BATTLE GROUND — The Camas Papermakers did their job by winning their season finale Monday night.
Now, they sit back and root for their rivals.
Because a victory Wednesday by the Union Titans means the Papermakers season remains alive, but that wouldn’t be possible without Monday’s backs-against-the-wall 57-48 win at Battle Ground to close out the regular-season.
No extra motivation necessary, said junior Isaiah Sampson, who finished with 16 points. Lose and their season was over in a season after starting a promising 8-0.
“We had to have a sense of urgency,” Sampson said. “We kept that in our minds.”
That urgency began with a 14-0 scoring run in the second quarter that propelled Camas (12-8 overall, 3-5 4A GSHL) the rest of the way. Ben Cooke added 15 points, including three second-half 3-pointers and Shane Jamison and Carson Bonine had eight points apiece.
Now, they wait to see what Union does against Battle Ground at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A Union victory sends Battle Ground and Camas into a tie for third at 3-5 in league, meaning a Round 3 matchup is needed to settle the 4A GSHL’s final berth to the bi-district play-in game next Monday in Olympia. That if-necessary tiebreaker is tentatively set for Friday night likely at Evergreen High School, Camas athletic director Rory Oster said.
Then again, the Tigers hoping to settle everything Wednesday with an upset victory, a victory they hoped to achieve Monday on Senior Night by sweeping the Papermakers. But, it was a vastly outcome than the Tigers’ 67-62 win at Camas on Jan. 12 that gave BG (10-9, 3-4) an edge over Camas in the league standings.
Monday, a 14-0 second-quarter run lifted Camas for good. The Tigers scored on their first two possessions from Scott Hatch (four points) and Kaden Perry (eight) to open the quarter for a 19-13 lead. But that proved to be their final field goals of the quarter and final lead of the game. The Papermakers held Battle Ground scoreless for 5-plus minutes and took a 27-19 lead. Vincent McCormic’s free throw with 1 minute, 27 seconds left in the half ended the scoreless drought.
McCormic led BG with a game-best 18 points, including scoring all but two of his team’s third-quarter points. His buzzer-beating 3 pulled Battle Ground within eight to end the third.
First-year coach Manny Melo is hoping more players step up Wednesday — “We extended ourselves too much than we needed to,” he said. Union beat Battle Ground, 84-66, on Jan. 16.
If Skyview and Union also finished tied for first, a doubleheader tiebreaker for bi-district seeding will be Friday night at Evergreen for all three bi-district berths.
After an 8-0 start to the season featuring a relatively inexperienced varsity lineup, the Papermakers never lost faith dropping two of their first seven 4A Greater St. Helens League games.
Now, Camas (12-8, 3-5) remains alive for a postseason berth with a WIAA RPI still in the top 8 for Class 4A.
“We believe in ourselves,” Sampson said. “When we were down not playing our best, we knew we were fine and as long as we were playing hard doing the things we needed to do, we’ll get back on track.”
CAMAS 57, BATTLE GROUND 48
CAMAS — Jack Gilkbarg 2, Kyle Allen 2, Shane Jamison 8, Carson Bonine 8, Ben Cooke 15, Isaiah Sampson 16, Gabe Mukobi 2, Tre Carlisle 4. Totals 22 (4) 9-13 57.
BATTLE GROUND — Isaiah Cummings 0, Vincent McCormic 18, KeAndre Hunter-Holiday 5, Brendan Beal 5, Kaden Perry 8, Elijah Parker 7, Scott Hatch 4. Totals 15 (7) 8-9 48.
