Over at Camas, they call it The Game. You remember. Camas 59, Prairie 46. The victory ended The Streak, Prairie’s remarkable 10-year run without a loss against a Clark County team. That night, Melissa “Peeps” Williams scored seven points. And yet she did so much more. Her 6-foot frame and large wingspan forced Prairie into turnover after turnover. She controlled the game —six assists and five steals — without scoring in bunches. Other games, she was scoring a lot. The junior averaged close to 16 points per game. And she was always there, on the boards, on defense.
The Camas Papermakers won the Class 3A district championship in 2010. Melissa Williams led the way.
Thoughts on being named The Columbian’s player of the year: “It’s such an honor. It caps off our whole season. We had such a great season. We accomplished a lot. My team really helped me to get this. It wasn’t just me.”
What does it mean to play for Camas? “We are definitely the underdogs, and I love rooting for the underdogs. It’s just representing ourselves as the team that has nothing to lose and is ready to give it our best shot against every single team we play.”
Talk about ‘The Game.’: I still can’t believe it. I remember what it was like when I was little. It was always Prairie, Prairie, Prairie. Beating them in indescribable. It’s something that seems so far off. It didn’t even seem like an option.”
Describe the celebration: “I’m crying the whole time because I was just so, so proud of my team. We had accomplished something no one in league had done in — what’s it been? — 10 years. I give so much credit to Prairie. They’re an amazing team, and they always will be. That just makes it more special that we were able to compete with them.”
Advice to a younger player: “Practice every day. Practice whenever you can. Practice on the thing you hate the most. That’s what my (summer) coach, Jay Foreman, told me.”
What do you hate to work on? “I don’t want (opponents) to know those things.”
How did you get your nickname? “When I was born, my dad called me Peepers because I had really big eyes. Peepers changed to Peeps.”
What is one goal associated with basketball that you want to achieve? “I want do dunk so bad. So, so, so, so bad. I’m working on it. I can touch the rim, and I can almost dunk a tennis ball.”
Memorable moment from the season: “Definitely the district championship game. It was definitely amazing. After that, the Hoops for Pink game against Union and the postive response we got from that.”
What does basketball mean to you? “Basketball is my life. It’s all I do. It’s definitely my passion, my love. It’s what I feel the most comfortable and the most confident. It means everything to me.”
How did you get your start in basketball? “My dad (Joe) was my first coach when I was little. I always played with my sister (Kelsey) on an older team. I was the puny one just trying to tag along. I didn’t really like basketball when I was little because I wasn’t that good at it, especially playing against older girls. (Kelsey is three years older than Melissa.) It changed around when I got older, and when I got taller.”
Most influential coach: “I’d have to say (club coach) Jay Foreman. Words can’t describe the level he takes your game to. Not just on the court, but every part of your life, too. I’ve learned so much from him. He’s not just a coach. He’s an amazing friend. He’s pretty awesome.”
Most embarrassing moment in basketball: “Middle school. I shot two air ball free throws in a row.”
What is something about you that others might be surprised to learn? “I’m a big nerd. I don’t want to be offensive to the people who are in my classes. But I’m in the math and science program at my school. I’m all into the studies.” Williams carries a 3.95 grade-point average.
Have you met any famous people? “Is (former Prairie standout and current USC Trojan) Ashley Corral famous? I think she technically is.”
What is a goal, away from your sport, that you would like to accomplish in the next few years? “Complete college, graduate, and get a good job. I’m not sure exactly what I want to be yet, but I want to go in the medical field. I want to help people in third-world countries.”
Speaking of the future: A junior in high school, colleges could start calling Williams on April 8. She heard from Santa Clara University and the University of Idaho that first day. Williams is in no hurry to make a decision, but she said it was cool to hear from colleges already.
What is the one thing most people do not understand about your sport? “All the different aspects of ‘in shape’ you have to be in. You have to be strong. You have to be quick. You have to have stamina and endurance. It’s a different type of being in shape.”
Hobbies: Just being with my friends and family, playing game, talking, goofing off. I love to read. I’m kind of a book work. And I love old movies.” Her favorite: “Fargo.”
What will you remember most about the season? “I’ll remember the slump we had at the beginning of the season. We didn’t start out so hot. Then we realized we could do anything we set our minds to. That summed up our season. We could do anything we wanted to if we just believed in ourselves as a team.”
