It was the fifth time these two teams met this season.
After losing three of the four times previously to Highland HS (29-5), the Dobson girls would put it all together Monday evening to defeat the Hawks 53-36 - never trailing in the game.
Dobson's 5-foot-8 junior guard Katherine Hamilton, one of the top junior prospects in the state, would catch fire early and often to lead her Mustangs to the big victory.
Dobson (24-8) would get off to a great start in the game, as they would take a quick lead behind the play of Hamilton. A Hamilton jumper in transition would put Dobson up 9-2 with 4:34 left to play in the first period.
Dobson would then push their lead to an amazing 18-3 advantage after a three-pointer from Hamilton. Another three-pointer from Dobson's 5-foot-6 sophomore guard Tori Lloyd and Dobson would jump out to a 21-3 lead.
Dobson would take a 21-6 lead into the second period.
Hamilton would continue her strong play in the second period. A driving left-hand layup from Hamilton would put Dobson ahead 27-8 with 3:43 left in the second period.
Highland would make a run of their own late in the second period. After a a three-pointer from 5-foot-8 junior guard/forward Olivia Lucero, Highland would make the score 27-14.
But Dobson's Hamilton would keep it going - scoring on a mid-range jumper with less than a minute left to play in the first half. She would then connect on a three-pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded to put her team ahead comfortably, 33-17, at halftime.
In the second half with Highland looking to recover from the scoring onslaught by Hamilton, the Mustangs would not look back as others would get involved. A three-pointer and then a nice Euro-step layup in transition, back-to-back baskets, from 5-foot-8 sophomore guard Miyah Leith would put Dobson ahead 38-19 with 5:54 left to play in the third period.
Leith would then end the period with a nice dribble drive and a layup to put Dobson ahead 42-23 at the end of three quarters.
Dobson would then finish off the big playoff victory in the fourth period, 53-36 - handing Highland only their fifth loss of the season and ending their season as a result.
Dobson advances to the Division-I semi-finals now where they will face the nation's top team, the St. Mary's Knights on Thursday at Jobing.com Arena.
