The two-time defending champs rally to extend their ACC unbeaten streak to 33 games.
By Kevin Mills
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – If their quarterfinal game against Wiscasset had the Dirigo girls a little nervous, then Thursday’s semifinal game with Jay must have had the two-time defending state champions absolutely terrified.

The upstart Tigers threatened to make history and nearly toppled the mighty Cougars in their home away from home. Jay had a four-point lead with 2:18 left to play, but watched Dirigo rally to tie the game and then survive in overtime with a 44-36 heart-stopping victory.

“We hung in there and persevered,” said Dirigo coach Gavin Kane, whose team hasn’t lost in Augusta in 33 tries. “I was very pleased that we did not give in. We did not fold. They just continued to work until things started to happen.”

Things didn’t happen for top-ranked Dirigo (20-0) for most of the game, coming just two days after a hard-fought win over the Redskins. Between foul trouble and Jay’s defensive game, the Cougars struggled to get their offense going. When the fifth-ranked Tigers maintained a lead well into the fourth quarter, the Cougars could sense the bind they were in.

“I was nervous,” said Michelle Holmquist. “When we were down in the fourth quarter, I was pretty scared, but I had a feeling we’d be able to come back.”

Despite foul trouble that robbed them of their top player, Alexa Kaubris, for much of the second half, the Cougars regrouped. Weston did a fine job handling the ball and the team came up with some critical defensive stops. Jay was held to one point in overtime.

“It was nerve-wracking, but our team has always been a team that has always pulled things out,” said Jennifer Harvey. “I have a lot of faith in my team.”

With the game tied 31-31, Jay regained the lead again on two free throws by Heather Johnson and Kaylie DeMillo, who finished with 21 points. Harvey hit a pair of free throws with 1:46 left, but Jay had the chance to add to the lead when DeMillo had an open look at a jumper at the top of the right side. Her shot missed and Holly Knight grabbed the rebound with 1:13 remaining. Dirigo came down and Knight, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, scored off a Brooke Weston pass to tie it with 1:22 left.

The Cougars got the ball back and ran the clock for nearly a minute before getting a last-second shot from Knight in the corner that didn’t drop.

“They’re not the nine-time Western Maine champions for nothing,” said Jay coach Chris Bessey. “They were down four with 1:30 to go, and we got the ball. Kaylie got a good look. You can’t ask for more than that. If she puts that in, the game is probably ours, but it didn’t, and the champions that they are, they came back and scored four points to tie it up.”

In overtime, Dirigo got a reprieve. After trading single free throws, Dirigo took control and the lead for good with 1:07 left on its only field goal of the overtime. Weston cut to the middle, dished off for Kaubris in the left corner. Her shot missed, but Holmquist was there for the rebound.

“I just knew I had to get to the boards so I could get the ball and put it in and give us some kind of advantage,” said Holmquist.

DeMillo missed on a drive and Knight got the rebound. Harvey drew a foul and drained both free throws with 47 seconds left for a 40-36 lead.

Jay tried to answer with a shot from Johnson, but that missed and Knight got another rebound. She then sealed the game with four free throws in the final seconds.

“I’d been after Holly all night to have good hands and pick up a board or two for us, and she came through with some big rebounds late in the ballgame and in overtime,” said Kane.

Between a commendable defensive effort by the Tigers and some serious foul trouble, Jay had the Cougars off their game for much of the contest. By halftime Dirigo had three starters with two fouls and by the middle of the third quarter, Kaubris had picked up her third and fourth. Jay didn’t go unscathed with foul trouble. DeMillo had to nurse four fouls for much of the final quarter. Jay’s diamond-in-one defense did a fine job nullifying Kaubris. Since neither team shot well from the floor, it became a battle wills down the stretch.

“They have that aura of theirs in this building,” said Bessey. “They’re not going down easy, but I’m proud of my girls. No second-guesses. They can hold their heads high. It was just a great high school girls’ basketball game. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We pushed the best team in Western Maine probably more than they wanted.”