Double heartbreak for Camas boys basketball

Lightning didn’t strike twice for Jordan Lenard and the Camas High School boys basketball team.

Skyview gained a seven-point advantage before the Papermakers came roaring back in the final minute of the Jan. 22 home game. A steal by Brandon Nguyen and a bucket in transition brought the Camas crowd to its feet. Trent Johnson then picked off a pass and Trevor Jasinsky made two foul shots to cut the lead down to three points. Skyview added a point at the foul line, and then Lenard nailed a 3-pointer to bring the Papermakers all the way back to within one.

“I caught it in rhythm and just shot it. It felt so good when it went in,” Lenard said. “Coach said, ‘we’re not out of this game. Anything can happen. Just keep playing hard.’ We got a few steals and grabbed the momentum.”

Skyview made one more foul shot. Camas took a time out with 8.3 seconds left on the clock and set up one final play. The Papermakers got the ball into Lenard’s hands behind the 3-point line before time expired. He gave everything he had left in his legs and arms on that last shot, but the ball bounced off the rim, and Skyview won the game 44-42.

After cooling down in the locker room, the boys came back on the floor, grabbed some basketballs and practiced.

“To be down by seven in that last minute and cut it down to one showed a lot of heart,” Lenard said. “We just have to do all the little things it takes to win. One more 3-pointer, or a foul shot or a rebound would have made the difference.”

The Papermakers had their backs against the wall at Evergreen Friday. Johnson nailed a 3-pointer with the game on the line for Camas to force overtime, but the Plainsmen emerged victorious 64-58. Kyle Robb led Camas with 16 points, Lenard added 13, and Johnson and Jasinsky each netted 11.

The Camas basketball teams host Union today. The boys play at 5:30 p.m., followed by the girls.