RICHLAND — Members of the Camas boys basketball team came out of their locker room Saturday night limping and with ice on their legs. But the Papermakers were happy. “That’s when you know we’re playing hard,” Camas coach Brian Witherspoon said. “Guys are cramping up. Bodies are flying all over the place.” With renewed energy, the Papermakers fought and scrapped their way to a 59-57 win over Richland in a Class 4A state opening round boys basketball game at Richland High School. With the win, the Papermakers advance to the 4A state quarterfinals next Thursday at the Tacoma Dome.

The Papermakers lost their chance at a top-4 seed — and a playoff game this weekend closer to home — when they stumbled last weekend to Auburn in the bi-district title game. That was a signal to the Papermakers to turn up the energy, senior Jace VanVoorhis said. “It’s a huge win at their place,” VanVoorhis said. “Shout to the guys. They were all battling hard this week at practice every day. We were going hard, battling each, getting each other ready for, in my opinion, two of the best players in the state. We were just locked all the way from our bus ride, since before our bus ride here.” Camas jumped out to a 34-23 lead at halftime in part from solid defense. The Papermakers kept Richland’s top player, junior Landen Northrop, scoreless in the first half.

But Northrop got going in the second half. The Bombers made an 8-0 run early the fourth quarter to get within 53-51 with about four minutes to play. VanVoorhis hit two free throws, then he and Ethan Harris converted baskets as the Papermakers made sure Richland drew no closer than three points. The game appeared to be over with the Bombers were forced to foul trailing 59-54 with 21 seconds left. But after Camas missed both free throws, Northrop banked in a deep 3-pointer and the Bombers forced a turnover to get one last look.

With time winding down, Northrop got another deep 3-point attempt off that bounced off the front of the rim as time expired. Cade Washington grinded out a tough 19 points to lead Camas despite leaving the game twice in the fourth quarter — once with four fouls and later when he turned his ankle stepping on a Richland player’s foot. But the senior returned to finish off the win. “This was a personal game,” Washington said. “Last year, they beat us by 20. We lost to Auburn (last weekend), which was a tough loss. So this was just a bounce back to show how good we really are.” VanVoorhis scored 13 points, Harris had 12 and Nyima Namru added for the Papermakers, who will face the winner of Arlington and Glacier Peak on Thursday.

It gives Camas an extra day of rest to heal from their bumps and bruises on Saturday. “That’s huge,” Witherspoon said. “And that was the other thing they played for too. They wanted to have that bye (into the quarterfinals) and that guarantee of two games in the Dome. We wanted to make sure we’re in the best position to play on that last day.” CAMAS 59, RICHLAND 57 CAMAS — Carter Morgan 0, Cade Washington 19, Nyima Namru 10, Jace VanVoorhis 13, Channing Nesland 2, Ethan Harris 12, Landon Frost 3, Kellen Dufner 0. Totals 22 (5) 10-16 59. RICHLAND — Landen Northrop 16, Lance Horntvedt 11, Josiah Scacco 14, Sylen Kiesel-Kauhane 0, Jackson Woodard 10, Nathan Moore 6. Totals 21 (5) 10-15 57.

Camas              13          21          17          8—59 Richland          13          10          20          14—57