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OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Jan. 6, 2009 - Ogemaw Heights shook off its Christmas Break rust Tuesday, using a 28-16 mid-game advantage to pull away from Houghton Lake and claim a 46-35 non-conference victory.
The Falcons were without starting point guard Josie Wiltse, but made up for it with solid team play.
"It's our second game without our point guard, but the kids really stepped up again," Hansen said. "We handled the ball against pressure pretty well. It's a really good group of kids. We aren't necessarily superstars, but we play very well together.
"It's not my team; it's our team. These girls have done and outstanding job with chemistry. We may not make every basket or get every rebound, but we are working hard, getting along and having fun."
Ashley Thompson moved to the point and despite scoring 14 below her 20-point average, set up at least that many points with her passing. During the Falcons' 9-2 run to close out the second quarter, Kate Morrell scored six points on short jumpers and Kristi Killackey added three points that came off of offensive rebounds.
The Falcons led 19-15 at the half.
Houghton Lake tied the game early in the third quarter on Alicia Killinger's 3-pointer, but Ogemaw center Rilee Palm, left open at the top of key, answered with a trey of her own. And when the Bobcats' Molly Collins drilled a triple later in the quarter, freshman Molly Keetch immediately drained one of her own to open the lead back up to 34-27.
Killackey was a key at the defensive end as well, spending a lot of her time making life miserable for Collins, the Bobcats' most potent offensive force.
"Kristi stepped up, even without her black shoes," Hansen said. "I think (her defense) was partly thanks to her soccer background, so there's a natural transition there."
The Falcons also held a 20-4 advantage in trips to the free throw line (including nine in the final minutes as the Bobcats fouled to try to catch up), despite hitting an uncharacteristically low nine. Ogemaw has held a free throw advantage in all five of its games so far.
"Defensively we're not doing the hacking and reaching that we did last year," Hansen said. "And offensively we're taking the ball and penetrating to the basket more consistently."
Killackey finished with 13 points to lead all scorers, with Morrell scoring 11 and Thompson six.
Collins had nine and Killinger eight to lead the Bobcats.
Ogemaw (3-2) faces a tough test Friday at Standish-Sterling, which has a deceptive 1-4 record against some extremely tough competition. |
