dan.trujillo@camaspostrecord.com
February 28, 2012
Passing the torch
It has been 22 years since Curt Warner carried a football, but it was quite a ride.
It has been 22 years since Curt Warner carried a football, but it was quite a ride.
Effort is not always rewarded. The Camas High School girls basketball players gave everything they had in their mind, body and spirit Saturday for an opportunity to play in the Tacoma Dome, but the Papermakers just couldn't shake the No. 4 ranked Franklin Quakers of Seattle, losing 53-43 at Bellevue Community College. "It's real simple," said head coach Chuck Knight after the teary defeat. "I couldn't be more proud of these girls. I'm just disappointed for them because I wanted everything for them." Still, Knight said he can look back at this season with a smile.
North Thurston had Washougal's number this time around, but the Panthers became the talk of the district tournament. Ben Broker scored 30 points to carry the Rams to a 62-56 victory over Washougal Feb. 21, at W.F. West High School in Chehalis. Washougal (14-10) finished the season just one win shy of the Sweet 16. The Panthers still brought home a fourth-place trophy from districts. "To win a trophy is a huge accomplishment for these young men. I have nothing but good things to say about them," said head coach Malcolm Estes. "We played extremely hard for four games, and we almost got those guys. We almost got there."
Franklin defeats the Camas High School girls basketball team in the Sweet 16 game 53-43 Saturday, at Bellevue Community College.
Washougal boys basketball team loses to North Thurston for the second time Tuesday night, but the Panthers still brought home a fourth-place trophy from the district tournament.
Students were out of school Monday, but not the Camas High School girls basketball team. Two days after qualifying for the Sweet 16 for the first time in 34 years, the Papermakers got back to work. While the school’s hallways and classrooms were empty, they were bouncing basketballs in the gym during the early hours of the morning before heading back up to Clover Park High School in Lakewood to play their fourth game in six days. "It feels good," said senior co-captian Sydney Allen. "We haven't been this far since '78."
Are you a believer in the Washougal High School boys basketball team? The Panthers did everything in their power Saturday to change people's minds. They rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat W.F. West of Chehalis 58-57, at Mark Morris High School in Longview. "That was the best basketball game I've ever played in," said junior forward Aaron Deister. "We don't give up. That's for sure." Tonight's third-place game in Chehalis features a return bout between Washougal (14-9) and North Thurston from the first round. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers lost by only three points the last time, before beating Black Hills Wednesday and W.F. West Saturday for a shot at redemption.
Mat Classic XXIV turned Tyler Weiss upside down Saturday, but the Camas High School senior got right side up and grabbed a third-place medal. Weiss rolled past Harley Kolp of Kamiakin 8-2 and Boyce Johnson of Sedro Woolley in the first two rounds of the 3A 132-pound state championship bracket Friday. In the semifinals Saturday morning, Weiss held a 2-0 advantage over Jessie Lopez of Everett with 20 seconds left on the clock. Camas assistant coach Alan Bohac said Weiss was grinding Lopez into the mat and wearing him down, but the referee turned the tables by penalizing Weiss for stalling and awarding Lopez with two points. All the sudden, the match was tied and continued into overtime.
The Washougal boys basketball team's 13-point come from behind victory capped off an exciting weekend of hoops, gymnastics, swimming and wrestling.
Prairie is the class of the 3A Greater St. Helens girls basketball league, but Camas remains a close rival. The Falcons defeated the Papermakers 59-42 Friday, at Fort Vancouver High School, to win their 14th district championship in the past 15 seasons. Camas was the only team to stop the streak in 2010. Since then, Prairie has won the last six contests between these two teams. It was no different Friday. The Falcons gained a 12-5 advantage out of the gate, before the Papermakers got back within two points before the end of the first quarter. Brenna Khaw nailed a huge 3-pointer and Jenka Stiasna brought down a big rebound, drew a foul and made both shots from the free-throw line. Camas would not get any closer. Prairie put together an 18-4 scoring drive in the second quarter before Kendra Preuninger hit a 3-pointer for Camas before halftime. The Falcons opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run. By the fourth quarter, they led by 20.
