Thirteen Panther boys basketball players signed on the dotted line for Washougal Thursday, and then they went out and beat Mark Morris for the first time in 41 games by the final score of 66-58. "I went into the locker room before the game and wrote 'Do you believe?' on the board and then walked out," said head coach Malcolm Estes. "They all signed their names below it."
McKenna and Paige Jackson know each other so well, they finish each other's sentences. That's what happens when you are born 34 seconds apart and have been playing on the same basketball team for seven years. "We both like the same things and we have the same friends," Paige said. "I guess that's identical part of being twins," McKenna added. "It's feels great to always have your best friend by your side, whether we're on or off the court."
Aaron Deister didn't take his eyes off the basketball for a second as it clinked and clanged off the rim. "I was just hoping for it to go in," said the Washougal High School senior. "I couldn't buy a bucket all night, but we really needed that one. I was just feeling it off the rebound." Frustration set in on the face of head coach Malcolm Estes as he watched the ball swirl around the glass. "Can we just get one to drop?" He thought.
Clark County Championship week is the one Camas and Washougal wrestlers and coaches look forward to every year. For one night only, classifications are thrown out the window and the best wrestler in the county for each weight class is determined. Several wrestlers from these 16 county schools are dreaming of obtaining district, regional and state medals next month. Winning a county championship medal is the first step toward making those dreams come true. This year's Clark County boys and girls tournaments return to Skyview High School, 1300 N.W. 139th St. in Vancouver. Matches begin Friday at 4 p.m., resume Saturday at 10 a.m. and conclude with the finals Saturday evening. The Washougal girls are determined to defend their 2012 county team championship. Several Panthers and Camas Papermakers have their hearts set on wrestling in the finals, but it is never an easy road.
Seven losses during the preseason made the Camas High School boys basketball players angry, but Thursday was an opportunity for a fresh start and the Papermakers capitalized on it. "We started to take ownership of the season and set our goals high," said junior forward Trevor Jasinsky. "We want to show people that even though we are the underdogs, we are going to give all we can every game." Propelled by a 14-2 swing in the second quarter, Camas defeated Skyview 54-49 in the school's first 4A Greater St. Helens League basketball game. Trent Johnson delivered 13 points, Jasinsky netted 12, and Jordan Lenard and Kyle Robb each added eight. "It was a great start for league," Johnson said. "A lot of people didn't expect us to go to Skyview and do that. I hope we can keep improving and get more and more wins."
It's always nice to wrap up a tournament with a victory, even if it is not in the championship game. After facing their fourth team from Oregon in the Nike Interstate Shootout, the Camas High School girls basketball team earned a satisfying 46-30 victory against Lakeridge Sunday at Lake Oswego High School. Sophomores Brenna Khaw and Nikki Corbett filled the stat sheet like they had all week long. Khaw delivered 11 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots. Corbett added nine points and 11 rebounds. The Papermakers rolled out to a 17-6 lead after the first quarter. Camas also outscored Lakeridge 9-1 in the third quarter. The win gives the Papermakers some momentum as they prepare for Friday's league opener against defending 4A state champion Skyview. Tip off is at 7 p.m., at Skyview High School.
The Camas boys basketball team caught fire in the second half of a tie ball game, while the Washougal boys went ice cold. "We were tired of morale victories," said Camas head coach Skyler Gillispie. "We wanted to go out there, finish strong and win this game." The Papermakers played with more urgency and composure, and were rewarded with a 51-47 victory against their longtime rivals. Camas rallied to tie the score on a 15-9 scoring drive in the second quarter. Nick Lopes and Jordan Lenard attacked the basket and ignited a 17-10 swing for the Papermakers in the third quarter.
With only one match to wrestle Saturday, Zach Oster still made a big splash in the Washougal River Rumble. The sophomore from Washougal High School hooked Fort Vancouver's Isaiah Johnson like a fish out of water and reeled in the 113-pound championship medal. Oster caught Johnson off guard with a single leg takedown and had him trapped. He rolled Johnson over onto his back and pinned his shoulders to the mat. "He was trying to do too much with his hands and wasn't paying attention to his legs," Oster said. "I saw my opportunity and didn't let go." Although he would have loved to wrestle more matches, Oster kept his game face on as he paced through the halls in anticipation for his championship match. As easy as his road was to the finals, it would have been just as easy to lose focus. But this was Oster's opportunity to show what Washougal wrestling was all about and he wanted to get his hand raised.
Ferocious defense and relentless rebounding helped the Camas High School girls basketball team defeat Hockinson by 42 points and Hudson's Bay by 41. "Defense leads to offense," said sophomore guard Brenna Khaw. "Our goal is to shut the other team down." The Papermakers disposed of the Eagles 60-19 Thursday. Hudson's Bay never got comfortable in the Camas warehouse. The Papermakers rolled to a 12-5 advantage in the first quarter. The Eagles cut the deficit to nine points by halftime, but then the Papermakers scored the first 13 points in the third quarter before the Eagles could get one back. Camas outscored Bay 23-5 in the third quarter and 15-1 in the fourth. "We were defending better, and that led to a lot of transition baskets for us," said head coach Chuck Knight. "When we get the ball in Brenna’s hands, she's going to find players."
Like pedals on a bicycle, Ed Fischer and the staff at Camas Bike & Sport understand the importance of youth pumping fresh blood into the heart of their sport. Mountain biking is more than just a business to them, it's a lifestyle they love to share with friends and families. As coaches in the brand new Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance's Washington Student Mountain Bike League, Fischer, his wife Katina, and friends Bill Waring and Dave Webb, help children discover a passion for cycling and teach them to nurture the trails they ride on. "We want to find young and passionate students who can follow in our footsteps and become not just great riders, but stewards as well," Fischer said. "High school students are involved in a lot of activities, and they don't always have the time or the energy to try something new. Younger kids have so much passion, and that's what we want to tap into."
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