Camas boys basketball rolls by Union to clinch 4A GSHL top seed

One goal has been achieved, but the Camas boys basketball team believes it is far from finished.

The first step? Win a third consecutive Class 4A Greater St. Helens League title. The Papermakers accomplished that Thursday with a 78-51 win over host Union.

Camas (15-3, 6-0) clinched the league title with three games to spare.

Winning those three is the next step.

“It feels great but the job is not done,” senior Cade Washington said. “Our goal is 9-0 and to be the first team to go undefeated in the Greater St. Helens League.”

What goals lie beyond league play are also lofty for Camas, which is No. 3 in the Class 4A RPI rankings. Thursday, the Papermakers ran their win streak to nine in a row, all by double-digit margins.

The only blemishes this season are a season-opening loss to Idaho power Lake City and two losses over the holidays at the Les Schwab Invitational.

“After every single loss we’ve grown an absolute ton,” junior Ethan Harris said. “At the beginning of the season, we’d shoot the good shot. But as you saw today, now we make the extra pass to get the wide-open shot.”

Harris dominated from the start, scoring 13 of his 25 points in the first quarter as Camas led 21-11.

Ahead 38-23 at halftime, Camas put the game away by outscoring Union 27-11 in the third quarter. That was the time to shine for Washington, who scored all 13 of his points in the third.

“We started off the season slow, but now all five units on the court are firing at the same time,” Washington said. “In practice, we’re really drilling playing together. We’re playing very well as a team.”

Daniel Kirichenko scored 13 points to lead Union (13-5, 3-3). Nick Burchett and Arthur Novotarskiy each added 10 points for the Titans, who had won four of their last five games and are positioned to earn one of the league’s three postseason berths.

CAMAS 78, UNION 51

CAMAS – Blake Wilson 0, Carson Meyer 0, Carter Morgan 5, Cade Washington 13, Nyima Namru 8, Jace Van Voorhis 7, Channing Nesland 8, Sami Mustafa 2, Max Rayan 4, Ethan Sobolik 0, Ethan Harris 25, Landon Frost 6, Kellen Dufner 0. Totals 30 (7) 11-14  78.

UNION – Drew Hill 3, Luke Lehner 6, Pat Howe 4, Henry Dunseth 3, Arthur Novotarskiy 10, Kaden Bozovich 0, Kody Holcomb 0, Grant Brown 0, Noah Jones 2, Nick Burchett 10, Daniel Kirichenko 13. Totals 20 (6) 5-9  51.

Camas    21    17    27    13—78

Union      11      12    11    17—51