Similar faculty and bench. Completely different locker room and program.
It’s a brand new period for Camas boys basketball — with a well-recognized face who already led one Papermaker basketball program to a state championship.
Scott Thompson, who coached Camas to the Class 4A women basketball state championship in 2024 and a runner-up end in 2023, takes over because the Papermakers’ boys head coach.
Thompson was launched to gamers as the brand new coach Thursday after faculty.
“I’m thrilled to get this opportunity to coach the boys,” Thompson mentioned Thursday afternoon. I’m actually excited to leap again over (to boys basketball) and get it work.”
Thompson has a profitable resume teaching girls and boys basketball in Clark County. With the Camas women the previous seven seasons, he went 133-51 that included six state match appearances and three trophies. In 2024, the Papermakers received this system’s first state title defeating Gonzaga Prep, 57-41.
Previous to Camas, Thompson coached the Fort Vancouver boys for 9 seasons. His Trapper groups made the postseason 5 occasions from 2006-14.
From returning expertise and nice tradition to profitable outcomes on the hardwood, Thompson mentioned the Camas boys program is in good well being. The Papermakers received the 4A Higher St. Helens League title and tied this system’s greatest end at state (sixth place) below interim coach Brian Witherspoon.
As a training colleague and father to a participant within the boys program, Thompson praised the work of Witherspoon and his assistant coaches. In November, Witherspoon agreed to be the interim coach after then-head coach Ryan Josephson resigned days earlier than the season started. The 22 victories in 2024-25 set a single-season program report.
“They had great energy in their gym this year,” Thompson mentioned of the boys program, “and I know this program is in really good health. Things were being done the right way. I certainly appreciate and respect the work they did.”
Formally, Thompson’s final sport representing the Camas women got here final weekend in Portland. He coached Workforce Washington on the annual Northwest Shootout, an all-star interstate occasion showcasing Washington and Oregon’s high seniors. The Washington women roster included one Papermaker, Boise State-bound Keirra Thompson, Coach Thompson’s oldest youngster.
Now, he’ll get to educate his oldest son, Cason, a freshman on the junior-varsity crew. Women teaching duties and sport scheduling conflicts saved Thompson from all however 5 boys junior-varsity video games final winter. He views this new alternative as a win-win: persevering with to educate highschool basketball and watch his son play each sport.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” Thompson mentioned.
