 18 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists.
Since this tour, there has been another week of basketball. Soon, there will be holiday tournaments. By January, every team will have league games. February will bring the playoffs.
The best of the best will make it to March.
The basketball season will end in dramatic fashion. The season started with dramatics, as well.
