OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Jan. 27, 2009 - Ogemaw Heights' girls basketball team made a five-point halftime lead stand up Tuesday as the Falcons edged Gaylord 62-57.

As has been their modus operandi this season, the Falcons got contributions from all corners as eight different players scored, led by Kaitlin Morrell's 16 points.

The Falcons led for most of the second half, but Gaylord came back to take a one-point lead with about four minutes left.

"We made some plays both defensively and offensively," said Ogemaw coach Tim Hansen. "(We) broke it back open and made some free throws to seal it."

Ashley Thompson and Kristi Killackey both came up big in the fourth quarter as Thompson hit 5-of-6 free throws and Killackey was 3-of-5. Morrell and Jose Wiltse also combined for 11 points in the quarter, including a key triple by Wiltse.

Ogemaw led 30-25 at the half after trailing 7-0 to open the game.

"We hit the snooze button on game time, but it was good that we got it all out of the way early and got down to business," Hansen said. "We were doing some good things, getting good shots, they just weren't falling ...

"We just said, 'Relax, keep doing what we're doing and good things will happen.'"

Thompson finished with 13 points, Killackey added 10 and Rilee Palm added nine as the Falcons improved to 7-3.

Brooke Arnold and Tabetha Combs scored 13 apiece for Gaylord (4-7).

The Falcons host Pinconning on Friday.

With Ogemaw's third straight win, Hansen will be fulfilling the conditions of an agreement with the team that he would "Shelve the shorts and don a shirt and tie," he said. "I'll be a little more gussied up.

"Pinconning will be fired up and ready to avenge a close game at their place early this season," he added. "They're coming off a big win Tuesday and have some momentum of their own."