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Sports

February 5, 2011
The Camas High School boys basketball team captured a league championship for the first time in 49 years. Pictured, left to right: Addison Owen, Richard Schultz, Kevin Basilio, Jacob Kaler, Dobilas Zalpys, Kyle Friend, Bryan Butler, Marc Eppinger, Michael Neff and Damon Kosaki.

On the sidelines: Dreams do come true

If you were one of the estimated 1,800 fans inside the Camas warehouse Friday night, I don't have to tell you what happened. But for those who missed out, the Camas High School boys basketball team beat Mountain View 60-37 to win a league championship for the first time since 1962.

February 4, 2011
Camas High School seniors (left to right) Odin Coe, Addison Owen, Melissa Williams, Drew White and Kurt Yinger eagerly sign their college letters of intent Wednesday.

Signing day at Camas High

Odin Coe signs with Montana State, Addison Owen signs with Montana, Melissa Williams signs with Eastern Washington, Drew White signs with Washington and Kurt Yinger signs with UC Santa Barbara.

February 1, 2011
Jacob Kaler glides to the hoop to score two of his 35 points Jan. 25, at Camas High School. The Papermakers beat Hudson's Bay 84-57 to take over first place.

Playoff basketball fever

Before delivering 35 points to help the Camas High School boys basketball team beat Hudson's Bay 84-57 on Jan. 25, Jacob Kaler remembers two words the Papermakers wrote down in the locker room before the game. "Win league," he said. "Seeing the goal on the board motivated me even more. Those words were pounding through my head the whole game." Kaler racked up 17 points in the first half. At one point, the Papermakers were rolling on a 26-2 scoring drive in the first half. Kaler collected another 14 points in the third quarter. He capped off a night to remember with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter, and a shot clock beating jumper in the fourth quarter.

February 1, 2011

Papermaker propellers

With propeller power generated by 11 different relay combinations, the Camas High School boys swimmers captured the Southwest Washington Invitational championship Saturday, at Dick Mealy Memorial Pool in Longview. The Papermakers racked up 509.5 points to finish ahead of Skyview (487.5), Union (341.5), Aberdeen (323), Mountain View (315) and nine other schools. Hockinson, who swims with Camas in the North County co-op, placed seventh with 208 points.

February 1, 2011
Alicia Hamlin earned second place on the floor exercise for the Papermakers Wednesday, at VEGA North in Vancouver.

Camas gymnasts go for the glory at districts

After going undefeated in six dual meets, winning districts Friday at Naydenov Gymnastics Center in Vancouver would give the Papermakers all of the glory. The grand prize is an opportunity for every Papermaker gymnast to represent Camas at the state meet, Feb. 18 and 19 at the Tacoma Dome. This is dream Amanda Bolton, Ashley Gjserswold, Grace Giordano, Alicia Hamlin, Amy Siebenthaler and Hayden Sutton have shared since middle school. It only became more possible when the Papermakers set a new school record by scoring 162 points as a team, Jan. 22.

February 1, 2011

Wrestling for a ticket to the Tacoma Dome

After finishing in the top half of their respective leagues, the Camas and Washougal high school wrestlers are taking separate paths to Mat Classic XXIII at the Tacoma Dome. The Camas Papermakers compete in the 3A district tournament Friday and Saturday, at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver. The Washougal Panthers wrestle in the 2A sub-regional tournament Friday and Saturday, at R.A. Long High School in Longview. "In the last five years, we had won two league titles and R.A. Long won two league titles before capturing number three this year. Now, they're up 3-2," said Washougal coach John Carver. "The question now is, can we topple R.A. Long at the sub-regional tournament in Longview?"

January 25, 2011
Swimmers from Camas and Mountain View high schools cheer on their teammates during a wet and wild meet for the league championship Thursday, in Camas.

Crowded at pool side

When the Camas and Mountain View boys swimmers collide, it gets pretty crowded at pool side. Thursday's showdown at Grass Valley Aquatics Center in Camas was even more special because the league championship was on the line. The edge of the pool was the place for the Papermakers and the Thunder to be, cheering their lungs out. "Both teams got behind everybody in the water," said Camas team co-captain Conner Sullivan. "Showing support for your team is a big part of swimming." Mountain View kicked off the pressure cooker by winning the 200-meter medley relay with the state qualifying time of 1 minute, 56.69 seconds. It began a relay sweep for the Thunder, and a league championship clinching 152-134 victory.

January 25, 2011

New school record for gymnasts

The Camas High School gymnasts delivered an all-time best 162 points to defeat Evergreen Saturday, at the Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy North facility in Vancouver. Amy Siebenthaler clinched first in the all-around competition by racking up 34.7 points. She finished first in the floor exercise with 9.7 points, first on the vault (8.7), first on the bars (8.3) and sixth on the beam (8.0).

January 25, 2011
Kevin Monsrud and the hungry Panthers feasted on the Woodland Beavers Thursday, at Washougal. The Panthers sunk their teeth into a 67-39 victory.

Panther basketball is on the rise

Panther basketball is rising. If Washougal can knock Hockinson or Mark Morris off its pedestal this week, it would be a dream come true for the 12 boys in the orange and black. "We beat Woodland and we beat R.A. Long, but we have to find a way to beat Hockinson and Mark Morris," said head coach Malcolm Estes. "I think we can do it. The boys are starting to believe in themselves. They are all doing a terrific job out there, and together they are finding ways to win. This is turning out to be a really fun year."