TACOMA — Nobody said breakfast basketball was easy, but the Camas Papermakers made it look that way Friday.
Dominating from start to finish against Auburn in Friday’s first game of the day, the Papermakers rolled to a 64-40 consolation victory to advance to play for a state trophy Saturday.
Camas (22-6) faces Richland, which topped Mount Si on Friday, in Saturday’s fourth/sixtt-place trophy game. It’s a rematch of the teams’ Opening Round game that Camas won 59-57 last Saturday.
The early-morning energy was in Camas’ favor from the start.
“If you win the first quarter,” junior forward Ethan Harris said, “there’s a 90-percent chance you’re going to win the game. That start just gave us momentum and gave us the energy to carry on.”
The game was a rematch of the bi-district title game two weeks ago, which went in favor of Auburn.
Friday, however, it was all Camas. The Papermakers led start to finish, including a quick 9-0 start to the game on its way to a 22-10 first-quarter advantage. It held Auburn to 11 or fewer points in all four quarters, and led by 15 or more points throughout the second half.
Senior point guard Jace VanVoorhis called it an emotional battle for Auburn and Camas, given both had overtime losses Thursday. Auburn lost to No. 1-seed Gonzaga Prep.
“It really hit home for both teams,” he said. “Whoever wanted it from the jump was going to get it.”
Said Harris: “The quick switch and mentality thinking gave us that edge.”
Harris led all scorers with 23 points, and also had six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. VanVoorhis added 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
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CAMAS 64, AUBURN 40
CAMAS — Blake WIlson 0, Carter Morgan 0, Cade Washington 9, Nyima Namru 0, Jace VanVoorhis 18, Sami Mustafa 0, Channing Nesland 8, Carson Meyer 4, Max Rayan 2, Ethan Harris 23, Landon Frost 0, Kellen Dufner 0. Totals 26 (5) 7-9 64.
AUBURN — Carter Hansen 17, Daniel Johnson 8, Rainier Denoso 0, Isaiah Englund 1, Elijah Jones 0, Dante Hernandez 0, Miles Henry 6, Keenan Perry 6, Levi Lucas 0, Matthew Fredrickson 1, TJ Chagolla 0, Mark Johnson 5. Totals 13 (5) 9-14 40.
