BATTLE GROUND — Reagan Jamison picked the perfect stretch of the season to be playing her the best ball, according to her head coach.
Camas’ sophomore guard scored all 13 of her team’s points in the third quarter Friday night on her way to a game-high 25 points in leading the Papermakers to a 56-44 victory over Inglemoor in the 4A girls basketball regional game at Battle Ground High School.
While it might’ve felt like the Reagan Jamison Show at times, she quickly deflected her performance to others.
“I definitely give credit to all my teammates and coaches,” she said. “They put so much confidence in me. They want nothing but the best for me, so I owe it all to them.”
Now, it’s off to the Tacoma Dome for the Papermakers (16-8), and a rematch with a team they’ve faced twice this season: Bellarmine Prep. The eighth-seed Lions lost to top-seed Woodinville on Friday, which puts Bellarmine and Camas in a loser-out first-round contest at 2 p.m. Wednesday to open the Class 4A state tournament in Tacoma.
The teams split their two meetings this season — Camas winning by 22 on Dec. 21, but Bellarmine topping Camas 73-65 last Saturday.
After a two-game losing skid to close the 4A bi-district tournament last week, Camas is back on the winning side. And a lot of that had to do with the play of Jamison.
Camas led 33-27 at halftime before Jamison controlled the interior with 10 of her 13 third-quarter points coming in the paint. She also had four rebounds and two blocks. That helped Camas gain a much-needed cushion against a Vikings team (9-13) that hung around for all 32 minutes.
Jamison gave Camas its first double-digit lead at 46-35 with 1:28 left in the third quarter. Inglemoor never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
The interior game is what Jamison said she worked on most this off-season, and it’s paid off in big ways behind a step-up in aggressiveness.
“I think that’s definitely transformed this season,” she said.
Head coach Scott Thompson said Jamison has recently flipped a switch. Last Saturday, she scored 26 in the team’s 4A bi-district loss to Bellarmine.
“She’s put this team on her back, and I couldn’t be more proud of her,” he said. “She’s gone through a lot this season trying to get to this point. I feel like we’ve been trying to get her to be more aggressive, and to get her to attack the hoop a bit more.
“And now here she is at the perfect time.”
Camas played its second straight game without 4A Greater St. Helens League player of the year Addison Harris (foot). Stepping up in place of Harris in the starting lineup was Kendall Mairs (six points, 12 rebounds), who had 11 of her rebounds on the offensive glass.
In fact, Thompson also tweaked his starting lineup with two new faces: Keirra Thompson (six assists) and Parker Mairs (11 points). Mairs’ primary defensive assignment was Inglemoor’s Malu Touras, who scored 11 first-half points. She was held to zero in the final 16 minutes.
CAMAS 56, INGLEMOOR 44
INGLEMOOR — Dulcy Solomon 5, Sofia Pequignot 7, Eliza Knopf 2, Malu Touras 11, Lauren Vesely 0, Juliana Pequignot 0, Neve Gelatt 2, Colby Zorich 17. Totals 15 (5) 9-14 44.
CAMAS — Reagan Jamison 25, Kendall Mairs 6, Parker Mairs 11, Anna Mooney 3, Sophie Buzzard 2, Riley Sanz 7, Ava Sith 2, Keirra Thompson 0. Totals 21 (6) 8-15 56.
