Standout players have graduated, which has allowed for the next group to step up their basketball games.
That’s what the first week of a new season is all about, and one game into the campaign, Columbia River is a bit better than Camas.
Spencer Long recorded a career-high 26 points Tuesday night, and Andrew Vickers and Jacob Hjort each scored 18, leading Columbia River to a 76-67 victory over Camas in a non-league boys basketball opener.
Jake Hansel, meanwhile, proved he is ready for more opportunities. The junior guard from Camas made 12 of 21 shots and scored 28 points.
“Just nice to be back in the gym again,” said Long, who scored the game’s first eight points.
“I love being back out there,” added Vickers, now a senior leader for the Chieftains. “We had a good summer, a good fall. We got after it in practice. I think the guys are ready.”
Vickers said this is a “completely different” team from last year.
“We’ve got a lot of younger guys, but a lot of young guys who can play,” Vickers said. “I think we’re going to be OK.”
The Chieftains scored the first nine points of the game, only to have Camas respond and take a two-point lead early in the second quarter. River scored nine in a row again, and later, finished the second quarter by scoring eight points in a row in the final minute of the half.
Hjort made one of his five 3-pointers, Vickers finished with a drive, and just like that, Columbia River had a 27-point quarter and a 16-point lead.
“We got a lot of momentum going,” said Spencer Long, who was 9 for 16 from the floor. “Everything was kind of going our way.”
The lead grew to 17 in the third quarter before Camas’ defense created a few turnovers and led to some baskets the other way. Hansel scored 20 of his 28 in the second half. He made it a six-point lead with 42 seconds left, but the Papermakers would get no closer.
“I thought we played hard. Our guys didn’t quit,” Camas coach Skyler Gillispie said, adding that his expectation for this group is to get better every day.
The first game is in the books for Columbia River and Camas. Only time will tell if one or both teams will meet their own expectations.
COLUMBIA RIVER 76, CAMAS 67
CAMAS — Jake Hansel 28, Tanner Fogle 0, Ethan Unger 9, Levi Gilstrap 8, Nathan Chilian 7, Cam Vega 0, Cooper McNatt 0, Alex Glikbarg 8, Brock Fielding 5, Matt Murphy 2, Bryan Nguyen 0. Totals 23 (7) 14-22 67.
COLUMBIA RIVER — Kyle Winborne 0, Jordan Hall 5, Andrew Vickers 18, Jameel Morton 6, Jacob Hjort 18, Nathan Hockhalter 2, Spencer Long 26, Spencer Black 1. Totals 23 (8) 22-35 76.
Camas 11 13 17 26–67
Col. River 13 27 16 20–76
