DIXFIELD —There was definitely plenty on the line when rivals Mountain Valley and Dirigo in a battle of unbeaten boys’ basketball teams Thursday in sold-out Defoe Gymnasium.

What started ho-hum early on turned into a melee down the stretch.

Cam Kaubris scored a game-high 22 points and Mountain Valley made its free throws in the end to remain unbeaten with a 52-45 win.

Mountain Valley (8-0), fifth in Class B heal points, has traditionally started fast, and this game was no exception, but poor shooting (eight percent) in the fourth erased a double-digit lead. The saving grace was making six of eight free throws.

“We got very sloppy with the ball,” Mountain Valley coach Rick White said. “But you have to credit (Dirigo coach) Rebecca (Fletcher). They are a well-coached team and switched to a 1-2-2 (zone) and it gave us fits.”

No. 1 Class C Dirigo (7-1) had cut the deficit to 46-44 by scoring nine of the first 11 points in the fourth quarter. Josh Turbide scored six of his nine points, Cody St. Germain (eight points, six rebounds) made two free throws and Ben Holmes (11 points, nine rebounds, five steals) made a basket with 1:18 left in the game.

Izaak Mills (nine points, six rebounds) and a Kaubris (eight rebounds, six assists) basket gave Mountain Valley a 50-45 lead with 31 seconds left.

Dirigo made six-straight free throws and had a golden opportunity. Turbide was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer and a frustrated Mills was whistled for a technical. Turbide and Spencer Ross combined to make one of five free throws, and the Cougars turned the ball over on their possession.

“We played great at times, but then lost our composure,” White said. “The kids gave a great effort and we are developing some depth. That’s what we’ll need later this season.”

“In the first half we were running with the ball,” Kaubris said. “But when they switched, it fooled us for more than a quarter. We needed to hit the cutters inside.”

The Falcons went on a 12-0 run to take a 30-15 lead in the second quarter. Jacob Theriault (10 points) made a pair of treys and Kaubris buried three treys. The defense behind Zach Radcliffe (four steals) and Hanson Gorham forced 21 turnovers in the game and limited the Cougars to three off 12 shooting in the second quarter.

“We were moving the ball in the first half,” Theriault said. “It was important to get ahead and the three-pointers helped. We felt good about ourselves.”

Dirigo scored 10 of the final 12 points behind Caleb Turner (12 points), two baskets by St. Germain and a Turbide trey.

Dirigo shot 31 percent and made 10 of 19 from the charity stripe. The Falcons made eight of 14 free throws and turned the ball over 19 times.