Camas boys fall, but match their best state finish

TACOMA — The season began with a coaching adjustment and ended with a single-season record for victories.

On top of it, a sixth-place state trophy in Class 4A.

That was Camas boys basketball in 2024-25 after Saturday’s 74-67 loss to Richland at the Tacoma Dome. While the season ended with a loss, it came with matching the 2023 team for best state finish.

“I’m so proud of the guys,” said senior point guard Jace VanVoorhis, who had 18 points and five assists playing all 32 minutes. “We’ve come so far; it brings a tear to my eyes. … Day in and day out, they’re out there grinding. I’m so proud they’re my brothers.”

Saturday capped a season with a sudden coaching change when Ryan Josephson, head coach since 2017-18, announced his resignation just days before the start of November practices.

Coach Brian Witherspoon, previously Josephson’s assistant and a former Evergreen’s boys head coach from 2012-2017, stepped in on an interim basis. Aside from tweaks on the defensive side, continuity remained, Witherspoon said.

The coach added that he and athletic director Stephen Baranowski plan to meet next week about Witherspoon’s future in Camas boys basketball. Witherspoon called the 2024-25 Papermakers one of the best teams he’s coached, and also went a step further.

“This was one of the best basketball experiences I’ve ever had as a player and as a coach,” the coach said.

Saturday morning’s game was a rematch of the teams’ Opening Round contest March 1. Camas won 59-57 to advance to the 4A quarterfinals in Tacoma.

On Saturday, Richland held a 39-29 lead and led by as many as 16 points behind the play of Landen Northrop (23 points), Lance Horntvedt (19) and Jackson Woodard (13). Camas got as close as 55-50 after closing the third quarter on a 17-6 run.

The 22-7 record is a program-best for wins in a season. And the senior class exits as the winningest seniors in program history with 20-plus victories in three of the past four seasons.

“This core group,” said forward Channing Nesland, who tallied 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting, “We’ve played together for three years. We left it all out there. It’s all coming to an end and it’s so emotional.”

Camas boys basketball has seven appearances all time at state, but three have come the past three seasons. That’s why members of the senior class believe what they accomplished is special.

“Something we’re really big on is culture and being one family,” VanVoorhis said. “Holding each other accountable, staying positive and attitude and effort is what we’ve been living off of the past 4-5 months.”