PORTLAND — A non-league meeting against a traditionally strong Jefferson boys basketball program posed a new, unfamiliar challenge for Camas.
By the end of Friday’s game, there was no doubt the Papermakers embraced it.
Camas came out as the aggressor in the Democrats’ home gym during a 20-3 first quarter run and led by as many as 30 points in a 79-51 win.
“I was really pleased with the intensity our players started out the game with,” Camas head coach Ryan Josephson said. “I was even remarking to some of our players that they were just off the charts with hitting the floor and going after loose balls. That’s the style that we need to play in order to be successful on the defensive end — all-out energy (and) aggressiveness.”
Jace VanVoorhis led the Papermakers with 18 points, including seven in the fourth, but it seemed every quarter a different Camas player stepped up.
In the first, Stephen Behil scored eight of the Papermakers’ first 10 points. Josh Dabasinskas had eight straight points late in the first half on his way to 14 points, and the Papermakers also got a boost from Carson Frawley (12 points) with a pair of high-flying dunks during a 26-point second quarter for Camas.
“There’s a lot of good competition out here, and I know we all seek (out) that competition,” Frawley said. “We love it.”
Camas has made a point of venturing outside Washington to fill out team schedules early in the season.
The Papermakers football team played each of its first four games this season against Portland area teams.
The boys and girls basketball teams have often taken a similar approach in the winter.
“There’s a lot of great teams right across the (Columbia) River,” Josephson said. “Certainly we could be traveling across the state to go try to play some of the best teams, or we could jump across the river 30 minutes away and play some powerhouses in Oregon … That’s been the approach for many years. Our athletic director (Rory Oster) always wants to schedule tough competition for league play and, hopefully, the playoffs.”
The Demos, who have won nine Oregon State Activities Association state titles in their history, are typically in that powerhouse tier.
This year is different, however, with first-year head coach Thomas Gardner replacing longtime coach Pat Strickland, and a young roster that saw four upperclassmen start against Camas.
Still, the Papermakers were encouraged with their play — specifically, the intensity and energy they brought from the opening tip.
“Our energy was awesome,” Dabasinskas said. “Throughout the bench, through the start of the game, our on-court energy, our bench energy really kept the momentum up.”
The Papermakers’ preseason Portland tour continues Saturday with a trip to the Moda Center to take on Westview.
CAMAS 79, JEFFERSON 51
CAMAS — Luke Dizon 6, Matthew Chilian 5, Josh Dabasinskas 14, Jace VanVoorhis 18, Theo McMillan 2, Carson Frawley 12, Quentin Allen 2, Stephen Behil 13, Grady Milholen 2, Jamison Carlisle 7. Totals 32 (8) 7-13 79.
JEFFERSON — Brave Johnson 7, Preston Reid 8, Elijah Moaning 3, Kamari Ransom 3, DJ Johnson 7, Wyatt Krogh 0, D’ryus Dent 8, Marcus Shambly 4, Elijah Harden 0. Totals 17 (5) 10-15 51.
Camas 20 26 19 19—79
Jefferson 3 16 12 13—51
JV — Camas 54-41
