DIXFIELD — Ready and waiting.

That was the threat the Spruce Mountain girls’ basketball team posed Monday night.

With each trip up the floor, Dirigo faced a Phoenix squad that was not only armed with a hard-nosed defense, but also charged by an intensity that went with it. It completely stymied the Cougars.  Spruce Mountain built an insurmountable  lead and never looked back in a 51-32 victory over Dirigo.

“We came out really aggressive and ready to go,” said freshman forward Emily Keene. “We knew it was a big game. We had to be ready.”

Spruce Mountain (6-0) is in the middle of its toughest stretch of the season. With Hall-Dale last week, the Phoenix have Mountain Valley, Hall-Dale and Madison all coming up on the schedule in the next week. Monday’s game at Dirigo was also the return to Dixfield for Spruce Mountain coach Gavin Kane and his staff of Rebecca Fletcher, Greg Gagne and Kip Fletcher.

“The kids knew this was another big game for us in a stretch of six or seven ball games that are very important to us,” Kane said. “We came in with a great mindset and ready to go. For the most part, we did a lot of good things.”

Spruce Mountain opened an 18-2 lead in the first quarter and were up 29-6 by halftime. Though the Phoenix players were aware of the coaching staff’s return to Dirigo, they weren’t phased by it.

“We knew we wanted to be ready because you can’t get too fired up,” Keene said. “You can’t lose your head. We definitely were ready for it.”

Keene led the Phoenix with 17 points, while Kathryn Ventrella added 14 points and eight rebounds. Alexi Deering added eight points, seven rebounds, six steals and five assists.

“I was extremely pleased with the first 16 minutes of the game as far as the intensity level that we brought to the floor,” said Kane, whose team is ranked fourth in Western Class B. “That’s the best two quarters that we’ve put back-to-back as far as playing hard on every possession.”

Dirigo (4-3) was led by Alyssa Wade with 11 points. She picked up three fouls in the first quarter, which was another factor in the Cougars inability to execute in the first half.

“I had to sit her for most of the first half,” said Dirigo coach Reggie Weston, whose club is second in Western C. “That takes us out of our game. They’re used to having her bring the ball down and making some passes.”

Angela Ronan added eight for Dirigo.

The Cougars had 15 turnovers in the first half and started the game 0-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-21 in the half. The Spruce Mountain press gave Dirigo fits.

“We haven’t had that kind of defense against us this year like that,” Weston said. “They were their own worst enemy in the first half. They know that. They made some terrible decisions passing-wise.”

The Phoenix just roared out to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter. Ventrella led the way with seven points, including a pair of 3s. Spruce Mountain also got baskets by Keene, Deering, Ashley Quirrion, Samantha Richards and free throws from Kailee Newcomb.

“We had a lot of kids step up,” said Keene. “It’s great when everybody can get involved.”

Dirigo didn’t get its first hoop until an Ambry Wilson basket with 36 seconds left in the first quarter. The Phoenix had the lead up to 29-6 by halftime thanks to six straight late points. Keene had four points during that stretch.

Spruce Mountain called off the press in the second half and worked the clock offensively. Dirigo was able to get some offense going and even had a 10-1 run at one point.

“The second quarter we did really good,” Keene said. “The third quarter we let down a lot. We have to come to play like we did in the first half for every game and play like that the whole game.”

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