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December 4, 2012
Megan Sharp cuts through two Trappers Thursday, at Fort Vancouver High School. The Washougal girls won 56-55.

Panthers hold on to defeat Trappers for their second straight win on the road

Alyssa Blankenship and Savanna McDowell hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panther girls basketball team over the top Thursday, at Fort Vancouver High School. Washougal held onto its one-point advantage during the final minute of regulation, then walked off the court celebrating a 56-55 victory. "I love to see the kids playing well under pressure," said head coach Charlie Boyce. "Down by three, you start to wonder if you can come back. These girls didn't. They just kept playing hard, hit two big threes and held on for that last minute. It was just a great team effort." Before she could blink, Blankenship let the ball spin off her fingertips and watched it sail through the hoop for a game-tying basket. "Should I shoot it?" She asked herself. "I didn't want to turn it over. It felt very good when it went in."

December 4, 2012
Tyler Hallead drives to the hoop for the Papermakers Friday, at Camas High School. The Falcons soared to a 62-56 overtime victory.

CHS boys basketball program grows after a year under new coach

What a difference a year makes for Skyler Gillispie and the Camas High School boys basketball players. "Last year at this time, I barely knew their first and last names," said the second-year head coach who took over the program just weeks before the season started. "The kids have played a lot of basketball together in the spring, summer and fall, and hopefully that reflects on the court. Our communication and camaraderie will be stronger this year." The shorthanded Papermakers made significant progress during the first week of the season, while Zach Eagle, Drew Clarkson and Michael Digenova fulfilled their required number of practices after football. On Nov. 26, Camas held Hudson's Bay to just 13 points in the second half of a 54-39 road victory. Trevor Jasinsky and Jordan Lenard each scored 15 points.

December 4, 2012
Aaron Deister (left) and the Washougal Panthers are ready to take on all comers on the basketball court. The boys have already played W.F. West, Tenino, Battle Ground and Hudson's Bay.

All comers are invited to the Panther jungle

The Washougal High School boys basketball team picked up where it left off last winter. Back on Feb. 18, the Panthers rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat W.F. West by one point in the consolation semifinal round of the district tournament. On Nov. 26, they proved that wasn’t a fluke. Michael McElroy netted 26 points, Austin Tran added 12, and Aaron Deister and Jaden Jantzer each chipped in 11 to lead Washougal to a 67-60 victory. "For just the first game of the season, I thought we finished strong," Deister said. "Our experience really paid off."

November 28, 2012
The CHS girls cross country team is making the leap to the Nike Cross Nationals Saturday, at Portland Meadows. Pictured (left to right): Mckenzie Good, Megan Napier, Alexa Efraimson, Camille Parsons, Alexa Jones, Alissa Pudlitzke and Maddie Woodson.

Camas girls gain national exposure

The future's so bright for the Camas High School cross country runners, they got to wear shades. Seniors Megan Napier and Camille Parsons, junior Mckenzie Good, sophomores Alexa Efraimson and Alissa Pudlitzke, and freshmen Maddie Woodson and Alexa Jones have pushed their state championship season all the way to the Nike Cross National Invitational Saturday, at the Portland Meadows racetrack. The girls championship race begins at 10:05 a.m.

November 27, 2012
Michael McElroy doesn't miss from the foul line. The Washougal High School senior scored 26 points to help the Panthers beat W.F. West 67-60 Monday.

Panthers make a strong first impression

Michael McElroy delivers 26 points, Austin Tran adds 12, and Aaron Deister and Jaden Janzter each scored 11 to help the Washougal High School boys basketball team beat W.F. West 67-60 Monday.

November 27, 2012
Camas football fans packed the Tacoma Dome and cheered on their Papermakers until the final second Saturday. See the photo gallery and an additional story at www.camaspostrecord.com.

Deep in the heart of Camas

Thousands of Papermakers, young and old, brought their lunch pails into the Tacoma Dome and watched their football team go to work. On the first drive of this 4A state semifinal game Saturday, Nate Beasley had three carries for 45 yards and Zach Eagle added three catches for 23 yards. Beasley capped off the effort with a 24-yard touchdown. Then, it was time for defending state champion Skyline to have a turn with the ball. On third down, Camas senior linebacker John Norcross bursted through the line of scrimmage and slammed quarterback Max Browne into the ground. It would be Papermaker ball again, but the Spartans were able to pin them on the 3-yard line after the punt took a favorable bounce. On the next snap following a short run by Beasley, Camas quarterback Reilly Hennessey dodged the defensive rush into the end zone and threw a spectacular pass that had the Papermakers on the edge of their seats. They saw Zach Eagle deep down the field with nobody covering him. The ball fell right into Eagle's nest and he soared into the end zone on a 94-yard strike.

November 25, 2012
The Camas community filled the Tacoma Dome and cheered on their Papermaker football team until the final second Saturday, but the Skyline Spartans of Sammamish won the day 51-28.

On the sidelines: Unforgettable autumn

Relive Saturday's 4A state semifinal game between the Skyline Spartans and Camas Papermakers through the words of Elton John and his song, "The Measure of a Man."

November 20, 2012
Nate Beasley cuts by three defenders and inches toward his fifth touchdown of the game Saturday, at Doc Harris Stadium. Camas hammered Federal Way 65-32 to earn the opportunity to play in the Tacoma Dome again this weekend.

Busting down the Tacoma Dome door

Before carving the turkey Thursday, the Papermakers will still be playing football. Camas hammered Federal Way 65-32 in the state quarterfinals, at Doc Harris Stadium. After busting the door down to the Tacoma Dome, the Papermakers are ready to test themselves against defending state champion Skyline Saturday, at 1 p.m., to see if they can become the best football team in Camas history. "Everyone is thrilled to be going back to the dome, but it's also bittersweet because we know we only have a few more games left," said junior running back Nate Beasley. "This was already our last game at Doc Harris. At any moment, it could be all over. We can't look too far ahead, and we can't take these wins for granted no matter what the scoreboard says. We have to live in the present and play each play like it's our last."

November 20, 2012
Courtney Loewen and the Camas girls left it all on the soccer field Saturday, at Sparks Stadium. The Papermakers finished in fourth place after tough losses to Issaquah and Tahoma.

Camas soccer spirit defeated, but not broken

The Camas High School girls soccer team endured defeat at the feet of Issaquah and Tahoma in the semifinals and the consolation finals of the state tournament last weekend in Puyallup, but nothing could break their fighting spirit. "We're disappointed that the season ended with these two losses, but we made it all the way to the Final Four and that should count for something," said senior captain Jamie Carter, understanding that the journey endures longer than the end result. "It's been an amazing trip. A lot of good memories have been made." The Papermakers proved they belonged in the Final Four by scoring the first goal in the semifinals against Issaquah Friday, at Sparks Stadium. Carter fired a promising corner kick, Hailey Rose directed the ball toward the goal and Teylen Sheesley headed it into the net before the opposing goalkeeper could react. Camas took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, but it wouldn't last.

November 20, 2012

C-W runners help Washington sweep Oregon

A Panther and four Papermakers helped Washington sweep Oregon in the Nike Border Clash 14 cross country showcase Sunday, at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.