Skyview hangs on to 4A GSHL girls basketball title (video)
Storm fend off Camas rally to win sixth straight championship
By Paul Valencia, Columbian
High School Sports Reporter
Published: February 2, 2016, 10:55pm
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Skyview's Kirsten Johnson (24) takes on Camas defender Meghan Finley (2) in the second quarter Tuesday night, Feb. 2, 2016 at Skyview High School gym. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
It was an unusual girls basketball game Tuesday night.
Skyview made it look so easy for so long.
Perhaps too easy.
Then things got close in the end.
But here’s something that is not unusual: The Skyview Storm are champions.
Skyview held off a crazy Camas rally, beating the Papermakers 48-44 to clinch the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League title. Hanna Van Nortwick scored 13 points, Sydney Friauf added 10, and the Storm improved to 11-0 in league play.
Camas, which got 18 points from freshman Haley Hanson, fell to 9-2 in league play — both losses to the Storm.
“It’s kind of becoming a tradition here at Skyview,” Friauf said. “It feels good to continue a winning legacy.”
This is Skyview’s sixth consecutive league title.
“We’re doing something good,” Van Nortwick said. “Each team is a new team. We know we have to work even harder to get back to where we were last year.”
The Storm were working the Papermakers, holding Camas to nine first-half points. Skyview led by 19 early in the fourth quarter before Camas made it a game.
The Papermakers, who were 3 of 33 from the floor through three quarters, made 9 of 14 shots in the fourth quarter, scoring 27 points.
Meghan Finley and Hanson combined for 11 in a row for Camas, then Emma Jones’ putback basket made it a 13-0 run for the Papermkers, pulling within five points with 3 minutes to play.
Riley Friauf responded with two clutch free throws to kill Camas’ momentum, and the Storm would make 8 of 11 from the line down the stretch to secure the victory.
Hanson made three 3-pointers and completed a three-point play in the fourth quarter. Her final shot pulled Camas to within three points at 47-44 with four seconds to play.
The Storm got a free throw, then they could celebrate.
“They just got hot,” Sydney Friauf said. “They wanted it as much as we did.”
“We came out with the win, though,” Van Nortwick added.
“That’s all that matters,” Sydney Friauf said.
Skyview coach Jennifer Buscher shared those thoughts. Some nights, a coach might dwell on the tough fourth quarter. But this was another championship night for her program.
“Every year is just so different. This group has been one of the hardest working groups I’ve had,” Buscher said. “I’ve had hard-working teams. This one, they go the extra mile.
“I’m extremely happy for the kids in that locker room.”
Van Nortwick’s three-point play with a minute to play in the first quarter gave Skyview a 10-0 lead. The Papermakers scored with 48 seconds remaining in the period.
The lead was 12 at the half, and 17 through three quarters. Finley ended up with 10 points for Camas.
The Storm will try to complete an undefeated league season when they host Heritage on Thursday. Camas has locked up the No. 2 seed to the district tournament and will finish its regular season at Mountain View.
SKYVIEW 48, CAMAS 44
CAMAS — Meghan Finley 10, Jordyn Wilds 4, Haley Hanson 18, Jillian Webb 5, Emma Jones 2, Madison Freemon 3, Teague Schroeder 0, Courtney Clemmer 2. Totals 12 (6) 14-25 44.
SKYVIEW — Riley Friauf 8, Sydney Friauf 10, Hanna Van Nortwick 13, Remi Riley 5, Kirsten Johnson 4, Ashlee Comastro 3, Maddie Lord 5. Totals 16 (2) 14-20 48.
Camas 3 6 8 27–44
Skyview 13 8 13 14–48
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