If winning truly is contagious, than there must be an all-out epidemic in Dixfield.

Already boasting a record nine straight regional titles and back-to-back state championships, the Dirigo girls’ basketball team enters the Western C tournament in a familiar position.

Never mind the fact that this team lost all but two regulars from the dominant team of the last two years. This season hasn’t been about what the current Cougars lost, but what they still have. Dirigo has rebounded and rebuilt quite nicely and begin their defense of the Western C title in prime position.

Favorites: Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. One thing that hasn’t changed for Dirigo is the effort and determination. The Cougars are still relentless and tough to topple. Their defense allowed an average of 30 points per game against this year, which is a little more than four points higher than last year’s average. Though Alexa Kaubris is the team’s leading scorer and was the MVC Player of the Year, the Cougars are a balanced team and work well together. Whether it be Holly Knight and Michelle Holmquist in the post or Brooke Weston and Jennifer Harvey on the perimeter, Dirigo has a number of options. The team’s lone senior, Amanda Law, leads a solid group off the bench, including five promising freshmen. In a year where teams might have thought they had a chance to beat Dirigo, they may have discovered how truly difficult it is.

Darkhorse: Talent-wise, there are some teams that could be on par with the Cougars. Hall-Dale cruised through its regular season before stumbling late. Two of those defeats were to Dirigo, one being in the MVC championship game. Wiscasset was a preseason favorite to challenge for the regional title. If it meets its potential, it could be tough. Winthrop has played some of the best ball of anybody down the stretch. Young teams like Telstar and Jay are talented and fearless.

Players to watch: Kaubris, Dirigo (17.2 ppg); Holmquist, Dirigo (9.3); Caitlyn Laflin, Hall-Dale (17.6); Chelsey Dionne, Hall-Dale (13.2); Kasey Connor, Traip (12.8); Abby Wentworth, Telstar (9.5); Krystle Gould, Telstar (7.5); Emilie Knight, Winthrop (11.1) Anna Warner, Winthrop (7.1); Sarah Whitfield, Wiscasset (14.0); Kaylie DeMillo, Jay (18.8); Heather Johnson, Jay (11.3); Rachel Campbell, Georges Valley (14.0).

Best quarterfinal: Jay and Telstar split during the regular season and have some of the best young talent in the tourney. The Rebels have been playing well down the stretch while the Tigers have struggled at times, but this could go down to the wire.

Behind the scenes: Wiscasset’s Amanda Davis missed eight games with a shoulder injury, including last week’s prelim win. The Redskins’ top scorer, averaging 15 points, was cleared to play late

last week and may see some action.

Streaks and stats: Dirigo has quite the home court edge. They’ve won 52 straight in Dixfield and 31 straight in Augusta. Hall-Dale has won in Augusta just once since 1987. Traip has not lost to a Class C team in the regular season the last three years but have not won a quarterfinal since 1992 and haven’t beaten an MVC team since 1991. Telstar, making its first Augusta appearance, went 8-6 against playoff teams this year – 4-5 against teams in Augusta. Winthrop has allowed 36 points per game in the last 11 games of regular season. This is the Ramblers 20th straight trip to the quarterfinals. Wiscasset, which has allowed nearly 50 points per game since the holidays, has never won a quarterfinal game. The Redskins went 6-7 against playoff teams.

Overview: There are teams that have talent to match Dirigo in this tournament. Talent is just part of the equation though. None have the discipline and poise that Dirigo typically shows. Dirigo knows how to win, plain and simple. They didn’t go 18-0 this year by chance. Dirigo will throw you off your game with its smothering defense. Even if a team does challenge the Cougars, it just seems to make them tougher to beat. Dirigo is a different team this year, but its modus operandi hasn’t changed. They play a smarter, more focused and more disciplined game. They’ll outwork you and out-execute you. Teams must find a way to get Dirigo untracked or hope the Cougars hurt themselves. If not, count to 10 – as in 10 straight Western C titles.

Prediction: Dirigo

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