Beckett Currie, shown here last week at regionals, scored 21 points Friday morning, leading Camas to a 77-57 victory over Skyline to advance to Trophy Day at the Class 4A state boys basketball tournament. Photo by Mike Schultz

Camas crushes Skyline on Friday morning to advance to fourth-place game

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the best boys basketball team in Camas history.

The Papermakers will play for fourth place Saturday, winning their way into the trophy round with a convincing 77-57 victory over Skyline on Friday morning in the Tacoma Dome.

A day after losing in the championship quarterfinals, these Papermakers came out motivated to make program history.

Camas will bring home the fourth-place or sixth-place trophy after their game Saturday morning. Camas will take on the Gonzaga Prep-Richland winner in that trophy game at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The consolation brackets of this tournament have, historically, a battle of emotions for athletes. Some teams come out fired up, looking to extend their season one more day. Others just can’t get over the loss from the previous round in the championship bracket.

Clearly, these Papermakers wanted to keep playing, to do something no boys team has done before at Camas.

The 1962 squad finished eighth.

Step aside 1962. It’s the 2023 team’s time to shine.

Beckett Currie made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points, leading five Papermakers in double figures against Skyline.

Theo McMillan continued his incredible tournament with a double-double. He had 12 points and 19 rebounds. He also added five assists.

Theo McMillan, shown here last week at regionals, had a double-double Friday morning with 10 points and 19 rebounds for Camas. The Papermakers will play for fourth place Saturday in the 4A state boys basketball tournament. Photo by Mike Schultz

Jamison Carlisle was 5 for 7 from the floor for his 14 points. Jace VanVoorhis and Josh Dabasinkas each scored 10 points for the Papermakers. VanVoorhis was looking for his teammates, too, with a game-high seven assists.

Camas jumped out to a 35-18 lead at the half. Skyline had a mini run early in the third quarter, but the Papermakers put it away with a huge push to end the quarter. The 23-15 frame made it 58-33 going into the fourth quarter.

Those final eight minutes were a time to celebrate the soon-to-be victory.

And a date with a trophy on Saturday.

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