By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

RUMFORD – Whenever the stakes are high, the Dirigo girls’ basketball team rises to the occasion.

And there was a lot on the line as the Cougars snatched the 2005 Mountain Valley Conference championship with a 50-31 victory over the Hall-Dale Bulldogs at Mountain Valley High School’s Puiia Gymnasium on Monday night.

The Cougars came out on fire in the third quarter as Brooke Weston scored on a fast break and then buried a 3-pointer to open up a double-digit lead. Michelle Holmquist, Alexa Kaubris and Holly Knight combined to score 38 points, while Hall Dale simply couldn’t solve Dirigo’s solid defensive scheme.

“We tried not to get nervous,” Weston said. “We went over the things that would work for us because we knew Hall-Dale would come out and play us hard. A key for us was to remain cool.”

Dirigo (19-0) used a man-to-man defense against the Bulldogs and it produced several baskets on a quick transition. Hall-Dale was held to 11 points on three of 11 shots in the entire second half.

The opening minute of the third quarter ultimately set the tone. Kaubris (13 points, five assists, five rebounds, five steals) swiped the ball and fed Weston (seven points) for a fast-break layup. Following a second turnover, Weston and Abby Fenstermacher each buried treys.

Hal Dale (16-3) relied on all-stars Chelsey Dionne and Caitlyn Laflin (13 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) who scored 25 of the 31 points. The Bulldogs shot 30 percent from the floor and committed 13 turnovers in the second half.

“We certainly tried to win,” Hall Dale coach Stan Hayes said. “We wanted to try things that would work for us and obviously didn’t work. A key was not getting back on defense.”

Dirigo dominated the glass with Holmquist (14 points) and Knight (11 points, eight rebounds, four blocks), producing numerous second and third chances. In the second quarter, Holmquist scored three times, including a basket at the buzzer for a 27-20 lead at halftime.

The score was tied or changed sides seven times in the first quarter. Dionne scored three baskets in the low post.

Dirigo shot 41 percent from the floor and made seven of nine free throws. The Cougars turned the ball over 22 times.

“We had to focus on Laflin and Dionne,” Weston said. “The (goal) was not to let them or anyone get outside shots. We’ll scrimmage Yarmouth Tuesday and Rangeley will come to our gym on Thursday.”