Second-Half Struggles Halt Storm in Home Matchup Against Portland

SALEM, Ore. – The Chemeketa Storm (5-12, 1-4) battled through a physical contest Wednesday evening at the Storm Center but were ultimately unable to keep pace with the Portland Panthers, falling 72-59. Despite a resilient first-half effort, the Storm's offensive rhythm stalled in the final 20 minutes as Portland secured the road victory.

A Tight Opening Frame

The Storm remained within striking distance for much of the first half, heading into the locker room trailing by just five points, 38-33. Chemeketa found success at the charity stripe throughout the game, finishing a collective 10-of-11 (90.9%) from the free-throw line. However, the Panthers' balanced attack, led by Jackson Leach's 22 points, kept the Storm on their heels.

Offensive Woes in the Second Half

The second half proved to be a defensive struggle for the Storm, who were held to 26 points in the period. Portland's efficiency from the field (44.8%) and a perfect 10-of-10 performance from the free-throw line allowed them to extend their lead. Chemeketa struggled to find the bottom of the net from deep, finishing the night just 3-of-13 (23.1%) from three-point range.

Storm Standouts

• Gavin Aguilar: Led the scoring effort for the Storm with 11 points and 3 assists in 37 minutes of play.

• Jaylin Scott: Provided a spark off the bench, contributing 9 points while adding a team-high 2 blocks.

• Kaden Holm: Anchored the interior with 7 points and a team-high 7 rebounds.

• Spencer Horne: Tallied 8 points and 4 rebounds in 30 minutes of action.

Statistical Comparison

The following table highlights the key differences in shooting efficiency and rebounding that defined the contest:

While the Storm were aggressive on the offensive glass, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds, they were unable to convert those second-chance opportunities into enough points to overcome Portland's double-digit lead.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio