Camas coach Scott Thompson hopes this game between two elite teams will be a showcase for the sport
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
The Camas girls basketball team only has five home games this year.
That is the consequence of playing in showcase tournaments in an effort to find competition outside of Clark County
The Papermakers started their season with a couple of games in Spokane. Then three in the Washington, D.C. area.
They were on the road Thursday night for the 4A Greater St. Helens League opener, too, defeating Skyview.
But on Friday night (Dec. 15), the Papermakers are home and are welcoming the state champions.
It is a chance for Clark County to welcome the Eastlake Wolves. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
The Camas Papermakers certainly know the Wolves. Eastlake beat Camas last season in the Class 4A state championship game in Tacoma.
Yes, this is a rematch. But no, it is not a revenge game. No one associated with the teams would dare try to compare a non-league December game with a state championship game in March. If Camas wins on Friday night, Eastlake is not going to be handing over the trophy.
Still, this is a big game.
And a bigger event, Camas coach Scott Thompson says.
“First of all, for Eastlake to take this game and travel here shows a lot about their program. They’re not afraid of any challenge, and they’re willing to come to our place,” Thompson said. “For us, it’s a really good barometer of where we stand. Eastlake is going to be a top-five team again.”
The matchup also is a celebration of the sport. State champions from the Puget Sound region do not show up in Clark County every year.
“We get to show how our community and how our high school supports girls basketball,” Thompson said.
“I told them ‘If you’re willing to come, I promise you we can give you a cool experience.’ Our community supports girls basketball as well as any school in the state. We were excited to make this game happen.”
Camas will have another special game at home in January, too. The Papermakers are playing Oregon state champion Clackamas two times this year, one in Oregon, and one at Camas. The Camas home game is Jan. 31.
Also read:
- High school sports notes: Seton Catholic earns another Scholastic Cup
Seton Catholic’s 15 postseason teams and 10 academic state titles powered a third straight Class 1A Scholastic Cup. - Letter: When ‘inclusion’ mandates exclusion, sports lose its way
Jonathan Hines argues forced Pride jerseys and banned Bible verses reveal a double standard in MLB’s inclusion policies. - Low sockeye salmon returns lead to fishery changes in the Columbia River
WDFW projects sockeye returns to Bonneville Dam at less than half the pre-season forecast of 275,000 fish. - Hometown football hero surprised by documentary film at Camas’ Liberty Theater
Reilly Hennessey quarterbacked three European teams to championships before a surprise documentary revealed his full story. - The Study of Sports Podcast June 12, 2026: We say goodbye to not only spring sports but we also give a salute to the full high school sports year
For the first time in memory, no Clark County team brought home a state championship in the 2025-26 school year.
