The Camas girls basketball team has a straight-forward goal. The Papermakers just want to keep playing a little bit better each time they take the court.
Friday in the Class 3A district semifinals, they were just a little bit better than Mountain View.
A 35-32 win over the Thunder advanced the Papermakers to tonight’s district championship game at Hudson’s Bay High School. Awaiting them is unbeaten Prairie.
“We just want to keep playing good basketball,” Camas coach Chuck Knight said after his team survived a battle of wills against Mountain View.
Mountain View (14-7) will open the bi-district tournament on Tuesday at Clover Park High School against Auburn Mountainview or Lakes. Camas (15-8) will be either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed to the bi-district.
Camas had to re-invent itself when team leader Melissa Williams was lost to a mid-season injury. Friday’s success was built on defense and rebounding.
Camas never trailed in the second half, but couldn’t shake the Thunder. The Papermakers led by six several times in the third quarter, and were on top 32-25 after Kaeliana DeVera hit a 3-pointer with 3:08 to play.
But Mountain View scored the next five points, and the outcome was not determined until the closing seconds. A key layup against the press and a late free-throw secured the win for Camas.
Knight pointed to the floor game from Syndey Allen as one reason the Papermakers prevailed.
Allen had five rebounds and four assists, and was part of a defensive effort that the coach praised.
DeVera and Kayla Roche scored eight points apiece for Camas. For Mountain View, Haley Holboke finished with 10 points, and Carly Holboke scored nine.
