Storm Fall to Top-Ranked Clackamas After Tough Second-Quarter Surge

OREGON CITY, Ore. – The Chemeketa Storm (15-6, 5-3) ran into a buzzsaw Wednesday night, falling 70-38 to a Clackamas Cougars squad (21-0, 8-0) that remains perfect on the season. Despite a gritty opening frame, Chemeketa was unable to maintain the pace as the Cougars' defensive pressure turned the tide in the second quarter.

A Tale of Two Quarters

The Storm actually started the contest with significant momentum, outscoring the top-ranked Cougars 15-13 in the first period. Chemeketa's defense was active early, and the offense found enough rhythm to keep the Oregon City crowd quiet.

However, the second quarter proved to be the undoing for the Storm. Clackamas exploded for a 28-6 run, fueled by transition points and a relentless full-court press that forced Chemeketa into uncharacteristic mistakes. By halftime, a two-point lead had transformed into a 20-point deficit from which the Storm would not recover.

By the Numbers: The Turnover Trouble

The statistical story of the night was the disparity in ball security and finishing:

• Turnovers: Chemeketa committed 27 turnovers, which Clackamas turned into immediate offense. The Cougars, by contrast, only coughed up the ball 14 times.

• The Charity Stripe: It was a cold night at the free-throw line for the Storm, who finished just 5-of-16 (31.3%).

• Field Goal Percentage: Chemeketa struggled to find clean looks against the Cougars' length, shooting 28.0% from the field compared to Clackamas' 37.7%.

Individual Highlights

Despite the tough result, several Storm players turned in resilient performances:

• Patricia Mike: Led the team in scoring with 13 points, including a sharp 3-of-6 performance from beyond the arc.

• Ava Rubio: Was a force on the glass, hauling in a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with 7 points and a block.

• Ashley Barba: Anchored the backcourt with 3 assists and 6 rebounds.

• Mia Fullbright & Ella Holwege: Each contributed 6 points, with Holwege adding 5 boards and a block.

Looking Ahead

While a loss to the undefeated conference leaders is a tough pill to swallow, the Storm remain firmly in the playoff hunt with a 5-3 conference record. The team will look to clean up the turnovers and find more consistency at the line as they prepare for their next outing.

Photo Credit: Ammon Teubner