Lady Cougars complete sweep of Falcons

RUMFORD -- In a tale of teams heading in different directions, rivals Mountain Valley and Dirigo battled in a girls' regular season finale basketball game.

Dirigo proved to have too much as the trio of Kelsey Hutchins, Jen Conant and Kayala Gaudin combined for 31 points, while a pressure defense was relentless in a 50-32 triumph over Mountain Valley. It completed a season sweep because Dirigo beat the Falcons in Dixfield last month.

Mountain Valley (5-13) concluded a disappointing season but made a charge when it needed to and provided plenty of competition. The Falcons trailed by double digits when they scored nine unanswered points in the second quarter. Addy Gorham made a basket, Brena Brown added a free throw, Brooke Dolloff put back a rebound and Jena Plourde hit from inside to trail 18-15.

“We had survived Dirigo's initial surge,” said MV coach Tammy Gallant of the Falcons, who honored seniors Darbi Brown, Makenzie Gallant, Gorham and Dolloff during pregame ceremonies. “I was proud of the girls to pull together and come back. But, (Dirigo) Reggie (Weston) has them playing well and they kept coming at us and had a height advantage.”

The Falcons trailed 28-21 at halftime.

The action changed in the third quarter, the Cougars erupted for 10 straight points on three hoops by Conant (10 points) and baskets by Sabrina Daoud and Lauren Henderson.

“We are able to use (multiple) rotations,” said Dirigo coach Reggie Weston, whose team hosted a preliminary playoff game last night. “I believe we are in better (physical) shape and was able to wear them down. They were hitting from outside with Makenzie Gallant (10 points), so we pounded the ball inside”

Dirigo had scored the first 12 points of game as Lindsy Crutchfield and Ambyr Wilson each drained three pointers and Conant's hoop was sandwiched by Hutchins (12 points) making two baskets -- making all eight shots.

Mountain Valley was hindered when Dolloff fouled out early in the fourth quarter. The Falcons shot 24 percent, missed all seven shots from beyond the arc and committed 28 turnovers. Darbi Brown and Sydney Petrie each added six points.

Dirigo shot 50 percent and had 19 turnovers in the game.

"Regardless of the score, there was no letting up by either team,"said Weston.

The Falcons JV team finished 15-1, led by Shannon Laubauskas and Sydney Petrie, under coach Ryan Casey.