Camas boys right the ship against Columbia River

A slam dunk to begin a new basketball season just wasn’t enough for Trevor Jasinsky.

Seven three-pointers for a grand total of 31 points was more than the Camas High School senior could ask for on opening night. The Papermakers needed every single one of those baskets to wade through a choppy Columbia River 66-64 Monday, in Camas.

“My teammates kept feeding me the ball and telling me to shoot,” Jasinsky said. “I’ve got to give credit to them and this amazing crowd we had tonight. It was a fun game to be a part of.”

The Chieftains tied the game in the fourth quarter on a couple of steals and buckets with three minutes left on the clock. Ethan Unger, Jasinsky and Andre De Los Rios hit threes to put the Papermakers up by seven. River responded with two threes in the final minute to crawl back within one. Jasinsky and Jake Hansel kept Camas up by two at the foul line. The Chieftains had one last good look from long range. The ball clanged off the rim twice as time expired.

“That was a relief when that shot didn’t go in,” Jasinsky said. “River is very talented. To come away with a win like this is very big for us going forward. We have a lot of heart and we never give up. We are going to rebound and keep playing tough, and that’s what we did tonight.”

Jasinsky, De Los Rios, Jordan Anderson, James Price, Kantas Zalpys and Jayce Allen have been playing basketball together since they were in elementary school. They hope this victory is just the start to a special senior year.

“We get to spend every single day together and play the sport we love,” Jasinsky said. “It’s something that’s priceless.”

Camas only has one more home game this month, Dec. 29 against Stanwood. The Papermakers will be on the road at Prairie, Wilson, Union, The Dalles, Evergreen, Arlington and Timberline.

“The guys wanted to get tested, so we set up a schedule where we will have to travel a lot,” said head coach Skyler Gillispie. “The hope is that we go into league with more experience under our belt.”

If Monday night was any indication, fans could be in for a fun basketball season in Camas.

“One thing these guys don’t lack in is fun,” Gillispie said. “They have a ton of enthusiasm. Every day, they show up to compete. As long as they continue to do that, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”