DIXFIELD – When the basketball gets spread around, good things happen on the court.

The Dirigo girls’ team certainly benefited from passing the ball around in a season-opening Mountain Valley Conference game.

The Cougars received a balanced attack on offense, with Trish Turner and Hannah Knight combining for 17 points en route to a 41-12 win against Monmouth Academy Saturday afternoon at Defoe Gymnasium.

Dirigo jumped on top early and showed patience by rotating the ball around the arc before settling for an open shot. This strategy was necessary when Monmouth dropped back in to a zone.

“A key for us was being able to keep our intensity level up through out the game,” Dirigo junior Jane Hebert said. “In the past, that has been a problem. But today we played with a lot of energy.”

Dirigo scored 13 unanswered points from midway through the first quarter until halftime to lead 23-5. Knight (eight points) and Turner (nine points, six steals) and Morgan Hutchins (seven points) each scored two baskets to put the Cougars ahead by double digits early in the second quarter. Hebert (six points, six assists, six steals) added two layups, including one off a Brooke Kersey assist. Dirigo guard Kristen Harvey is the lone senior.

Monmouth (0-1), with four new starters, was unable to get in to a rhythm. There was plenty of effort, but the guards were constantly caught in a trapping defense.

Dirigo utilized a smothering defense that forced 35 turnovers. The Mustangs shot a dismal 12 percent and made three field goals in the game. They were held scoreless on an 18-minute stretch before Kristine Kahl (10 rebounds) buried a jumper with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We took care of the ball,” Dirigo coach Reggie Weston said. “We’ve also been working on our conditioning, and I’m not afraid to go 10 to 12 deep. I have to credit Monmouth who forced us to shoot from outside, so despite the lopsided score, it is not indicative of the play.”

The Mustangs had hoped for an advantage in the low post with seniors Alyssa Morin and Bethany Neal (11 rebounds) at 5-10 and 5-11, respectively. But Morin injured an ankle during preseason and is sidelined until after Christmas.

“That would have been our plan to get the ball inside,” Monmouth coach Rick Amero said. “We are a young team.”

Dirigo (1-0) needed to increase its offensive production. Hebert can shoot jumpers and Ricki Sinclair has proven herself in the past. The Cougars shot 32 percent, but committed seven turnovers in the game.

Katrina |Pulk and Kersey have each improved their games and freshmen Paige Murphy, Alyssa Wade and Mariah Larsen (who was on bench) are expected to contribute.

“We are playing together,” Turner said. “The freshmen have played AAU ball with us and they know our system, so they have stepped in and made a difference.”