CAMAS — Within days of leading Camas High to its first state championship in girls basketball, Addison Harris was back in a gymnasium.
Yes, she is continuing to fine-tune her craft before heading off to play basketball at Montana State University, but Harris’ main purpose in a gym these days is to help shape the future of Camas girls basketball.
Just call her coach.
Coach Harris is an assistant coach for the eighth grade girls basketball team at Camas’ Skyridge Middle School. She wanted her senior project to involve basketball and Harris, The Columbian’s All-Region girls basketball player of the year for a second time, figured what better way to make it happen than to give back to the next class of Papermakers. The middle school season wraps up in mid-April.
“It’s a blast,” Harris said. “They’re like sponges; they’re so coachable. I love being around these girls, and I love having this influence on the younger generation.”
Harris has plenty of memories of how much Camas girls basketball and its players impacted a young Harris prior to entering high school.
And that impact Harris now leaves at Camas is unmatched. The numbers speak for themselves.
The 6-foot-2 forward graduates as the program’s career leader in scoring (1,411 points), rebounds (852) and blocks (94) after a senior season averaging 15.8 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.
But it’s what Camas accomplished over her tenure that has Harris beaming with joy.
The three-time 4A Greater St. Helens League MVP helped the program to new heights — its first state trophy in 2022 (fourth place), and consecutive appearances in the Class 4A state title game.
In her final high school game on March 2, Harris helped Camas to its first state title, a 57-41 win over Gonzaga Prep, and with it, finishing an unfinished team goal of winning a state championship.
Harris was voted 4A state all-tournament team MVP by courtside media, averaging 17 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals in three Hardwood Classic games. Teammates Reagan Jamison and Keirra Thompson also made the all-tournament team.
Like the selfless person and player she is, Harris approaches basketball with a team-first attitude centered around her teammates’ successes.
“That’s why we won. That’s what made us special,” she said. “We enjoyed every moment of it.”
How Camas did it is even more rare.
In today’s era of high school sports where transfers are common, Camas accomplished its feat all on homegrown talent. Eleven of the roster’s 12 players attended elementary school in Camas, and the 12th began sixth grade in Camas.
Going back to her youth, Harris was first teammates with fellow senior Riley Sanz in recreational league basketball and played opposite against a team featuring now-senior Parker Mairs. As they grew older, players came together for Camas camps, Camas Select basketball, middle school, and finally high school.
Harris said she knew her freshman season — as one of five ninth graders to make the Camas varsity roster — just how special the Class of 2024 would be.
“We’ve just grown up around each other,” Harris said. “It’s super neat to be a part of that, and to have those deep connections.”
And she’s building those deep connections again by giving back to the community.
Harris said she’s gained leadership skills and understands how important it is to keep basketball fun and competitive for her eighth-grade team and the next level of Papermakers.
That’s the impact made by Addison Harris with Camas girls basketball, as well as the impact Camas girls basketball has made on Addison Harris.
“To watch sports have that same effect on young girls,” she said, “as it did for me is awesome.”
All-Region girls basketball
Player of the year — Addison Harris, sr, Camas
Rest of First Team
Brooklynn Haywood, Union: Sophomore was the region’s top scorer, averaging 24.5 points game, and surpassed 1,000 career points in just two seasons.
Reagan Jamison, Camas: Senior is a Penn commit and a 4A state tourney pick who displayed versatility and shined brightest on state stage.
Nina Peterson, Mountain View: Senior and Corban University commit was the 3A GSHL player of the year, averaging 13 points and five rebounds.
Keirra Thompson, Camas: Pass-first junior point guard and 4A state all-tourney pick sparked Camas offense, averaging 6.4 assists per game.
Riley Sanz, Camas: Senior was a shifty combo guard (averaging 9.5 points and 3.1 assists) and lockdown defender for state champs.
Second Team
Kennedy Bockert, Woodland: Freshman burst onto the scene and set single-single program records for points (438) and rebounds (301).
Gracie Glavin, Columbia River: Sophomore was the 2A GSHL co-player of the year, averaging 14.8 points a game as Rapids repeated as league champs.
Emma Iniguez, Columbia River: Senior was the 2A GSHL co-player of the year, helping the Rapids reach state quarterfinals for first time since 1998.
Kimora Ross, Evergreen: Sophomore sparked Plainsmen to a share of the 3A GSHL title and their deepest postseason run since 2011.
Alana Stephens, Hudson’s Bay: Senior was a double-double machine and one of two players in the region to average better than 20 points a game.
Ava Smith, Union: Senior and three-time All-Region pick surpassed 1,000 career points as a consistent 3-point threat.
