In a big game, Union went big.
Facing 4A Greater St. Helens League rival Camas, a Titans team that typically relies on its outside shooting won in the frontcourt. Union outrebounded the Papermakers 33-24.
Union withstood 24 points from Camas’ Isaiah Sampson in the win, which the Titans considered a bounce-back after losing to Skyview last week.
The Papermakers got off to a hot start and led by five after one quarter. But Union’s guards found their rhythm and the Titans outscored Camas by seven in the second to reclaim a four-point halftime advantage.
“You just got to remind the guys (Camas isn’t) going away,” Union coach Blake Conley said. “We’ve seen them a lot and they don’t go away. They didn’t (tonight). They hit some shots to make it a tough game and we missed some free throws down the stretch, too.
“Sampson was a load. We made him hit some tough shots and he did.”
The Titans held a three point lead going into the fourth quarter, then took off.
Combs hit a top of the key 3-pointer, then on the next possession made a wide-open layup after Reznick fed him a pass after a backdoor cut to put Union up 10 points with 5:40 to play.
The Titans led by as much as 13 in the fourth, when Jason Franklin Jr. finished an alley-oop with just under 3:10 to play.
Camas cut the deficit to five with less than 30 seconds left, but Union (10-4, 1-1) hit key free throws down the stretch to hold on.
Union’s Zach Reznick, who is recovering from an illness, contributed nine points off the bench – seven of those came in the fourth quarter, where he was 4-for-4 from the free throw line and hit a key 3-pointer to help stave off the Papermakers’ comeback.
“Today (Reznick) looked the best that he has,” Conley said. “He’s on the upswing for sure, which is huge for us. I told him ‘you looked like yourself today.’ He’s a returning first-team all-league guy, so it was great to have him hit some shots and play confidently like we all know he can play.”
“They really won with size,” Camas coach Ryan Josephson said. “I don’t know if we’ve been outrebounded this entire season. Union dominated us on rebounds. They were also getting hands of the 50-50 balls and forcing jump balls.”
Jason Franklin added 15 for Union.
Sampson added 14 rebounds for Camas (11-4, 1-2).
UNION 70, CAMAS 61
UNION — Coby Weatherspoon 0, Houston Combs 0, Zach Reznick 9, Tyler Combs 26, Quinn Lamey 4, Alishawuan Taylor 8, Ethan Smith 8, Aiden Nellor 0, Brad Lackey 0, Jason Franklin 15. Totals 27 (8) 8-13 70.
CAMAS — Connor Shira 0, Jackson Glikbarg 9, Shane Jamison 2, Carson Bonine 4, Ben Cooke 13, Gabe Mukobi 2, Isaiah Sampson 24, Treton Carlisle 7. Totals 27 (4) 3-6 61.
Union 8 21 17 24–70
Camas 13 13 17 18–61
JV — Camas won.
