The Great Lockdown: Storm Hold Lakers to 6 Points in Final Frame

COOS BAY, OR – In a gritty road performance that tested their mettle, the Chemeketa Storm used a suffocating fourth-quarter defensive display to pull away from Southwestern Oregon Community College, securing a 68-56 victory on Monday afternoon.

While the first three quarters were a back-and-forth track meet, the Storm (68) finally broke the Lakers (56) in the final ten minutes, holding the home team to a meager six points in the closing period to seal the win.

Rubio and Fullbright Lead the Charge

The Storm's offense was ignited by a spectacular double-double from Ava Rubio. Rubio was the focal point of the attack, lighting up the scoreboard with 23 points and vacuuming up 11 rebounds. Her efficiency from beyond the arc (4-of-8) provided the spacing Chemeketa needed to keep the SWOCC defense off balance.

Matching Rubio's intensity was Mia Fullbright, who put on a shooting clinic. Fullbright was nearly automatic from the floor, hitting 9 of her 13 shots for 19 points. Her ability to find seams in the Lakers' interior defense proved to be the difference-maker during a tight third quarter.

The Turning Point: Defensive Lockdown

The game remained a one-possession affair for much of the afternoon. Southwestern Oregon actually held a slim 35-34 lead at halftime, and Chemeketa entered the final frame up by just two points (52-50).

However, the fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Storm. Led by the floor generalship of Ella Holwege—who finished with 15 points and a game-high 7 assists—Chemeketa orchestrated a 16-6 run to close the game. The Storm's defense forced the Lakers into a cold spell, as SWOCC finished the game shooting just 32.4% from the field.

Key Takeaways

• Efficiency Wins: Chemeketa's 43.9% shooting from the field far outpaced SWOCC's 32.4%.

• Glass Cleaning: Despite SWOCC grabbing more total rebounds (43-33), Chemeketa's defensive rebounding in the fourth quarter limited second-chance opportunities.

• Star Power: The trio of Rubio, Fullbright, and Holwege accounted for 57 of the team's 68 points.

Chemeketa moves forward with significant momentum, proving they can maintain composure and execution even when the shots aren't falling early.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio