Finishing Strong: Storm Erase Halftime Deficit for Gritty Overtime Win

LONGVIEW, Wash. — While most were preparing for New Year's Eve celebrations, the Chemeketa Storm was busy orchestrating a celebration of their own at Myklebust Gymnasium. Led by a relentless offensive attack from Mia Fullbright (pictured - 0) and Patricia Mike, the Storm overcame a slow start to ground the Columbia Basin Hawks in a 72–66 overtime thriller.

The duo accounted for over 60% of the Storm's total points, each dropping 22 in a game defined by grit, second chances, and clinical finishing at the charity stripe.

Erasing the Deficit

The contest didn't start in Chemeketa's favor. The Hawks' interior scoring gave them a 31–24 edge at the break, leaving the Storm searching for a spark. That spark arrived in the third quarter. Chemeketa emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, outscoring the Hawks 19–11 to take a slim one-point lead into the final frame.

After a back-and-forth fourth quarter ended in a 58–58 deadlock, the Storm's conditioning and composure took over. Chemeketa dominated the five-minute overtime period 14–8, refusing to let the victory slip away.

The Dynamic Duo

Mia Fullbright was a force of nature in the paint. While her 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting provided the scoring punch, it was her work on the glass that broke the Hawks' spirit. Fullbright hauled in nine rebounds—eight of which were offensive—single-handedly extending possessions and giving Chemeketa the "second-life" opportunities they needed to stay in the game.

On the perimeter, Patricia Mike was the definition of "clutch." Matching Fullbright with 22 points, Mike was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, including critical makes in the closing minutes of regulation and overtime. Her impact wasn't limited to scoring; she haunted the CBC ball-handlers all night, racking up five steals and dishing out five assists.

Winning the "Grit" Categories

While the Storm struggled from beyond the arc (shooting just 12.5% from three), they won the game in the trenches:

• The Stripe: Chemeketa's 72% free-throw shooting eclipsed CBC's 53.3%, a 10-point swing that proved the difference.

• The Boards: Powered by Fullbright, the Storm grabbed 17 offensive rebounds.

• The Setup: Ella Holwege (pictured - 1)was the engine of the offense, recording a game-high 8 assists to help the Storm finish with 19 as a team.

The win moves the Storm into the new year with significant momentum, proving that even when the outside shots aren't falling, their defensive pressure and rebounding tenacity can carry them to the finish line.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio