CAMAS — Sinking not one, but two buzzer-beating, quarter-ending 3s only added to a hot shooting game for Camas High senior point guard Keirra Thompson.
Those shots were cherries on top of Camas’ convincing 63-17 victory over Olympia on Monday in a winner-to-state 4A bi-district girls basketball quarterfinal controlled by the Papermakers from start to finish. The victory secured the Papermakers’ (18-5) seventh straight state berth.
Thompson called the performance a statement game for the defending Class 4A state champions.
“I think we’re ready to show everybody we’re ready to come back and win it again,” she said. “We’ve just been building throughout the season, especially on defense. I think we put a lot of focus on our defense, and it leads to our offense.”
In addition to winning last year’s 4A state championship, Camas has won the past two 4A bi-district titles. Coach Scott Thompson said postgame that Monday was one of his team’s top performances of the season given the game’s significance. He also noted it was the senior point guard’s best output since sustaining an ankle sprain Jan. 20.
Keirra Thompson’s game-high 22 points came on 8 of 14 shooting, and added seven assists. That included 6 of 11 from 3-point range with two 3-pointers from 30 feet as the horn sounded to end the second and third quarters.
“I’m really excited to be back,” Keirra Thompson said. “I feel like I haven’t been the same player since then. Coming back now gave me a bunch of confidence and gave us a lot of confidence. I think it helped everyone else get open, too.”
As a team, Camas shot 50 percent. Sophie Buzzard added 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting, and sophomore Lauren Hood had 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Camas had 14 assists on its 25 field goals.
Camas raced out to a quick 10-0 lead, then went on a 19-0 run to end the first half. The first of Thompson’s quarter-ending 3-pointers pushed the halftime lead to 37-4. It held Olympia to 16 percent shooting from the field and seven field goals. None came in the second quarter.
Camas’ two seniors — Thompson and Buzzard — checked out for the final time at home together to a rousing ovation from the crowd leading 59-13.
Both cherished the moment. They’ve been teammates since fifth grade.
“I’m so glad I got to do this all these years with her,” Buzzard said. “She’s my favorite player I’ve ever played with. Going out together, it was sad, but also awesome to see how far we’ve come.”
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CAMAS 63, OLYMPIA 17
OLYMPIA — Lauren Wolin 2, Carolina Schilter 0, Brooke Jeurgens 4. Sawyer Schaff 3, Faith Smith 0, Grace McCaughan 2, Junie Hanson 2, Hazen Emmans 0, Hannah Kim 2, Emma Hankins 2. Totals 7 (1) 2-6 17.
CAMAS — De’Chaiya Gentle 0, Sophie Buzzard 19, Baylie Farra 3, Lauren Hood 17, Keirra Thompson 22, Eli GIbson 0, Lila McCarthy 0, MacKenna Kvidstad 2, Isla Lucero 0, Mia Hamilton 0, Katrina Green 0. Totals 25 (12) 1-3 63.
Olympia 3 1 6 7 – 17
Camas 13 24 15 11 – 63
