The Evergreen boys basketball team is tough enough to beat when Robert Franks has his game going for him.
Add to that Jordan Henderson’s new-found tool in his game and, well, it was just too much for Camas.
“When our big goes 5 for 6 from the 3-point line, we’re a very scary team,” Franks said.
Franks scored 25 points in the game and put on a dazzling display in the second quarter when the Plainsmen took the lead for good, and Henderson made more 3-pointers Tuesday night than he had attempted all season in a 74-50 Evergreen victory over the Papermakers.
Henderson, a 6-foot-8 post, was 5 for 6 from 3-point land and scored 17 points.
“Any time you have a night like that, you have to keep shooting,” said Henderson, who had only attempted two 3-pointers all year.
After his first attempt bounced off the rim, someone from the Camas bench was overheard telling his players that it was OK to let Henderson shoot that shot. After all, there was no scouting report that showed he was capable of making his next five.
“They’re scouting him now,” Franks said.
The Papermakers (10-6, 3-4 4A GSHL) came out prepared to push their streak to four league wins in a row, making 7 of their first 10 shots to take a 19-14 lead after the first quarter.
The Evergreen defense responded quickly, in one stretch getting three stops in four possessions that led to points for the Plainsmen (12-5, 5-2) the other way.
Nate Tegarden had an impressive steal, knocking a pass toward the stands. He jumped to save the ball, leading to a basket from Jalen Ballard the other way, giving Evergreen its first lead of the game at 26-24 midway through the second quarter. The Plainsmen would never trail again.
On Camas’ next possession, Franks got a steal which led to his own layup. Two possessions later, Franks blocked a shot, then took off for the other end. Henderson got the rebound, threw over everybody to Franks, who dunked for the made-for-TV highlight of the night.
“When you have a stretch like that, you have to keep it going,” Henderson said. “We had to keep the momentum.”
Evergreen ended up taking a six-point lead into the half.
Franks finished 10 of 14 from the floor and made two 3-pointers on the way to his 25 points.
“It’s very good for me to have a big game just to boost my confidence even more going into the last stretch of league,” Franks said. “My team feeds off of it. I think it helps us as a team more than it helps me, even.”
Henderson was 6 of 9 from the floor, including those five treys, plus he blocked four shots to lead the Evergreen defense. The Plainsmen finished 27 of 50 from the floor and held Camas to 31 percent shooting in the final three quarters.
“We still had a slow start, but this was better than waiting until the third quarter to step it up,” Evergreen coach Brian Witherspoon said. “We try to win every quarter. We won three of the four. We’re just putting it all together. That’s what we’re striving for.”
Witherspoon also was encouraged by his bench play. Ballard provided a spark with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Trevor Jasinsky led Camas with 16 points. He made three 3-pointers. Nick Lopes added nine points. Camas’ Jordan Lenard had seven points but left the game with an injury in the second quarter and did not return.
It was a nine-point game when Lopes scored to open the fourth quarter for Camas. Evergreen, though, would put up 27 points in the final quarter to turn it into a rout.
EVERGREEN 74, CAMAS 50
CAMAS — Jake Hansel 2, Andre De Los Rios 2, Jordan Anderson 3, Kantas Zalpys 3, Josh Ryan 0, Brandon Nguyen 8, Jordan Lenard 7, James Price 0, Trevor Jasinsky 16, Nick Lopes 9. Totals 15-36 (6-12) 14-21 50.
EVERGREEN — David Martin 4, Connor Finnegan 2, Jalen Ballard 11, Kobey Eaton 3, Greg Washington 2, Jahmil Johnson 7, Christian Chamberlain 0, Nate Tegarden 0, Robert Franks 25, Tyler London 0, Tyrus Hosley 3, Jordan Henderson 17, Noah Geist 0. Totals 27-50 (11-22) 9-12 74.
