By YVETTE LANIER
News Sports Writer
LINCOLN - Usually the coach leads and the team follows.
On Monday, Alcona head coach Dan O'Connor heeded his team.
Standing courtside, the normally loud and outspoken coach was calm and surprisingly quiet most of the game as the Alcona Tigers hung on late to pull out a close 48-40 game over the Mio Thunderbolts at Alcona High School.
O'Connor said it had everything to do with his team.
"With them being calm under pressure, it was important for me to be calm under pressure," said a smiling O'Connor. "I am maturing this season."
Alexa LeCureux led the Tigers with 14 points, while Amelia Oliver and Megan Miller both chipped in 11 points apiece.
The Tigers improve to 6-9 on the season, while Mio falls to 10-7.
Coming off a disappointing and lopsided loss Pickford on Saturday, O'Connor said it was a win his team needed badly to give them some much needed confidence as they prepare for district play.
"Coming out with the win here is important and hopefully it will set the tone for the rest of the season with districts being on our home floor," said O'Connor.
Mio's Kelsey Blamer led all scorers with 16 points, and freshman Nona Khurtsidze added 12 points.
The contest was close early on as both teams traded baskets. A 3-pointer by Kurtsidze gave the Thunderbolts a 9-8 lead to close the first quarter.
Late in the second quarter the Tigers had a 14-12 lead, before Blamer scored back-to-back baskets to put the Thunderbolts back in front. At the half, both teams drew even at 16-16.
The third quarter belonged to Oliver as she hit two foul shots, then got a steal and a layup, followed by another layup, to give the Tigers a 22-18 cushion. The Thunderbolts wouldn't stay down for long as Shelby Satkowiak nailed a trey and Kurtsidze hit a layup to cut the deficit to one-point, 24-23.
Late in the third, Kurtsidze stripped LeCureux and Blamer made good on the play scoring a layup to give Mio a 27-26 lead.
It was a short stay in front as Alcona went on a 14-4 run in the fourth-quarter and held on down the stretch for the win.
Oliver said they are looking to ride the momentum into Friday's game at home against Oscoda.
"We are going to take this win and continued to build on it," said Oliver. "It's good to have a nice win after coming off a big loss. I felt like we needed it as a team."
ALCONA (48): Mier 2 0-04, Stephenson 2 0-2 5, LeCureux 5 4-6 14, Riegle 0 1-2 1, Oliver 5 1-4 11, Miller 5 1-2 11
MIO (40): Blamer 7 1-8 16, Satkowiak 0 1-2 1, Krupp 3 0-0 6 , Khurtsidze 5 1-2
