RUMFORD – Dirigo approached Thursday night with the forgivable anxiety of a team protecting a fragile eggshell in its loss column. Mountain Valley played as if life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness depended upon it.

Cam Kaubris erupted for 29 points and his Falcons never trailed after the first quarter, spoiling Dirigo’s undefeated march through the Mountain Valley Conference with an authoritative 68-55 victory in the regular-season finale at Puiia Gymnasium.

You’ve heard coaches say their team wanted it more? Get your hands on this game film and you’ll see a classic demonstration. Travis Ruff and Matt Laubauskas each added 13 points in their final home game for Mountain Valley (16-2).

“Without a doubt we wanted to get back for the game earlier in the season where we choked at the end,” said Ruff, recalling Dirigo’s 55-52 triumph six miles down Route 2 four weeks ago. The Cougars scored the last eight points in the final minute of regulation to wiggle away from that one.

Kaubris, Ruff and Laubauskas combined for 19 points in the fourth quarter to ensure Dirigo (17-1) a less satisfying sequel.

Tom Knight led Dirigo with 24 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. With all-state football players Ruff, Laubauskas and Cole Clark fronting the 6-foot-9 center at every turn, however, Mountain Valley held Knight to only two field goals in the second half.

Tyler Chiasson finished with 11 points for Dirigo.

“They were hungrier,” said Dirigo coach Gavin Kane. “Surprisingly, because we had an opportunity to possibly go undefeated playing against our rival. But they played with a bounce in their step and just had a little more hunger than we did.”

There can’t and won’t be a rubber game. Mountain Valley ensured itself a top four seed in the Western Class B tournament at Portland during school vacation week. Dirigo still locked up No. 1 billing in the Western C playoff at Augusta and will tune up against No. 2 Wiscasset in the MVC championship Monday.

Mountain Valley made the most of its last chance to leave an impression on the ballyhooed neighbors, sinking seven 3-pointers in the first half to grab a 33-30 lead. Ruff knocked down three. Kaubris canned two. Myles Mercier – making an honorary start with fellow seniors Ruff and Laubauskas — nailed one, as did Chris Day.

Knight carved up the Falcons’ man-to-man defense for 17 points to keep the Cougars afloat prior to intermission, capped by a thunderous dunk off a Nic Crutchfield steal in the closing seconds.

“We knew Tom was the guy they were going to try to go to, and we said let the other four guys beat us and it’s almost like a pick-up game. Isolate one and let the rest go after it,” Kaubris said. “The first half we let Tom get his points, and then at the end we played big, shutdown defense and didn’t let him get any points.”

More significant than the Falcons’ switch to zone defense was its death grip on the basketball. Mountain Valley committed only two second-half turnovers and maximized its opportunities by corralling a dozen offensive rebounds in that span.

Laubauskas (nine rebounds, five steals), Jacob Arsenault and Kaubris each had a second-chance bucket in the third quarter. Dirigo went scoreless after Knight’s inside hoop with 3:31 remaining, and the Falcons cradled a 46-39 lead heading into the fourth.

“The kids just played great. I was really pleased with the way they attacked, attacked, attacked, every time down the floor,” said Mountain Valley coach Dave Gerrish. “I thought they were ready to play from the opening tip, and they just played a complete game.”

Kaubris’ foul line jumper and a penetrate-and-pitch from Ruff (nine assists) to Laubauskas pushed the lead to double digits to christen the fourth. Dirigo’s field goal drought lingered, as Tyler Gates’ put-back provided the Cougars’ lone points away from the free-throw line until the 2:22 mark.

By then, Kaubris had crafted three straight buckets in a 20-second span to put it out of reach.

“We respect their coach and we respect their team. It’s a really honorable win to beat a 17-0 team,” Kaubris said. “The sixth man tonight was the crowd. They really gave us a lot of emotion.”