The Skyview girls basketball team has enough individual talent that the Storm could probably win the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League with isolation, one-on-one plays.
That’s not the Storm’s style, though.
They prefer the team-ball approach, and that makes them even better.
The Storm assisted on 16 of their 24 field goals Friday night and crushed Camas in a matchup of first- and second-place teams in the 4A GSHL. The gap is huge, as in 31 points.
Stephanie McDonagh made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points, Aubrey Ward-El added 17 points, and the Storm rolled to a 63-32 victory over the Papermakers.
“We started sharing the ball and moving it more. That opens up shots,” said McDonagh, who also led the team with seven assists. “They were yelling at me to shoot it when I was open. If that’s what I have to do to help my team, that’s what I’m going to do.”
So she did.
McDonagh was 5 for 8 from 3-point range and also made all three free throws when she was fouled taking a trey with a second left in the third quarter.
Ward-El was 7 of 14 from the floor for her 17 points. She also had eight rebounds.
Post Jocelyn Adams had seven rebounds and six assists for the Storm.
“Everybody’s improving all the time,” Adams said. “Every game, we’re getting better and we’re getting closer together.”
The Storm have a two-game lead in the league standings with four games to play. There is no evidence that they could lose that advantage.
Skyview coach Jennifer Buscher is not ready to claim any league title just yet, though.
“I’m happy with how this team is improving,” she said. “Practice by practice, we’re getting a little bit better. Game by game, we’re getting a little bit better. Hopefully we haven’t peaked yet.”
Ward-El, Genevieve Lo, and McDonagh all made 3-pointers during an 11-0 run in the first quarter. The lead was 14 after the first, then 23 at the half.
Nikki Corbett led Camas with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The Storm contained just about every other Camas player, though. Only two other Papermakers made field goals.
Camas came into the contest with a 4-1 league record, a game back of the undefeated Storm.
McDonagh said every day, regardless of the scoreboard, gives the team the chance to get better, to prepare for the postseason.
“You go into every game thinking this is going to be the toughest team we’re going to play,” McDonagh said. “Just get better at what we can do. Talking on defense. Executing our plays. Not having as many turnovers.”
Simple, but effective.
SKYVIEW 63, CAMAS 32
SKYVIEW — Hannahjoy Adams 4, Stephanie McDonagh 20, Jocelyn Adams 5, Aubrey Ward-El 17, Genevieve Lo 6, Sydney Friauf 3, Neesen Bristow 2, Carli Fultz 0, Kirsten Johnson 4, Georgia Romine-Black 2. Totals 24-60 (9-22) 6-9 63.
CAMAS — Meghan Finley 1, Brenna Khaw 0, Rachel Rice 0, Brenna Vargo 0, Rachel Gray 7, Nikki Corbett 20, Mia Hunt 0, Emma Jones 4, Madison Hutton 0. Totals 13-36 (0-6) 6-12 32.
