Kelly Rosebrugh (30) had four points during the Falcons' decisive 8-0 fourth-quarter run against Houghton Lake.
Molly Collins (20) proved to be a tough customer for the Falcons, scoring 23 points, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Brent Baker
Jamie Lucas (44) drives past Houghton Lake's Dani Becht in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's OH victory.

OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Sep. 7, 2006 - Ogemaw Heights had what seemed to be a fairly secure lead early in the fourth quarter of Thursday's non-conference girls basketball battle with Houghton Lake.

The lead may only have been six points, but the Falcons hadn't trailed since the first quarter and were matching the Bobcats basket for basket -- until HL's Molly Collins drilled a pair of 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to tie the score with six minutes to go.

Collins hit another trey before it ended, but by then the Falcons recovered their composure and walked away with a 46-42 victory.

"(Collins) was tough," said Ogemaw coach Tim Hansen. "She has a great shot. What did she have, 16 in the second half?

"The thing I liked about us tonight is that we got knocked to the floor a few times, but we got right back up."

That was true both literally and figuratively. The game at times turned physical in the fourth quarter with bodies flying and bruises accumlating.

But the Falcons also recovered both from the Bobcats' fourth-quarter surge and from their opening salvo, which Hansen attributed to the Falcons playing on back-to-back nights.

Within four minutes of the opening tap, the Falcons trailed 7-2, but recovered to tie it at 11-11 by the end of the first quarter.

"They really jumped on us," Hansen said. "Coming back after playing (Midland) last night, you could see our legs were heavy. But the girls sucked it up and did a nice job."

Renee Wangler's offensive rebound basket gave Ogemaw its first lead at 13-11, and Jamie Lucas and Keisha Allen added baskets to go with Hanna Morrell's free throws that helped the Falcons go in at the half up 20-16.

Ogemaw maintained its lead until Collins' fourth-quarter explosion. But after Collins tied it with here second trey of the quarter. Wangler and HL's Krista Thompson traded baskets before Ogemaw went on an 8-0 run sparked by Lucas and Kelly Rosebrugh.

Collins hit another triple with 23 seconds left that made it 44-42, but Lucas and Wangler each made a free throw in the final seconds to seal the win.

"Rosebrugh really stepped up at the end," Hansen said. "She didn't play last year, and it's taken awhile to shake the rust off, but you can see she's getting her game back."

Wangler led the Falcons (2-2) with 12 points, with Lucas and Rosebrugh adding nine apiece.

Collins finished with 23 for Houghton Lake (1-3).