 |
| Ogemaw Heights' Rick Dodridge goes up to block a shot by Gladwin's James Hang. |
 |
Falcon sophomore Alex Jennings gets fouled as he goes up for a shot during Ogemaw's decisive defeat of Gladwin. |
 |
|
Ogemaw Heights foreign exchange student Masato Tokuda tries to get in the scoring column late in Friday's victory over Gladwin. |
OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Dec. 21, 2007 - Ogemaw Heights boys basketball coach Jon VanOosten wondered before Friday's game if playing a varsity doubleheader with the girls would throw his team off-kilter.
If Friday's 79-52 victory over Gladwin was any indication, he's probably glad this won't be the last such doubleheader for his team.
The Falcons stormed to a 44-10 halftime lead and maintained control in the second half despite Gladwin's ability to pick up the pace.
"I was thrilled with how we came out," VanOosten said. "We hadn't practiced well the last couple days, and it was the first time playing after the girls, so I had a lot of worries.
"It didn't take long for them to put those worries to rest."
The coach was resting a bit easier after a 16-2 first quarter, then had to figure out what to say to his team at the half after leading 44-8 late in the half.
The Flying G's battled in the second half, putting up 26 points in the third quarter, but couldn't get any closer than 22 points.
"We knew Gladwin was better than what they showed in the first half," VanOosten said. "They played a very good second half and a great third quarter"
The young Gladwin squad had few familiar faces back from the squad that knocked Ogemaw out of last year's district tournament. Two that played key roles in that game, James Hang and Chris Smalley, were combined for just three first-half points before breaking out in the second half. Each scored 11, with Kenny Malmo adding 10.
Pete VanOosten scored 28 points, including 18 in the first half, as 11 Falcons scored in the game. Kyle Dantzer added 16, Gio Roberto scored eight and Alex Jennings added seven.
The Falcons (4-0) travel to Gladwin for a 6 p.m. game Friday, Dec. 28 against Allen Park Cabrini in the opening round of the Flying G's holiday tournament.
