CAMAS — The Camas girls basketball team stands alone as league champion for the first time.
The only other time the Papermakers finished the regular season in first place, the team had to share that title.
Not this year.
Teague Schroeder made five 3-pointers, and the Camas defense was in championship form Wednesday night as the Papermakers dispatched Skyview 42-24.
Camas completed the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League at 8-0. Skyview fell to 6-2.
“It’s definitely a new feeling,” Schroeder said. “It’s making history for us.”
The Storm had won eight consecutive league titles, including one tie with the Papermakers two seasons ago.
“It was our turn,” Camas senior Meghan Finley said.
“On our home floor is also the most special thing,” she added.
The Papermakers cut down the nets after clinching the GSHL’s top seed to the upcoming bi-district tournament.
Finley is the epitome of that player who knows her role to make the team better. The heart and soul of the defense in the backcourt, she was instrumental in this game without scoring a point, with her passing and her defense.
Oh yes, that defense held Skyview to one point in the second quarter.
“We’re playing our best basketball right now,” Finley said.
Her coach agreed.
“The girls are playing hard defensively. That’s where it all starts,” Camas coach Scott Preuninger said. “They’re buying into their roles. People are understanding their strengths, playing to their strengths, playing together.”
Schroeder came off the bench and knew exactly what she wanted to do for her teammates. She made that first 3-pointer, then buried two more in the first half.
“Fresh legs out there definitely bring a lot of momentum,” Schroeder said. “I try to bring the energy.”
Skyview, playing the rest of the season without last season’s All-Region player of the year Ashlee Comastro, never got going on offense. Still, the Storm were only two points down after the first quarter.
It was all Camas from there, though.
The Storm missed all 12 of their shots from the floor in the second quarter, getting a free throw to drop in middle of the period. Camas was not exactly lighting it up on offense, but went into halftime with a 10-point lead.
The advantage was 13 before Skyview made a field goal in the third quarter — the Storm went nearly 12 game minutes in between baskets. At one point, the Storm were 2 for 25 from the floor.
“We’ve always been a defensive team,” Schroeder said. “We’ve always focused on defense.
“We have the passion. And when you have the passion, and you know what your job is on defense, you accomplish it.”
It was a 14-point game going into the fourth quarter. Schroeder ended any hopes of a Skyview comeback with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 36-16 lead.
“It brings your spirits up, your confidence up,” Schroeder said of a night like hers.
She was 5 of 9 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points. Haley Hanson added 11 points for the Papermakers. Emma Jones grabbed seven rebounds. Courtney Clemmer had eight boards, plus four blocked shots. Madison Freemon also blocked four shots.
Riley Friauf provided most of Skyview’s offense.
She scored a game-high 18 points and also had eight rebounds. Sydney Friauf had nine rebounds for the Storm.
Preuninger is a league champion coach in his second season with the program. He used to be the boys coach at Camas, though, so he has seen the girls program get better and better through the years.
“I was fortunate … to take this over. A lot of good things in place when I took over,” Preuninger said.
“I’m just really happy for the girls.”
CAMAS 42, SKYVIEW 24
SKYVIEW — Riley Friauf 18, Mikelle Anthony 0, Sydney Friauf 2, Hanna Van Nortwick 0, Remington Riley 2, Halie Renne 0, Nicole Christensen 2, Mariah Campbell 0. Totals 8-48 (0-13) 8-13 24.
CAMAS — Jordyn Wilds 0, Meghan Finley 0, Jillian Webb 0, Teague Schroeder 16, Haley Hanson 11, Hannah Booth 0, Marianna Payne 0, Maggie Wells 4, Emma Jones 2, Madison Freemon 3, Stephanie Knight 0, Courtney Clemmer 6. Totals 17-46 (6-17) 2-5 42.
Skyview 7 1 8 8–24
Camas 9 9 12 12--42
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