Dirigo boys down Boothday in dramatic comeback win

AUGUSTA -- The Dirigo boys' basketball team felt confident its uptempo offense and pressure defense would be an asset in a Mountain Valley Conference championship game.

It just required time accerlate, but when things started to roll the Cougars proved to be unstoppable during a furious second half come back.

Riley Robison and TJ Frost combined for 29 points as the Cougars erased a 16-point deficit en route to deflocking Boothbay 64-52 at the Augusta Civic Center.

The game was extremely important because the teams expect to play each the in the western regional playoffs.

The Cougars' defense was equally impressive because they limited the high-flying Seahawks to nine points in the entire second half. This was in sharp contract to the fast pace that Boothbay exalted with Anthony DiMauro (20 points) and Joseph Hepburn (15 points) in soaring to a 43-26 lead at halftime.

"In the first half, we lacked intencity," said Dylan Kidder. "But, we knew they were not 17 points better than us. In game 12, Boothbay won by six points down there. Boothbay runs a flex offense, but we felt we could run with them.We knew that we could come back, tonight."

Dirigo had outscored Boothbay 17-4 in the third quarter to trail 47-41. However, the tide continued turning swiftly. Robinson (16 points) stole the ball and scored to open the fourth, Kidder converted a feed underneath and Robinson made a free throw. John Hepburn made a free throw for Boothbay, but after the teams traded turnovers, Frost drained a three pointer to give Dirigo a 49-48 lead, its first since early in the first quarter.

"Our defense came alive in the second half," said Frost, who scored 13, including three treys. "Plus we started rebounding and was able to get out and run with our transition game."

On the ensuing possession, Frost stole the ball and scored, Robbie Babb (10 points) put in a rebound and Hunter Ross (10 points) stole the ball and fed a streaking Frost for a lay up. Dirigo led 59-48 before DiMauro scored with 50 seconds left to play.

“We had started out so dead in the first half,” said Frost. ''I'm so proud of my teammates for (staying focused) coming back.''

The Cougars won 70-48 against Spruce Mountain in the 2012 MVC championship game.