Dobson, Mesa Mtn. View girls hoops faring well in California

December 2, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Dobson and Mesa Mountain View traveled nearly 400 miles to La Jolla, Calif., for the La Jolla Country Day Sweet Sixteen girls basketball tournament that began Wednesday. They were positioned on opposite ends of the bracket so the only way they could face each other would be to advance to the semifinals or better.

Heading to action Friday, both are semifinalist swith wins on Wednesday and Thursday at a tournament that features top teams from three western states. Dobson's latest win came Thursday night over Oaks Christian, 56-54, in overtime. Katherine Hamilton, a junior and in her third varsity season for Dobson, poured in 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Freshman Dyesha Stahley continued a solid start to her varsity career adding 14 points. Dobson won its first game Wednesday against Horizon Christian, 71-43. Sophomore guard Miyah Leith led the way with 21 points and Hamilton chipped in with 17.

Dobson, coached by Tyler Dumas,  has played tournament-heavy to open its season. The Mustangs finished third last week in the annual Highland Thanksgviing Invitational. They lost to eventual champion Highland in the semfiinals and beat defending 5A-II champ Tolleson, for third place. Dobson is 6-2 heading to Friday night's 7:15 (Arizona time) semifinal vs. tournament host La Jolla Country Day. The Mustangs won't open power-point game competition until next week. If Dobson and Mountain View both win Friday they will meet for the championship on Saturday. If both lose, they face each other in Saturday's third-place game.

Mountain View, which opened its season last week with power-point wins over Tolleson and Mesa and added another Tuesday in besting Marcos de Niza, is 5-0 after beating Mission Bay (Calif.), 71-59,  in the opening round Wednesday and one of Colorado's top programs and a defending state champ, Highlands Ranch (69-58), in Thursday's quarterfinals. Mountain View takes on Archbishop Mitty  Friday night at 9 (Arizona time).

Mountain View, a 5A-I final-four team last year and perennial contender every year under Henry Bribiescas, has three returning starters in Arnecia Hawkins, Jordan Jensen and Rene Coggins. Arnecia Hawkins scored 17 points, Jordan Jensen and Morgan Pennell 12 points each and another trio had 8 points apiece (Rene Coggins, Armani Hawkins and Sabrina Haines) in the win over Mission Bay. Coggins ripped the nets for 27 points in the victory over Highlands Ranch in a game that saw the Toros rally from a 20-6 first-quarter deficit. Arnecia Hawkins had 15 points despite foul trouble throughout. Jensen had 13 points, making 11 of 13 free throws.