Papermaker girls take aim at Nike Interstate Shootout

After just four days off for Christmas, the Camas girls basketball team is back on the floor this week in the Nike Interstate Shootout at Lake Oswego High School.

The Papermakers played South Eugene this morning, in the first round of the tournament. Results were still pending as of press deadlines. Win or lose, Camas will play three more games on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

“We’ve built some good momentum in the past four games, and hopefully we can continue that momentum right into league,” said head coach Chuck Knight. “We want to use this tournament to get us fully tuned up. After Christmas break, it seems like we have a game every other day.”

The Papermakers rode a four-game winning streak into this event. On Dec. 19, Camas defeated Hockinson 56-27. Sydney Allen delivered a solid all-around performance with 14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Sierra Brown added a double-double, with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Tatum Schroeder had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.

On top of their non-league victories over Union and Hockinson, the Papermakers also picked up league wins against Kelso and Fort Vancouver this month.

“I like what I’ve seen in our style of play, so far,” Knight said. “What we want to do is play pressure defense and transition that energy into our offense. We’ve certainly seen moments of it and looked pretty good, but we haven’t sustained that for a full 32 minutes of a game yet.”

Camas continues on in this tournament without starters Lauren Neff and Kendra Preuninger.

Neff is on personal leave from the team this week. Preuninger has been sidelined with the same sore foot she fractured during the summer. In the meantime, junior varsity players Kimi Knight and Rachel Rice are contributing quality minutes on varsity.

“Missing two starters will test us a lot this week,” Knight said. “I would like to be more intact with our team, but this will provide more opportunities for our kids to step up.

“We’re getting a little better every game, and the kids are starting to feel confident,” he added. “I hope we can keep that going.”