Camas was up by two points when Jasinsky went to the bench with his third foul early in the third quarter. By the time he returned, the lead was 10 points. Anderson was big in the third quarter. Then, when Anderson picked up his fourth foul, other Papermakers stepped up to carry the team to victory.
Jake Hansel had a three-point play to end an Evergreen threat, and later had an assist on a James Price basket that virtually secured the win.
“We always play with confidence,” Anderson said. “We know we have a tough bench. Just get in there, make good decisions and good plays.”
Camas coach Skyler Gillispie said he rarely uses his five starters together in practice during scrimmages. Instead, he opts to mix it up, so all players are familiar with each other, so all know their roles when the unexpected happens.
“I think that gives them confidence going to games,” Gillispie said. “We preach selflessness.”
Camas did not lose a step Friday when Jasinsky headed to the bench, for example. Andrew De Los Rios, Anderson, Price, Hansel and Kantas Zalphys all scored as Camas extended the lead to 45-33. On defense, that lineup was responsible for most of Evergreen’s nine turnovers in the quarter, meaning the Plainsmen had more turnovers than points in the period.
The game was not over, though. Camas would go up 14 early in the fourth, but Robert Franks scored seven in a row for Evergreen and a basket from Greg Washington made it a five-point game at 47-42. Franks would finish with 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting, plus 11 rebounds.
“We felt them coming back,” Anderson said. “We just never let down, and we kept up the energy.”
Hansel converted on his three-point play to restore some order from Camas. Then the turnover bug struck Evergreen again with three consecutive miscues on offense.
Jasinsky got an offensive rebound and tip-in to make it a 10-point game, De Los Rios scored off a steal and fast break, and then Price got free for a lay-up off a fine pass from Hansel to push the Papermakers back to a 14-point lead.
Game over.
Anderson scored eight of his points in the first quarter, helping Camas rush out to a 15-6 lead. The lead grew to 15 in the second quarter, but Evergreen went on a 13-0 run to get back in the contest. Franks scored 11 points in the second quarter.
Anderson made three 3-pointers. De Los Rios added 11 points. He also had four steals for the Papermakers. Hansel had eight points, four steals, and the 5-10 guard also had a blocked shot.
Washington was the only other Plainsmen in double figures. He scored 13.
While the Papermakers now sit in one of the top two positions — the top two will earn first-round byes at the district tournament — Gillispie said there is no point in thinking about that now.
“It’s hard to look at this game as a second-place game with so much to go,” Gillispie said, noting there are still five games left on the schedule.
In fact, the Papermakers next have to face the first-place team. Union, the state’s top-ranked Class 4A team, is coming to Camas on Tuesday.
No matter the outcome, Gillispie will have the same outlook.
“Our goal is to go into the playoffs playing our best basketball possible,” he said.
The Papermakers do that by getting all involved, one way or another.
CAMAS 62, EVERGREEN 49
EVERGREEN — Kobey Eaton 5, Robert Franks 27, Tyrus Hosley 0, Greg Washington 13, Jordan Henderson 2, Costel David 0, Michael Bozovich 0, Tyler London 2, Dustin Nettles 0. Totals 20-54 (3-18) 6-14 49.
CAMAS — Jake Hansel 8, Trevor Jasinsky 14, Jordan Anderson 15, Andre De Los Rios 11, Matt Murphy 0, James Price 8, Kantas Zalpys 2, Ethan Unger 0, Jayce Allen 0, Bryan Nguyen 4. Totals 25-57 (5-18) 7-12 62.
Evergreen 6 19 8 16—49
Camas 15 14 16 17—62
