DIXFIELD — Dirigo continues to do all the right things when it’s needed in a crucial game.

The Cougars played with a great deal of high energy and intensity on both ends of the floor paced by Sabrina Daoud, who scored a game-high 27 points in a upset 51-34 win against Madison in a Mountain Valley Conference girl’s basketball game Monday night.

Dirigo is a guard-driven team and every starter had a great all-around game. Point guard Emma Lueders and Olivia Noyes combined for 18 rebounds and each dished out seven assists.

The game was important in Class C South Heal Points, with Madison and Dirigo ranked third and sixth, respectively. Dirigo (7-4) started out on fire and seemingly iced the game by scoring nine-unanswered points in the third quarter to open up a 40-22 lead.

“In the third quarter, we have a thing on our team that if they go on a run, then we (respond),” said Daoud. who scored seven of the nine points. ”We focus and have a lot of heart and energy. We work hard and if one of us messes up we keep our heads up and go right back at it .”

Madison (8-4) cut its deficit to 11 points following a basket by Sydney LeBlanc, but then went cold. Daoud (nine rebounds) buried a 3-pointer and added a basket. Lueders (12 rebounds) stole the ball and dribbled in hard for a bunny. Madison missed a shot and Daoud scored on a fast break, giving Dirigo a 40-22 lead with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter.

“For the past two weeks this team has been playing well,” Dirigo coach Karen Magnusson said. “Our offense is dictated by how well the defense is getting the ball. Madison is a good team. Tonight, we had it going.”

Madison was held scoreless until Ashley Emery made two free throws and Kayla Bess (seven points) scored. Bess the Bulldogs main threat was completely bottled up by Noyes who provided solid defense.

“Dirigo is a guard orientated team,” Madison coach Al Veneziano said. “So, we need to take away the three and play good defense.”

Daoud scored twice to open the fourth quarter. Dirigo made four treys in the game, including one by Kaicey Conant who stepped back and buried it for a 49-30 lead in the fourth quarter. Madison shot 20 percent in the game, missing its first 10 shots in the final frame. They missed 12 of 18 free throws and made 18 turnovers.

”The girl’s are talking more. They also getting excited during a rebound or when they force a turnover and that really shows,”Magnusson said. ”It doesn’t simply need to be a big play to get them going.”

Dirigo threatened to run away by jumping out to a 15-4 lead after one quarter. Daoud had a trey and eight points, while Lauren Henderson scored a basket and a trey.

Henderson scored four points and Lueders added a basket to begin the second quarter. The Bulldogs tried keeping in striking distance with a Bess basket and a trey by Madeline Wood (six points). A pair of baskets by Daoud and a Lueders fast break gave the Cougars a 29-18 lead at halftime.

”Our plan was to push the ball. That’s our game,”Lueders said, regarding the Cougars eruption. ”We are smaller and faster than other teams.”

DIXFIELD-An objective is always strive to finish strong and Dirigo is currently continuing to do all the right things when it’s needed the most which was evident in a Mountain Valley Conference girl’s basketball game.

The Lady Cougars played with a great deal of high energy and intensity on both ends of the floor-paced by Sabrina Daoud who scored a game high 27 points in a upset win against Madison at Defoe Gym.

Dirigo is a guard-driven team and every starter had a great all-around game. The point guard Emma Lueders and Olivia Noyes combined for 18 rebounds and each dished out seven assists.

The game was important in Class C South Heal Points, with Madison and Dirigo ranked third and sixth, respectively. Dirigo (7-4) had started out on fire and seemingly iced the game by scoring nine-unanswered points in the third quarter to open up a 40-22 lead.

”In the third quarter, we have a thing on our team that if they go on a run, then we (respond),”Daoud said, who scored seven of the nine points. ”We focus and have a lot of heart and energy. We work hard and if one of us messes up we keep our heads up and go right back at it .” Madison (8-4) had cut its deficit to 11 points following a basket by Sydney LeBlanc, but then went cold. Daoud (nine rebounds) buried a three pointer and added a basket. Lueders (12 rebounds) stole the ball and dribbled in hard for a bunny. Madison missed a shot and Daoud scored on a fast break, giving Dirigo a 40-22 lead with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter.

”For the past two weeks this team has been playing well,”Dirigo coach Karen Magnusson said. ”Our offense is dictated by how well the defense is getting the ball. Madison is a good team. Tonight, we had it going.”

Madison was held scoreless until Ashley Emery made two free throws and Kayla Bess (7 points) scored. Bess the Bulldogs main threat was completely bottled up by Noyes who provided solid defense.

”Dirigo is a guard orientated team,”Madison coach Al Veneziano said, during warm-ups. ”So, we need to take away the three and play good defense.”

Daoud scored twice to open the fourth quarter. Dirigo made four treys in the game, including one by Kaicey Conant who stepped back and buried it for a 49-30 lead in the fourth quarter. Madison shot 20 percent in the game, missing its first 10 shots in the final frame. They missed 12 of 18 free throws and made 18 turnovers.

”The girl’s are talking more. They also getting excited during a rebound or when they force a turnover and that really shows,”Magnusson said. ”It doesn’t simply need to be a big play to get them going.”

Dirigo had threatened to run away by jumping out to a 15-4 lead after one quarter. Daoud had a trey and eight points, while Lauren Henderson scored a basket and a trey.

Henderson scored four points and Luders added a basket to begin the second quarter. The Bulldogs tried keeping in striking distance with a Bess basket and a trey by Madeline Wood (six points). A pair of baskets by Daoud and a Luders fast break gave the Cougars a 29-18 lead at halftime.

”Our plan was to push the ball. That’s our game,”Lueders said, regarding the Cougars eruption. ”We are smaller and faster than other teams.” The shooting percentages was low for both teams. The Cougars shot 33 percent, nine of 18 at line and committed 17 turnovers. Mariah Lafleur, was a defensive standout off the bench.