Gina Gerow (22) hit five 3-pointers, including four in the first half as Tawas built a 15-point lead.
Linda Eyer
Ogemaw Heights' Josie Wiltse looks for a teammate as Tawas Area's Audrey Thoryk defends during Friday's game.

OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Jan. 16, 2009 - Ogemaw Heights' girls basketball team had hoped to continue its early-season run Friday against unbeaten, sixth-ranked Tawas Area.

But a focused Braves' squad didn't leave anything to chance, building a 15-point first half lead and claiming a 51-33 victory that left Tawas in sole possession of the North East Michigan Conference's top spot.

"Obviously, it was an eye-opener when Ogemaw beat Standish last Friday," said Tawas coach Todd Kaems. "It wasn't too hard getting our kids mentally prepared. Anyone who beats Standish on their home floor immediately gains respect.

"We knew that we would have to play well to win, and we did."

The Braves' inside-outside combination of Rachel Adaline and Gina Gerow got off to a quick start. Gerow drilled four first-half 3-pointers -- including three in the opening quarter -- and Adaline scored 12 points in the first half.

"I thought we started off the game competing well," said Falcon coach Tim Hansen. "But then we saw how good they really are and played in awe the rest of the game. They are pretty darn good."

"We shot the ball well against their zone, and that was a major factor," Kaems said.

Meanwhile, a stingy Tawas defense kept the Falcons from offering much of an offensive threat. Ogemaw's Ashley Thompson managed eight first-half points, but no one else had more than three.

"Ogemaw is quick, and one of our goals was to limit them in transition," Kaems said. "I thought our kids did a real good job with that."

Adaline finished with 20 points, including eight in the fourth quarter as the Braves held onto their lead, and Gerow finished with 15, all on 3-pointers.

"They've had a solid program for many years," Hansen said. "Only Tawas and SSC have won the conference all the way back to 1995 (with the exception of Whittemore-Prescott in 2006). That just shows that even if you're a little smaller school, if you have a good program with coaches who are all on the same page and athletes who put the extra time in, you can get it done.

"That's what we are working towards here."

Thompson led Ogemaw with 11 points.

The Braves (8-0, 3-0 NEMC) face a big non-league challenge Tuesday at Saginaw Nouvel while the Falcons (4-3, 2-1) host Beaverton.