By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  Chemeketa started their final Crossover game against Tacoma on fire, leading the Titans 35-15 going into halftime and had it top-out at 27 midway through the third quarter when they led 48-21 on the Washington-based squad Saturday afternoon at Chemeketa Community College.

“Our energy and everyone being on the same page really helped us.  Everyone contributed, which was really nice.  We were all just pushing and pushing,” said Woodburn’s Aria Kent.  “We’re all doing good in knowing our role and stepping up to do our role.  It’s a learning process, in practice we’re working really hard and the games are just helping us out, just working as hard as we can for games like this.”

Some adversity emerged for the Storm in the third quarter with Tacoma finished the third frame on a 11-0 run to pull within 16 of the host-Chemeketa team.  Playing without three of their players Saturday, they needed to slow it down and play more efficiently without getting rushed into decisions down the stretch.

“It was important ot know that we don’t start the first two quarter very storng and just, ‘oh we’re up 20 points, we can just end it now’, it’s good to keep pushing and knowing that we’re going to have our ups-and-downs and keep pushing through the downs,” Kent said.  “Just keep pushing each other to keep going on.”

Kent led the Storm with 16 points.  South Eugene’s Jenna Glenzel had 12 points and seven rebounds in the win for Chemeketa.  Stayton’s Karlee Tyler and Salem Academy’s Bailey Pedersen each had nine points for the Storm, who are off until January 4 when they open NWAC South Region play at Southwestern Community College.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald