Preseason strengthens Papermakers

After facing tough competition from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, the Camas High School boys basketball team is down in San Diego this week giving California a whirl.

“It’s a great trip to take senior year with your best friends,” said guard Alex Glikbarg. “These games definitely show your weaknesses. That way, you can correct them before league starts. Hopefully, we’re playing our best basketball in February and into the postseason.”

Glikbarg scored 20 points for the Papermakers against Glacier Peak Dec. 21, but the Grizzlies never gave up their advantage in a 63-54 victory. Logan Miller delivered 13 of his 16 points for Camas in the second half.

“I feel like, defensively, there wasn’t a lot of effort there,” Glikbarg said. “Offensively, I think we could have looked to attack more, but we stepped up and hit some big shots when we needed to.”

Time and time again, Camas rallied to within a point or two of Glacier Peak, but then the Grizzlies would score several in a row and get back up by a significant margin.

“That killed us,” Glikbarg said. “It’s effort. We should have worked harder. You got to have that tough mentality.”

Glikbarg nailed two 3-pointers out of the gate. Tre Carlisle and Isaiah Sampson also hit big shots to give the Papermakers a 16-15 lead at the end of an exciting first quarter.

Glacier Peak scored eight points in a row in the second quarter. Miller hit a three to get Camas back within three, but then the Grizzlies countered with a three. Tanner Fogle stole the ball and fired it to Glikbarg on a fast break for two. Fogle also got the ball to Sampson in time for a basket before halftime, and Camas only trailed by four.

Miller, Glikbarg and Sampson made big shots for Camas at the beginning of the third quarter, but Glacier Peak answered with two 3-pointers.

Miller attacked the rim again for two more points, drew a foul shot and made it. Sampson then came out with an offensive rebound for Camas, kicked the ball out to Miller and Miller drained a three to tie the score at 40-40.

The Grizzlies responded again with a 9-0 run. Then, kicked off the fourth quarter with a three to go up by 10.

Miller and Glikbarg both hit threes to get Camas within four points in the final two minutes, but the Papermakers couldn’t get any closer.

Camas defeated Sacred Heart 63-53 in the first round of the Surf ‘N Slam tournament Dec. 27, in San Diego.

Bryan Nguyen scored 14 points, Miller added 12, and Fogle and Sampson both had 9. The tournament concludes Friday.

The Papermakers begin league play Tuesday, at Skyview. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.