RUMFORD – Mountain Valley High School has enjoyed some good, even terrific girls’ basketball seasons over the last decade-and-a-half.

Most of them were overlooked or completely forgotten, and primarily because a certain school down the street made a habit of unbeaten seasons, insane winning streaks and state championships.

The Falcons could used to this sudden reversal of fortune. Four weeks after beating Dirigo for the first time since the 1994-95 season, Mountain Valley completed a season sweep in flabbergasting fashion Saturday afternoon with a 52-28 rout at Puiia Gymnasium.

“We finally got over that,” said Mountain Valley coach Rich Allen. “We’ve won at home. We’ve won away. (The Mountain Valley Conference) is a tough place to play.”

With its relatively balanced scoring, smothering defense and toughness from the free-throw line, Mountain Valley (14-2) looked like it was paying homage to some of those historic Dirigo teams while winning its 12th straight game.

Junior forward Vanessa Cayer led the Falcons with 20 points and nine rebounds, but any game ball was community property.

Lauren LePage and Tanya Martin each added nine points, with LePage distributing six assists. Meagan Maifeld mustered seven points, four rebounds and three assists. Christie Volkernick chimed in with five points, eight boards and three blocked shots.

“We play together really well. Everyone usually scores the same,” said Cayer, who exploded for 11 points to highlight an otherwise forgettable first half for both offenses.

Mountain Valley started 2-of-17 from the field and led only 5-4 after one quarter and 17-9 at the half. All was not lost for the Falcons, who were stifling with their backs to the Dirigo basket. The Cougars (9-8) went 0-for-7 from the field in the second period and 2-for-14 in the half. Mountain Valley also forced 11 turnovers before the break, a total that swelled to 22 at the finish.

“Defense is our best thing. We work on defense the most all the time, because if they don’t score much then we win,” Cayer said.

Mountain Valley was a solid 21-of-28 from the line, swishing eight in a row to run and hide in the fourth quarter.

Nikki Kaulback scored eight points and Kristen Harvey seven for the Cougars, who wound up 6-of-25 (24 percent) from the field.

“We got off to a slow start offensively, and like I tell the girls, I don’t really care about that,” said Allen. “I’ve always told them if you miss a shot or turn it over, just get back and make a stop. You’ve got to limit your turnovers, and even though we probably had a few too many today, we still got back and made stops.”