By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

DIXFIELD – The rivalry between the Dirigo and Mountain Valley boys’ basketball teams brought out the best in both of them Saturday night.

D.J. Gerrish made two free throws in the final 18.6 seconds, and Andy Shorey scored a game-high 21 points as Mountain Valley fought to a double overtime 60-59 win over Dirigo at packed Defoe Gymnasium.

Both teams take pride in their defensive pressure as the momentum shifted back and forth. Dirigo led early in the second overtime on an inside basket by Tom Knight, who scored 20 points.

The Falcons regained the lead on a Shorey power move and Byron Glaus made a free throw.

Mountain made 14 free throws to four by the Cougars in the fourth quarter.

It was the first time ever that the teams had met with unblemished records in January. Dirigo had upset the Falcons in 1993 in Dixfield.

Dirigo (6-1) is ranked No. 1 in Class C and Mountain Valley (8-0) is ranked No. 3 in Class B.

“We just went after them in the second OT,” said Falcon forward Travis Fergola, who scored 14 points. “We need to get the ball in the post because Dirigo had taken it away from us. Every year, Dirigo comes at us and they have a great team. Coach Gavin Kane has them playing well.”

The Falcons had received a scare a day earlier. Shorey had been poked in the eye and visited the hospital emergency room.

A trey by Marcus Palmer (10) with 13 seconds left in the first overtime tied the score at 52. The Cougars had led 45-38 in regulation on a trey by Spencer Berry. The referees waved off a Falcon foul as time expired in regulation.

There was a constant battle in the paint for rebounding between Fergola and the Cougars’ Chris Richards and Knight..

Dirigo Mike Holmquist (six points) made key baskets, and a Josh Daley 3-point attempt bounced off the rim with two seconds left in double OT.

“We needed to get the ball inside,” Mountain Valley coach Dave Gerrish said. “Dirigo forced us to alter our game plan. I was outcoached tonight, and we came out in a zone and they beat us until we switched to our man-to-man. You have to give Dirigo the credit because they outplayed us.”

The Falcons also received a strong effort by Jeremy Child, and the Cougars Colby Knapp was strong defensively.

“This was a fun game,” Fergola said. “The atmosphere was like playing in Augusta. It was loud, but not as many people .”

Dirigo shot 37 percent from the floor and made 12 of 27 free throws in the game. The Falcons shot 42 percent and committed 18 turnovers.