OSCODA - Dec. 6, 2007- Oscoda's boys basketball team jumped out to a huge early lead, weathered an injury to leading scorer Adam Dettmer and hung on to defeat Whittemore-Prescott 61-46 in both teams' North East Michigan Conference opener.

It was also W-P's first game of the season which possibly factored into the Cards' slow start.

But Dettmer poured in 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the 12 first-half minutes he played and the Owls' pressure again helped fuel a big early run: Oscoda led 28-5 after the first quarter.

"Our press was good and offensively we were executing very well," said Oscoda coach Scott Lueck. "The first quarter was the best Oscoda basketball I have seen since I began coaching. It was a ton of fun."

Not so fun for the Cards, obviously, who tried to dig out of a very deep hole. W-P shot just 24 percent from the floor but held a 41-28 rebounding edge, which helped them whittle away at the deficit, though not nearly enough. The Owls held onto their lead in part by shooting 51 percent.

"Besides Adam's injury we were also plagued with foul trouble," Lueck said. "We took a different approach and played well enough to win.

"Jason Jimenez and Mike Leveille did a good job of controlling the game even though Whittemore was able to shoot their way back into (it)."

Austin Swanson scored 14 points, all in the final three quarters when W-P outscored Oscoda 41-33. Billy Raushi added 11.

Jimenez, who for the the second straight game hit two first-quarter 3-pointers, finished with 19 for the Owls (2-0, 1-0 NEMC). Oscoda next plays at Alcona on Dec. 11, while W-P hosts Standish-Sterling on Dec. 13.