Lauren Hood, a sophomore at Camas, has had a huge role this season with the Papermakers, as younger players have stepped up to help out the two seniors for the defending state championship program. Photo by Paul Valencia

Senior leaders Keirra Thompson and Sophie Buzzard needed young players to contribute in bigger roles this season for the Camas Papermakers, and that’s exactly what happened as the defending state champions qualified for the state tournament with a win Monday

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The seniors have done this year after year at Camas.

The younger players? Well, this was a first … as big-time contributors.

The Camas Papermakers are going back to the state — for the eighth consecutive tournament.

This was a different journey, though, than the one taken in recent years.

Being completely honest, it is difficult to describe these Papermakers as underdogs. Many in the state media still picked this squad to be a top-10 program. But this was no sure thing, like the 2023 team that finished second in state nor the 2024 team that won it all.

Absolutely, the defending state champions were going to win games this season, but they were going to have to do so with a brand new combination.

Lauren Hood, a sophomore, is just one of many who stepped up in a big way this season.

Monday night, Hood, and her young teammates, joined two senior stars to clinch yet another trip to the state tournament with a 63-17 victory over Olympia in the 4A bi-district quarterfinals.

Yes, 63-17. The Papermakers left no doubt.

“It’s a really big deal,” Hood said of being part of the next wave of talented Papermakers to keep this winning tradition alive.

“It’s super cool having this moment. Last year, I was cheering everyone on. Now I have a bigger role,” Hood said.

The Papermakers surprised no one when they won the state title last season. But that team graduated five seniors, and another key contributor — a Division I volleyball player — opted out of playing basketball this year.

So, yes, there were a lot of holes to fill for this squad.

Keirra Thompson (Boise State) and Sophie Buzzard (Portland State) are the senior stars of this squad, but they were going to need help to extend the state-tournament streak.

Baylie Farra, a junior now, joined Hood and sophomore De’Chaiya Gentle in the starting lineup for Monday’s bi-district quarterfinal.

“Our seniors do a great job, leading us through things. They’ve had many times being out here in these big games with big minutes. They do a great job,” Hood said. “Our coaches obviously help us a lot, too. It’s just about staying together, staying as a team, and stepping up when it matters.”

The Papermakers finished second in the 4A Greater St. Helens League this season, beating Union once but losing twice to the talented Titans. In fact, the two teams will face each other again Wednesday in the bi-district semifinals. Union, the top seed in this tournament, cruised to the semifinals with a 65-25 win over Kennedy Catholic on Monday.

Yes, 65-25

Two blowouts because it is entirely possible that these two teams are the best teams in the bi-district, regardless of seeding. So the two Clark County teams will square off for a fourth time Wednesday. No matter the result, both are going to state.

Hood is grateful to be helping out the Papermakers.

“It was a statement,” Hood said of this year’s squad continuing the streak. “We are kind of the underdog. We lost five seniors and one more player. We had a lot of people against us.”

In Monday’s game, Hood was 3 for 4 from 3-point range and scored 17 points.

She is also a strong defender. She was assigned Olympia’s top scorer on Wednesday. Hood held her to three points.

“It’s nice to know they have the trust in me to guard one of their best players,” Hood said of her coaches. “Defense is what gets me going on offense. Taking pride on defense early will get me going on offense. Even if I’m not having a good offensive game, defense is consistent. I can always play good defense.”

Sometimes the biggest obstacle facing Lauren Hood is Lauren Hood.

“Lauren is one of those girls that puts a lot of pressure on herself to be good,” Camas coach Scott Thompson said. “Sometimes we have to step back and make sure she understands how important she is and how great of a season she’s had because she wants to get everything perfect today, right now, her sophomore year. That’s just not possible. We have sat back and said, ‘Lauren, you’re having an incredible year.’”

She is fulfilling all the potential the coaches saw in her when they first saw her game in youth ball.

“She stepped into a role in a program with incredibly high expectations with very little experience,” Coach Thompson said. “We definitely thought, from Day 1, she was a special player. This is the first time she actually had to do it. She hasn’t disappointed. She’s having an incredible sophomore year.”

Beyond the physical talent, she is also learning how to be a leader. Two of the best are the teachers this year.

“We love our seniors. They are great leaders for us,” Hood said of Keirra Thompson and Buzzard. “It was fun to honor them at the end.”

The two players left the court together early in the fourth quarter in their final game at Camas High School.

“It was really cool to see in their last home game and they went out and crushed it. That was great,” Hood said.

Thompson had long 3-pointers to beat the buzzers before the end of two quarters Monday. She finished with six 3-pointers and 22 points. Buzzard finished with 19 points.

As one of the team’s new leaders, though, Hood also wanted to highlight all the players on the team. Everyone got to play Monday night.

“The girls on the bench who were in my position last year, they’re doing a good job cheering us on,” Hood said. “They’re working as hard as us. It was nice they got to get on the court there.”

That is exactly the type of player, a person, that Coach Thompson sees every day. Hood truly cares for everyone, the sign of a leader.

“That group is very tight,” the coach said of the younger players. “She has such a powerful voice in that group. Good things are coming for her.”

In a way, those good things have already arrived for Lauren Hood and the younger players.

The Papermakers are not yet satisfied this season. But they have continued an impressive streak, and the future looks promising, as well.

Monday’s other results: Columbia River got a 62-41 win over Black Hills on Monday to qualify for the Class 2A girls basketball state tournament. The Rapids will face W.F. West in the 2A District 4 finals later this week. Woodland lost in its semifinal game Monday and still has a chance to make it to state through the consolation bracket.

Columbia Adventist lost in the semifinals of its Class 1B boys basketball district tournament and will play for a spot to state in the consolation bracket.

There are several games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here are the brackets for all Southwest Washington classifications:

4A boys: https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4579

4A girls: https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4580

3A boys:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4581

3A girls:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4582

2A boys:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4615

2A girls:
https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4616

1A boys:
https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4637