Camas 65, Sunset 46: Five Takeaways
League play really gets started next week on both sides of the Columbia River, so Friday night was one final time for teams in Oregon and Washington to match up in the regular season. Using a stifling zone defense and…
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Continue ReadingLeague play really gets started next week on both sides of the Columbia River, so Friday night was one final time for teams in Oregon and Washington to match up in the regular season. Using a stifling zone defense and a big game from senior Isaiah Sampson, Camas used a second half surge to power past Sunset on the road, 65-46.
“I was excited that we came down here and played as well as we did,” said Camas head coach. Ryan Josephson. “Sunset was pretty similar to us in that they are a big team so it was a good test for us as we knew we wouldn’t be able to just come out here and be sloppy with what we do.”
“We’re preparing for league every game through and we have to continue to get better,” he added. “Really it’s going to be can we continue to take care of the ball, can we win the rebounding battle, can we contest every shot on defense – those are going to be the things that win it for us and I thought we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Sampson Gets It Done
The unofficial MVP of the game had to be Camas senior Isaiah Sampson. The 6-foot-6 swingman was absolutely dominant with his scoring – 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting – but also on the boards as he gobbled up 14 rebounds on both the offensive and defensive glass. The majority of Sampson’s points were in the mid-range where he utilized his soft touch to convert baskets, and when he missed he was quick to follow up his shot on the offensive rebound. Sampson didn’t just look for baskets for himself either as he also dished out three assists. Josephson said that the goal for Sampson is to average a double-double this season and he certainly got that done against Sunset.
Papermakers Zone Was Sharp
Camas runs a 2-3 zone and it gave Sunset fits all night. The Apollos ended up making some three-pointers late but for most of the night they really struggled from the perimeter because the Papermakers really didn’t give them a lot of clean looks. What was also effective about the zone was that it really didn’t cost Camas too much with rebounding as not only Sampson grabbed boards but junior 6-foot-7 post Jackson Clemmer did as well with seven rebounds of his own.
Scoring Spread Around for Camas
While Sampson was doing his thing in the mid-range and inside, Camas got a lot of contributions throughout their roster – especially on the perimeter. Four players hit a three and the Papermakers also got a lift off the bench with some high energy play from senior guard Zach Chilian with ten points. In all, 10 of the 11 players that played scored and tallied at least three points each.
Apollos Dependent on Sato
Junior guard Braeden Sato is the engine that makes Sunset run and early on he was starting to get his shooting stroke going from the outside. However in the second quarter after going up and hitting his second three, the 5-foot-9 point guard came down on his left ankle and came off of the court limping. He would not return and what was a nine-point deficet at the half blew up into the final margin without Sato in the lineup. Sato noted after the game that he was told he had a high ankle sprain and he hopes to be back soon, which is key as Sunset will desperately need his scoring and floor leadership in Metro League play.
Gut Check Time for Sunset
Talk to any coach and while they would say no loss is preferred, it’s definitely better to get losses out of the way in the non-conference schedule than in league play. After starting the season 8-2, head coach Todd Sherwood’s squad has hit a bit of a dry spell with a loss to Gresham in their last game of the Century Tournament and then this loss to Camas. Metro League play gets started on Tuesday and players such as senior Will Reese (zero points vs. Camas) and junior Colby King (six) will have to step up with their games. Jesuit looks like the favorite but second place may be wide open and if these players and Sato returns healthy, the Apollos have a great shot at taking second.