DIXFIELD — The Dirigo boys’ knew when to be flexible when the Cougars came up against Oak Hill basketball in a Mountain Valley Conference game Friday night.

Once again there was plenty of offense with Riley Robinson recording a double-double with game highs 37 points and 12 rebounds. The Cougars’ defensive pressure was equally effective in a 80-44 triumph against Oak Hill at DeFoe Gymnasium.

This was important in the Heal Points because Oak Hill is ranked in Class B, while Dirigo (10-1) is jockeying with Boothbay for first place in the Class C Heal Points. Oak Hill (3-8) is ranked 14th and needs wins during the remaining games.

Derek Gamage, a 6-foot-5 senior, also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds for Oak Hill.

Dirigo set the tone with its pressure defense and an up-tempo offense, which gave Raider guards Dalton Therrien and Parker Asselin (who both fouled out) trouble bringing the ball up the court. This ignited the Cougars’ transition game and led to several easy lay-ups.

”It’s no (secret) that we like to run,” said Robinson, who scored 86 points in three games this week. ‘In the first half our outside shots were not going in. But in the second half, the outside shots were falling for us.”

Oak Hill had closed the deficit to 39-27 on baskets by Therrien (10 points) and Gamage early in the third quarter. Then Dirigo regained control by scoring 13 of the next 17 points, including eight straight by Robinson. The sophomore contorted his body to gain positioning underneath the basket. Dylan Kidder (10 points, eight rebounds) put back an offensive rebound and Kane Hutchins drained his first of three three-pointers to extend the lead to 54-38 after three quarters.

”I credit my teammates for getting me the ball,”Robinson said. ”I think Tyler Frost (nine points, 10 assists) is the best passer in the MVC.”

Dirigo hit the floor running and made 11 of 19 shots, 12 points by Robinson and a Frost trey, to lead 23-11 after one quarter. There was a lull and the Raiders regrouped to trail by 12 points on two occasions. Gamage made a couple of baskets in the paint and Asselin (eight points) and Jonah Martin (eight points) each hit from the perimeter.

”There was times when we was able to get by the trap, but then Dirigo would throw another trap on us,” Oak Hill coach Tom Smith said. ”We just didn’t have an answer for Robinson and his moves. It’s tough on us because we are a Class B school playing a Class C schedule, but we have some winnable games coming up that we will need in order to make the playoffs.”

The Cougars, who made 16 of 20 free throws and committed 10 turnovers in the game, blew it wide open by scoring 26 of the first 28 points of the fourth quarter. Hutchins sank two treys from the baseline and Robinson and Randy DeRoche each made a trey.

”This was the best that our defensive pressure has looked all season,” Dirigo coach Travis Magnusson said. ”But, look at Oak Hill. They are a good team and just have three wins, so it shows how balanced this league is.”