Ogemaw's Rilee Palm grabs hold of a rebound during the Falcons' victory at Pinconning.
Linda Eyer
Kaitlin Morrell scrambles for a loose ball during Friday's contest at Pinconning.

PINCONNING - Dec. 12, 2008 - Ogemaw Heights saw an early lead get away, then came from behind in the fourth quarter to claim a 63-60 victory over Pinconning in the North East Michigan Conference girls basketball opener for both teams.

The Falcons were 9-of-14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, while Pinny managed just 3-of-9. Ogemaw turned a 48-44 deficit around with a 19-12 splurge in the final quarter.

"We shot more (free throws), but that's because we took the ball aggressively to the basket," said Ogemaw coach Tim Hansen. "Offensively we are doing some nice things -- sharing the ball, handling the press, penetrating, passing off and playing together -- but we need to crank up the 'D.'"

The Falcons led by as many as 10 points early on as Ashley Thompson scored seven points and Rilee Palm added six in the first quarter. Pinny turned it around in the second quarter behind the shooting of Jessica Vidalez, who scored 11 of her game-high 23 points to pull the Spartans to within 34-33 at the half.

"Our defense needs to improve if we plan on surprising some people," Hansen said. "We played better defense on Vidalez in the second half, and that was one of the two differences, the other being fourth quarter free throws."

Thompson led the Falcons (2-1, 1-0 NEMC) with 22 points, with Palm adding 16. Lauren Pilot scored 13 for the Spartans (1-2, 0-1 NEMC) before fouling out.

"Pinny is certainly much better than in years past," Hansen said. "Joe 'The Coach' (Herek) has the Spartans playing ball again."

Hansen said this year's emphasis on "displacement" fouls, which occur while boxing out on rebounds or on loose balls, has been a frustration as well, though the Falcons haven't been the only team to voice their displeasure over the rule. Instituted by the National Federation of State High School associations to reduce physical play, it has often instead resulted in players either standing around after missed shots or an increase in fouls called for relatively benign contact.

"It certainly isn't basketball the way Dr. Naismith intended it to be played," Hansen said. "However, it is what it is, and we are going to have to adjust and overcome the rule change."