BRINGING BACK THE RED AND BLACK

Red and black were the colors of choice Wednesday night in Camas, when the Papermakers and the Titans collided on the basketball court at Union High School.

Since Union moved up to the 4A Greater St. Helens League before the fall season, these two schools did not have the opportunity to face each other in football or soccer.

Therefore, two basketball games under one roof was a great way to reinvigorate the rivalry.

“Doubleheaders are my favorite,” said Camas senior wing Melissa Williams. “Union, in some way, will always be our rivals. They’re right down the road from us.”

“We both have the same colors, and we’re in the same zip code,” added senior guard Kat DeVera.

Eleven different Papermakers scored points to lead the Camas girls to a 48-21 victory over Union in the first game. The Papermakers limited the Titans to just four points in the first quarter, seven in the second, five in the third and five in the fourth.

“Defense translated to our offense scoring,” Williams said. “That definitely helped us win the game.”

Kammi Sumpter made two 3-pointers in the first quarter, and finished with eight points in the game. Her second three gave Camas a commanding 17-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“Kammi does that in practice all of the time. We want her to shoot the three,” Williams said. “She has the green light whenever she’s open.”

DeVera also got a 3-pointer to drop late in the game to finish with a team-leading nine points.

“All I was thinking about was rainbow,” she said. “It was my first three of the year. I hope it’s the first of many more to come.”

Although Chuck Knight enjoyed his first win as a varsity coach, he gave all of the credit to the girls.

“What I like is the enthusiasm and energy, and everybody being team first,” he said. “As long as we play smart, and play with a lot of energy, than good things are going to happen.”

The Papermaker girls welcomed the Kelso Hilanders back to the 3A Greater St. Helens League Monday, by beating them 65-45 at Camas High School.

Sydney Allen scored 10 of her team-leading 17 points in the second half. Williams racked up 12 points and 14 rebounds in the game, and Kyla Sumpter also scored 12 points.

Camas went on a 23-9 run in the second quarter, and never looked back. Ten different Papermakers put points on the board.

The Camas girls go to Fort Vancouver Friday. Tip off is at 7 p.m. The Papermakers are also playing in the Battle Ground tournament, which starts on Monday.

The Camas boys led defending state champion Union by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but the Titans rallied for a 67-63 victory on some clutch 3-point shooting.

Jordan Chatman was the main culprit in Union’s comeback with 37 points. The Titans also made 12 of their 15 shots from the foul line in the final five minutes of the game.

“We had won three-in-a-row here. Eventually, a good team is going to win one against you on their home floor,” said Camas head coach Scott Preuninger. “Our guys played hard. I can’t complain about their effort. We’ll learn from this one, and come back stronger.”

Jacob Kaler led Camas with 22 points, Kevin Basilio added 12, Marc Eppinger chipped in nine, and Addison Owen and Bryan Butler both scored six.

“We fought pretty hard, but our shots just weren’t falling,” Kaler said. “We were still playing hard, we just didn’t have the toughness to pull it off this time.”

After three tough road games, the Papermakers played their first one at home Saturday and defeated Centennial 83-66. Kaler and Butler both scored 16 points, and Basilio and Eppinger each added 14. Kyle Friend grabbed eight rebounds, and Basilio and Kaler each had four steals.

“I’m glad I’m a part of this system,” said Basilio, who transferred to Camas from Clackamas, Ore. “I just want to help out any way that I can, contribute and give my all. I just want to win.”

The Camas boys play at Kelso tonight, and host Fort Vancouver Friday night. Both games begin at 7 p.m.