TACOMA — When it comes to facing teams with a size advantage, the Camas Papermakers often still find ways to score in the paint and make a dent on the glass.
Thursday’s 4A state quarterfinal against Sumner wasn’t one of those games, however. Behind doubling up Camas in rebounding numbers, the Spartans topped Camas, 61-47, at the Tacoma Dome to drop the defending 4A state champions to the consolation bracket.
In Friday’s 12:15 p.m. consolation game, Camas (18-8) faces a familiar opponent — Auburn — in a rematch of the late February bi-district title game won by Auburn.
Thursday, Camas also played without what coach Scott Thompson called the team’s best rebounder — 5-foot-7 guard De’Chiaya Gentle. Her late-game injury in Wednesday’s Round of 12 win over Lake Stevens kept Gentle out of Thursday’s game. She’s also questionable for Friday.
Sumner took a 25-24 halftime deficit and quickly earned its first double-digit lead of the game at 37-27 with 3:50 left in the third quarter. In all, Sumner outscored Camas 20-4 in the third. Kawehi Borden led all scorers with 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting and Olivia Collins added 14.
Sumner doubled the rebounding totals compared to Camas — 32-16. That included an 11-3 advantage on the offensive glass.
Defensively, a big difference was Sumner’s second-half adjustment on Camas senior point guard Keirra Thompson. After a 19-point, 11-assist performance Wednesday, the Boise State-bound guard raced out to a quick seven points after one quarter Thursday as part of a 16-11 first-quarter lead by Camas.
As Sumner went on its run, it also shut down Camas’ offense. Entering the fourth, Camas trailed 44-29. Thompson was held to four shot attempts the final two quarters and her two second-half points came on free throws.
“I think their defense was really strong,” Coach Thompson said. “They got the ball out of Keirra’s hands and did everything they could to not let her get it back. And we generate so much offense through Keirra that it made it challenging to find a rhythm. So hats off to (Sumner). They came up with a really good plan and did a good job executing it.”
Sophie Buzzard led Camas with 15 points and Keirra Thompson and Lauren Hood finished with 13 apiece. Buzzard said postgame she and her teammates are ready to end the season Saturday with another trophy, and that starts by winning Friday’s consolation game.
“Coming out swinging each and every quarter is a big part of it. Don’t let (Auburn) get momentum and just play the way we play.”
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SUMNER 61, CAMAS 47
CAMAS — Sophie Buzzard 15, Keirra Thompson 13, Lauren Hood 13, Baylie Farra 3, Eli Gibson 3, Lila McCarthy 0, Mia Hamilton 0, Isla Lucero 0, Mackenna Kvistad 0. Totals 15 (7) 10-12 47.
SUMNER — Mae Cocke 3, Kessa Nohr 5, Kawehi Borden 22, Olivia Collins 14, Ariah Meng 0, Madison Hughes 8, Audrey Chambers 0, Adriana Copeland 0, Parker Gould 5, Molly Neesley 0. Totals 22 (6) 11-15 61.
Camas 16 9 4 18 – 47
Sumner 11 13 20 17 – 61
