DIXFIELD – There are easier ways to start a season.

Between facing one of the top teams in the league and having the weight of past success resting on their shoulders, the Dirigo girls’ basketball team had a sizeable burden to bear Monday night — and that was even before the tip-off.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking because they were ranked No. 1 (in the conference),” said sophomore forward Michelle Holmquist. “We got together and we just calmed ourselves down and went from there. It affected us, but we knew we could do it.”

As often as the names and faces have changed over the last decade for the Cougars, Dirigo’s ability to play hard and know how to win has been constant. That wasn’t any different Monday night, nor was the result.

The revamped Cougars took on Wiscasset and broke open a tight game with a fine final quarter to beat the preseason favorites 54-41.

“I think the kids felt a little bit of pressure coming into the game,” said Dirigo coach Gavin Kane, whose team hasn’t lost an MVC game since 1998. “They know Wiscasset is going to be one of the top teams in the conference, and they probably felt they had some big shoes to fill, especially from the losses to graduation.”

The Cougars lost eight seniors from a club that won two-straight Class C state titles. Wiscasset, meanwhile, had everyone back from a team that lost in the Western B quarterfinals.

“I definitely think we were nervous,” said junior guard Alexa Kaubris, the lone returning starter. “I think you could see it when we first came out that we were a little tight, and we weren’t really into the game.”

By the fourth quarter, though, the Cougars were in prime time shape. After Wiscasset built a 39-36 lead midway through the quarter, Dirigo ran off 10 straight points and finished with an impressive 18-2 run.

Kaubris led the Cougars with 20 points and six rebounds. Holmquist had 15 points and 12 rebounds while Brooke Weston had nine points. Wiscasset got 11 from Amanda Davis and nine from Colby Graffam.

Kaubris started the fourth quarter run with a leaner with 4:54 left. She then stole the ball at midcourt and fed Weston, who made a nice move to avoid a defender for the layup and one-point lead. After another Wiscasset turnover, Kaubris dove on a loose ball to save possession. She tossed it to Weston, who immediately found an open Holly Knight in the post for a 42-29 lead.

“Coach had been telling us all game that it was time to get up and start playing like we know how to play,” said Kaubris. “I knew I didn’t have many fouls, and I could get up and bother anybody I could.”

Wiscasset had a couple of cracks at cutting the deficit. Davis missed a couple of shots and Knight came up with a couple of key defensive rebounds. She was fouled after one and hit two free throws. The Cougars then hit 10 straight from the line to seal it as the Redskins fouled out three starters in the final minutes.

“It was a pleasure to see so many kids be involved late in the game,” said Kane. “A number of kids made big plays for us or stuck the free throws down the stretch. For a young team to get a big win in a pressure situation right off the bat can only help us down the road.”

Dirigo got some great contributions from starter Jennifer Harvey and fine work off the bench from Amanda Law, Christina Chow, Shannon Daley, Kathrine Gagne and Katie Hutchinson.

“It’s exciting,” said Kaubris. “I haven’t stopped smiling since the game ended. It’s just a relief to know all our hard work has paid off and that we can still do it.”