Jun. 5—CAMAS — Last fall, when the Camas girls basketball team could get into the gym for the first time, senior Katelynn Forner had one thought.
“All I was saying is ‘I hope we get at least one game,’ ” Forner said. “And we got a lot.”
The Papermakers finished with 18 games together, winning all but one. And they capped this weird season with an emphatic explanation mark — dropping a barrage of 3-pointers on rival Union in a 77-38 rout Friday in the 4A/3A Greater St. Helens League tournament championship game.
“We put it all on the court,” senior Jalena Carlisle said. “I know us three (seniors) did. And it felt like (everyone) was putting it all out there for us because it was our last game stepping onto this court. It just felt like everyone was putting in 110 percent. What’s the phrase again? Finish on empty.”
The Papermakers finished on empty because they put the gas pedal to the floor in the third quarter.
After hitting six 3-pointers in the first half to open a 35-18 halftime lead, Camas hit six more 3s in the third quarter to blow the game open 56-22.
Camas would finish with 17 3-pointers, led by Forner who had five for a game-high 15 points. Carlisle made three and scored 14 points, and freshman Reagan Jamison also had 14, making four 3-pointers.
Union was missing its all-time leader in 3-pointers, senior Abbey Kaip, who was on crutches Friday after injuring her ankle in Thursday’s semifinal win.
Without Kaip, the Titans didn’t hit a single 3-pointer, making hard to keep up with Camas. Junior post Ariel Ammentorp led Union with 14 points.
But for Camas, Friday night was a happy sendoff to its three seniors who left a lasting impact on the program — Forner, Carlisle and Faith Bergstrom. All three are heading off to play college basketball
“It was really nice just to have a season, even as weird as this one was,” said Bergstrom, who will play for Cal Poly.
Seattle Pacific signee Carlisle added: “We’ve enjoyed every moment. The three of us have been working together since middle school, so to have these final moments together, it’s super weird, with all the cost that was involved.”
Forner, who will play at Lower Columbia College, said also it was great to connect with a new teammates as Camas had five freshmen who contributed to the team’s success.
“This coaching staff, these girls, there’s no one like it,” Forner said. “It’s like your second family. It’s who you can go to talk to about anything. I mean, I’ve never connected as well to a team as I have with this team.”
CAMAS 77, UNION 38
UNION — Kennedy Myers 0, Mariah Gahl 0, Natalie Paulson 0, Olivia Euverman 11, Grace Burchett 3, Lolo Weatherspoon 3, Sydney Cowling 2, Kaneyl Carpenter 5, Caitlyn Leake 0, Mackenzie Spike 0, Ariel Ammentorp 14. Totals 11 (0) 16-22 38.
CAMAS — Reagan Jamison 14, Kennedy Broadbent 1, Jalena Carlisle 14, Parker Mairs 2, Katelynn Forner 15, Riley Sanz 0, Anna Mooney 11, Sammi Guffey 3, Faith Bergstrom 6, Kendall Backender 0, Ava Smith 6, Callie Ulin 0, Ashley Bauer 5, Addison Harrison 0. Totals 25 (17) 10-15 77.
Union 10 8 4 16—38
Camas 16 19 21 21—77