DIXFIELD – Some are born leaders and some have leadership thrust upon them. For Brooke Weston, it was a little bit of both.

Dirigo’s junior guard inherited the point guard position for the Cougars this year. During the tournament, especially with Alexa Kaubris on the bench with foul trouble, Weston shouldered even more responsibility. She instantly became the team leader, ball handler and steadying presence, whether she was ready for it or not.

“I just figured I had to step it up and make sure the team knew we could handle it,” said Weston. “We just had to maintain how we were going and wait for Alexa to come back in.”

Weston’s defense and composure during those anxious moments were critical to Dirigo surviving a semifinal scare. She subsequently set up the game-tying basket by Holly Knight and carried that play over to Saturday with a fine performance against Hall-Dale’s zone.

“Brooke is really a shooting guard who was forced into the point guard position for us,” said Dirigo coach Gavin Kane. “It is a difficult enough position to play as it is, and especially when it’s not a natural fit for your style of play. She has played well for us and when she is making the right decisions for us from the point, then we are so much more effective as a team on the offensive end.”

It hasn’t been an easy transition. With a loaded lineup her first two years, Weston fit in nicely, chipping in a couple outside shots here and there. She’d get some work at the point and practice against Nikki Turbide, her cousin and the Cougars’ former point guard.

Taking charge this year was a huge change.

“She needed to handle being the center of attention,” said Dirigo assistant coach Rebecca Fletcher. “She needed to handle that. People would be aiming for her as well as Alexa. When there’s three other stars on the floor, it’s pretty easy to do things, and you get things more easily. So it would be more work for her to get things done for herself.”

Fletcher knows a little something about playing point guard. She was one of Dirigo’s finest and was a valuable asset to Weston this season. Between competing against her in practice and advising her throughout the season, Fletcher made a pretty good confidant and tutor.

Her biggest adjustments was learning how to make the right decisions. Fletcher told her she had to be an example on the floor and be the person that makes things happen. It wasn’t just a matter of learning the role and executing it, but also embracing it.

“It’s taking that point guard role and loving it,” said Fletcher. “She’s a perfectionist. When she makes a mistake, she lets it bother her. I know because I’m the exact same way. I tried to talk to her, especially in the preseason, about not carrying the weight of all those mistakes, letting them build and build. She had to know that every time she stepped on the floor at the start of a game or the start of a quarter or after a timeout, you’ve got to put those behind you, and you’ve got to make up for it and do whatever you can do to help the team.”

Weston’s confidence has grown. She’s shown more assertiveness. While she’s been leery of having to step into the role of an offensive producer, out of necessity, she’s been learning to accept that challenge.

“In recent games, she has done a good job penetrating and pulling up for the jumper, or dishing off for some easy scores,” said Kane. “That has helped us a great deal.”

Knowing the team believes in her and will rely on her when needed, only has given her an added boost.

“When Alexa went out, Coach wanted me to drive to the hoop and score,” said Weston, who averaged nine point during the regular season. “That’s when I got nervous because I haven’t been playing that role. What helped my confidence was he told me he knew I could score, and he knew I could do that.”

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