DIXFIELD — When the Dirigo boy’s basketball team is clicking on all cylinders good things happen.

Good things happened over and over again Tuesday, as the Cougars remained unbeaten in the Mountain Valley Conference.

Setting the tone early, Dirigo ran early and often. Josh Turbide scored a season high 14 points and spot starter Mitch Stanley added a career high 11 as the Cougars had too many weapons in a 78-18 victory over Monmouth Academy.

“We’re going to keep pushing the ball,” Dirigo coach Travis Magnusson said. “The thing that hurt us most was careless passes (seven turnovers in first quarter), so if we cut down on our mistakes we’ll be all right. We limited our turnovers in the second quarter.”

With all of the scoring and plenty of chance to applaud, perhaps the loudest of the ovations was for former Cougars standout Tom Knight, who was at DeFoe Gymnasium for the game. Knight, a 6-foot, 9-inch forward, is the Cougars’ career-leading scorer who now plays at the University of Notre Dame. He scored a career-high nine points in 11 minutes of the Irish’s final game before Christmas break.

In Tuesday’s contest, the Cougars did him proud. Dirigo had a plan to get out and run early, and when it did the Mustangs were unable to react. The Cougars surged ahead with a conventional three-point play from Stanley and a put back by Robbie Babb, punctuation 21-4 first quarter.

Monmouth (2-2) was handicapped by a the Cougars’ pressure defense, leading to 11 turnovers in the first quarter and 30 in the first half.

When the Mustangs called a timeout at 6:29 in the second quarter, they trailed 30-4. Dirigo was on a 21-0 run, including a steal and coast-to-coast lay-up by Turbide (four assists, six steals), a Ben Holmes trey. Cody St. Germain (10 points, seven rebounds, four steals) also scored and Babb (four rebounds) added a basket.

“Our coach is O.K. with turnovers if we are running,” Turbide said. “But he doesn’t like it if we commit turnovers when we are in a half-court game. We came out tonight with the mentality to run the ball and our transition game was much better.”

The Cougars received good production from guards Caleb Turner (10 points, four assists) and T.J. Frost (five assists), who ignited the fast break. This freed up Stanley who sprinted in to tap-in any missed shot.

“Mitch Stanley was very active,” Magnusson said. “He had six or seven rebounds and would be starting for almost any other team in the MVC. Mitch and Hunter Ross are the first ones off the bench and give us a big lift.”

Monmouth was cold (15 percent in game) and was held scoreless for 11 minutes before it converted consecutive baskets — Scott Peacock and Cameron Copeland hit with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. DJ.. McHugh led the Mustangs with six points.

“A game like this is tough,” Turbide said. “But, coach has our heads on straight and makes sure we give 100 percent effort.”

Dirigo shot 52 percent (35 for 66) from the floor and six of 11 free throws. Dirigo also cleared its bench. Babb, Dylan Kidder, Chad Snowman, Tyler Frost and Nick Blodgett each saw court time.