Lady Cougars pound Telstar, 62-33

DIXFIELD -- Diversity is a good thing and the Dirigo girls' basketball team has been showing signs it has developed that quality in the latter stages of the Mountain Valley Conference regular season.

Hannah Knight, Paige Murphy and Kayla Gaudin combined to score 37 points as the Lady Cougars pulled away early in receiving a solid team performance for a convincing 62-23 triumph over Telstar. The game was the opener of a tripleheader at Defoe Gymnasium.

Dirigo won its 12th game and was never seriously challenged, following a 21-point first quarter. Knight (15 points) and Murphy (12 points) each scored two baskets, Ambyr Wilson hit a jumper and a three pointer by Alyssa Wade (seven points) made it 11-0. The Rebels' Emma Davis scored with 5:10 remaining, but Dirigo’s pressure defense forced 15 of the Rebels 31 turnovers.

“At this point of the season, we are developing more options,” said Dirigo coach Reggie Weston. “Tonight, Paige (Murphy) was hitting jumpers and Kayla Gaudin (10 points) and Angela Ronan (double figures in upset win against Livermore Falls) are scoring in the paint. Hannah will work to break free from double teams, but she knows when to dish the ball off.”

Dirigo was able to work its plays and showed good ball movement around the perimeter. This allowed for multiple substitutions, with Ronan, Erin Turner, Natasha DesRoche, Lexi Noyes, Lindsy Crutchfield, Gretchen Bradbury and Natalie Bolduc.

The Cougars scored nine unanswered points in the second period on baskets by Gaudin (two), Knight and a DesRoche steal for a lay-up. They led 35-11 at halftime.

“The girls are getting more confident,” said Weston. “We have three games left Hall Dale (last Thursday), Mountain Valley (Monday) with Ayla (Allen) and then end up with (Beth) Moore at Jay. They all have a big girl, so it will be a challenge.”

Dirigo shot 44 percent, made six of 14 free throws and committed 16 turnovers.

Davis and Casey Blaszczak each scored six points for the Rebels, who have struggled this season, since reforming in the MVC after having disbanded last year.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said Telstar coach Mark Kenney. “We’ve got some things to build on, but it has shown what we need to work on over the summer.”