CAMAS — If the Camas girls basketball team had a spirit animal, few would represent them better than a chameleon.
The Papermakers are a blend of several different styles and strengths, but depending on what a situation calls for, they’re more than willing to adapt.
They got the best mix of those things in Friday’s Class 4A bi-district game against Rogers of Puyallup, a 65-34 win for the Papermakers that secured them a spot in the state regional round.
Reagan Jamison led Camas with 14 points and eight steals, reflecting the Papermakers’ signature press and quick pace.
Yet they were just as comfortable slowing the game down, defending in the halfcourt and patiently sharing the ball on offense to find the right shot.
“It definitely shows how versatile we are,” Jamison said. “We practice either way, we love playing fast, especially, but when teams slow us down, we can get it rolling then too.”
Rogers-Puyallup built an early 9-3 lead early in the first, but the Papermakers closed the quarter on a 15-0 run thanks to nine points from Riley Sanz off the bench and a pair of 3-pointers from Jamison.
With a pair of baskets from Addison Harris to start the second quarter, Camas put together a 19-0 run and held Rogers without a point for more than five minutes.
“We just have so many different skillsets on this team,” said Harris, who added 13 points and eight rebounds. “It’s just a constant mixing (of) different players together. It kind of sets that tone.”
The run started with the Papermakers bench, but continued well into the second quarter when the starters returned well rested to finish the job. Camas closed the half on an 11-0 run and took a 35-13 lead to the break.
“We prefer the fast style, because going back to our strategy, if you’re only going to play six and we’re going to play nine, you’re going to get pretty dang tired if we’re in an up and down track meet,” Camas coach Scott Thompson said.
“But one thing that makes this group special is they can do both. They’re a very, very good halfcourt defensive team, and they can come down and run a seven, eight pass possession and end up getting a wide open shot.”
The win advances No. 4 seed Camas to the bi-district semifinals and a matchup with No. 1 Sumner on Wednesday. No matter the result, the Papermakers will be playing beyond into the state regional.
“It’s definitely so exciting,” Jamison said. “Every minute we put in the work, we definitely deserve it and we’re just gonna keep going. We’re so excited and so blessed to be in this position.”
That stage will be a first-time experience for all but one Camas player, junior Anna Mooney, who was a freshman on the Papermakers’ 2020 team that advanced to the 4A round-of-12 game.
“We’ve wanted this moment and we’ve wanted these games for two years, really, especially that sophomore class,” Thompson said. “Last (spring), we rattled off a 16-1 record and we never got to experience that. One of the highlights going into this year is this opportunity we didn’t get last year.”
CAMAS 65, ROGERS-PUYALLUP 34
ROGERS-PUYALLUP — Destiny Clemons 5, Hannah Roppo 0, Alexa Caufield 10, Karinna Tel 3, Jenai Ancheta 9, Maddie Bjorn 0, Simona Smith 2, Divinity Singleton 5. Totals 14 (2) 4-8 34.
CAMAS — Reagan Jamison 14, Kendall Mairs 6, Riley Sanz 12, Parker Mairs 4, Kennady Broadbent 0, Anna Mooney 3, Sammi Guffey 0, Sophie Buzzard 0, Ava Smith 10, Ally Stoller 3, Addison Harris 13, Keirra Thompson 0. Totals 25 (10) 5-8 65.
Rogers 9 4 12 9—34
Camas 18 17 10 20—65
