Storm Grounded in Gresham: Chemeketa Falls to Mt. Hood
Penigar and Aguilar Lead Scoring Efforts as Storm Fall to Saints
GRESHAM, Ore. — It was a tough afternoon at the Yoshida Event Center as the Chemeketa Storm (7-21, 2-13) struggled to find their rhythm, ultimately falling 83-50 to the Mt. Hood Saints (12-15, 5-10) on Saturday. From the opening tip, the Saints utilized a high-octane offense and a significant rebounding advantage to keep the Storm at bay.
A Deficit Too Deep
The game's narrative was largely written in the first half. Mt. Hood jumped out to a commanding 47-26 lead by halftime, shooting a blistering percentage from the floor while the Storm found it difficult to convert interior looks. Despite a more defensive-minded second half where Chemeketa held the Saints to 36 points, the early gap proved insurmountable.
Bright Spots in the Box Score
While the final score wasn't what the Storm hoped for, several players provided sparks of productivity:
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Jackson Penigar: Shared the team lead in scoring with 11 points, while adding three rebounds and a block.
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Gavin Aguilar: Also tallied 11 points, fueled by three buckets from beyond the arc, and contributed two steals and two assists.
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Spencer Horne: Battled relentlessly on the glass, pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points and four assists.
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Kaden Holm: Added eight points and five rebounds in 23 minutes of action.
By the Numbers: Efficiency and the Glass
The primary difference-maker was offensive efficiency and second-chance opportunities. The Saints shot 52.5% from the field compared to the Storm's 32.1%. Additionally, Mt. Hood won the rebounding battle 34-23, allowing them to control the tempo of the contest.
| Team Stats | Chemeketa | Mt. Hood |
| Field Goal % | 32.1% | 52.5% |
| 3-Point % | 31.3% | 42.1% |
| Total Rebounds | 23 | 34 |
| Assists | 7 | 15 |
| Steals | 6 | 10 |
The Road Ahead
The Storm will look to shake off the Gresham chill and return to the fundamental basketball that has kept them competitive in the NWAC. With Horne leading the rebounding effort and Penigar and Aguilar providing scoring options, the focus turns to stringing together full 40-minute performances as the season winds down.
Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio
