While nobody knows where the ceiling is for the Camas girls basketball team, the floor on which it stands is already pretty high.
The Papermakers showed that Friday with a decisive 60-42 road win over Skyview that establishes Camas as the team to beat in the 4A Greater St. Helens League.
Starting five sophomores, Camas controlled Friday’s early-season showdown with its high-energy tempo and defensive press.
Addison Harris scored 18 points, Ava Smith added 17 points and the Papermakers kept their intensity high despite missing one starter and having their usual nine-player rotation trimmed to seven.
“Our energy impacts everything we do,” Smith said. “It starts from the defensive end.”
While cancelations from COVID and winter weather have wreaked havoc on many schedules, both Camas (8-4, 2-0) and Skyview (7-3, 1-1) have been fortunate to have a healthy slate of games.
For Camas, that meant a trip to the Cactus Jam in Arizona over winter break. The Papermakers won two of three games against tough competition.
Most importantly, the underclassmen-led team began to forge a stronger identity.
“We definitely built our culture a lot,” said sophomore Reagan Jamison. “A lot of our seniors last year left. They formed our culture, so we’re trying to rebuild that. Going down there and spending a week with each other was super big for us.”
Jamison had nine points, five assists and five steals. Harris, a 6-foot-1 forward, grabbed 12 rebounds. Freshman Kierra Thompson had seven points, five assists and five steals.
Jordan Labrador-Hallett scored 17 points to lead Skyview, which dashed to a 7-2 lead.
But Camas finished the first quarter on a 12-5 run to lead 19-14.
The Papermakers then clamped down with their pressure defense. With double-teams in both the full and half court, Camas allowed just six points in the second quarter and led 30-20 at halftime.
Leading 45-36 after three quarters, Camas put the game away with a 10-4 run to open the fourth. The daggers were 3-pointers by Smith and Riley Sanz.
“Skyview is a good team,” said Smith, who had three of her team’s five 3-pointers. “They’re tough. They hustle. This was definitely a good win for us.”
CAMAS 60, SKYVIEW 42
CAMAS – Reagan Jamison 9, Kendall Mairs 5, Sophia Bogachuk 0, Parker Mairs 0, Brianna Forbes 0, Riley Sanz 4, Ava Smith 17, Sammi Preston 0, Ally Stoller 0, Addison Harris 18, Keirra Thompson 7. Totals 24 (5) 7-11 60.
SKYVIEW – Brooke Riley 6, Lainey Phillips 2, Samantha Groesbeck 4, Charlotte Baker 0, Rowyn Riley 6, Taylor Crowley 0, Annelise Carroll 0, Skylar Groesbeck 7, Alyssa Perez 0, Jordan Labrador-Hallett 17. Totals 16 (4) 6-6 42.
Camas 19 11 15 15—60
Skyview 14 6 16 6— 42
JV – Camas 47-43.
