By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – The news at practice Wednesday wasn’t all that unexpected, but still Brooke Weston couldn’t help but think about her assignment over the hours leading up to Thursday afternoon’s basketball game.

The Dirigo senior guard had the unenviable task of guarding Jay’s standout catalyst Kaylie DeMillo.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking,” said Weston. “She is such a great player. You know you’re going to have to work 110 percent every second of the game.”

Weston and her fellow Cougars did just that. Dirigo gave the Tigers offense fits and got superb production from its own halfcourt game in a 62-44 Western C semifinal win. Dirigo advances to Saturday afternoon’s regional championship game for a rematch with second-ranked Hall-Dale.

“Our game plan going in was to get into our halfcourt trap and eliminate them from feeling comfortable in their offense,” said Dirigo coach Gavin Kane. “I think that was very productive for us.”

Weston hounded DeMillo for much of the game. When it wasn’t Weston, Alexa Kaubris, Katherine Gagne and Katie Hutchinson took turns. Though DeMillo, who averaged 21 points during the regular season, finished with 18 for the Tigers, she was held to just six points at halftime. By that point, Dirigo had a 34-17 lead.

“I was just worried that I was going to foul,” said Weston. “So I tried to stay down and play honest defense on her. She’s a great player. So I thought I had to play honest defense and not lunge for the ball.”

Jay (14-6) hit just one of its first eight shots and went 2-for-12 in the opening quarter. The Tigers struggled to get high percentage shots and when they did get shots, they often rolled around the rim and came out. Sara Fetterhoff added 10 points for the Tigers, which expected to have its hands full offensively..

“We knew that coming in,” said Jay coach Chris Bessey. “That’s why we set a lot of ballscreens. They made her work really hard and took away some of the other players.”

Though Bessey’s team has given the Cougars the biggest scares recently, Dirigo’s offense also helped take away that possibility. Jay lost in overtime, 44-36, last year and lost 33-31 this season. Bessey knew if his team kept Dirigo in the 30’s, his Tiger might have a shot.

“The way they were playing offensively today, there’s no way that was going to happen,” said Bessey. “Defensively, they’re always that way. I don’t think it was any easier for us last year. I think the biggest difference was the offense.”

Dirigo started the game hitting four of its first five shots and built a 13-2 lead in the first quarter. Though Jay tried to throw a variety of zone defenses against the Cougars, Dirigo got some outside shots and got some strong work from Michelle Holmquist inside.

“I was very pleased with our mental focus to start the ballgame, which was a little better than the quarterfinal game,” said Kane. “I thought we had a great effort from all of our kids. A lot of kids contributed for us, and that’s when we’re tough to beat when we get contributions from seven or eight different players.”

Holmquist finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kaubris, despite recovering from an illness, had 17 points and eight steals. Weston had 10 points and eight assists.

Dirigo started the game with a Holmquist basket and a Holly Knight three-point play for a quick 5-0 lead. An 8-0 run opened the lead up. Holmquist scored on a rebound and hit two free throws. Kaubris followed with basket off a Weston pass and added two more free throws moments later. Dirigo hit 14-of-15 free throws, including 14 straight, in the first half.

“That was definitely a huge point because that’s when our nerves started to settle down,” said Weston. “We realized that if we kept it under control, we’d be fine, and we could just play.”

A Kaubris three-point play followed by a Knight jumper midway through the second quarter had the lead up to 16 points. Another five straight points in the third quarter had the lead at 41-21, but Jay managed to get within 44-31 after seven straight points. DeMillo hit a 3-pointer and Fetterhoff had a hoop and two free throws. Four points from Holmquist helped answer that run and never allowed the Tigers to get closer.

“We had a couple of chances,” said Bessey. “We talked at halftime about getting it to 10 or less. We got to (13) and had a couple of possession to get even closer, but we missed a couple shots. I just think offensively, they were too good today.”