AUGUSTA — The matchup has become a staple on the tournament stage — one that always produces.

Monday’s Class C South boys basketball quarterfinal between Mt. Abram and Dirigo was the third time in as many years the two have met on the Augusta Civic Center floor in February. For the second straight year, the Roadrunners prevailed, topping the Cougars 70-62 to earn a date with Hall-Dale in Thursday’s regional semifinals.

“It might say they’re an eight seed, but they’re not an eight seed; they’re probably like a three seed,” Mt. Abram coach Jeff Pillsbury said of Dirigo. “They played hard, they hit some big shots, and they rebounded and defended really well. In the end, we had to hold on, and we did.”

How Mt. Abram did it

• The top-seeded Roadrunners (18-1) dominated the paint, pulling down 38 rebounds to the Cougars’ 23. Reagan Lockaby led that effort, muscling past Dirigo’s big men for 23 points and nine rebounds.

• Lockaby got more room down low thanks to Mt. Abram’s solid guard play. The shooting of Killian Pillsbury and Bryce Wilcox forced No. 8 Dirigo (11-9) to defend the perimeter, freeing more space for the 6-foot-5 Lockaby.

• The Roadrunners powered through illnesses. The game had to be stopped with a minute left in the first half after Bryce Wilcox vomited on the floor, and Lockaby was sniffling heavily following the win.

“There’s a little bit of sickness going around, definitely, but we fought through it,” Lockaby said. “We’ll rest up, drink lots of water and get back out here for the next one.”

What it means

• Mt. Abram is back in the C South semis for the third consecutive year. The Roadrunners also had the top seed last year before losing to Monmouth Academy in the regional final — a matchup that could happen again, with the Mustangs also advancing to the semis.

• Dirigo, which trailed by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter before pulling within six, ends its season with a quarterfinal loss to Mt. Abram for the second consecutive year. It’s the end of the road for a senior class that went 61-24, with two state titles.

“The entire year, we’ve had to battle through a lot of adversity, so we knew, if we get on a run, we can still give ourselves a chance,” said Dirigo senior Nathaniel Wainwright. “Right now, it sucks, but in a few days, I’ll be able to look back at everything that we did here and reminisce on it.”

They said it

• “We’ve got three guys who can shoot it, and that stretches the floor. With Reagan, you look back at tonight, the MVC championship against Spruce (Mountain) and our scrimmage against Mt. Blue, he’s really playing his best. His hands have gotten better; he and the guards stepped up big.” — Jeff Pillsbury

• “We were a little nervous — we knew they were a great team — but we just kept our heads up and finished business. … I’m thankful for my guards; they’re what allowed me to score.” — Reagan Lockaby

Stat leaders

• Dirigo: Owen Smith (19 points), Dakota White (18 points, eight rebounds), Nathaniel Wainwright (16 points, seven rebounds)

• Mt. Abram: Reagan Lockaby (23 points, nine rebounds), Killian Pillsbury (17 points, five rebounds, five assists), Bryce Wilcox (15 points)