Girls hoops: Dobson peppers Westwood in rare mismatch

March 4, 2021 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Dobson's Rachel (2) beats Westwood's Mya Johnson (24) to the spot and buries a three in 2nd quarter of Thursday's game. (Azpreps365 photo)

In the last several years when fans have filed in to watch a Dobson-Westwood girls basketball game there is suspense at the outset as to who walks away the winner. Not the case Thursday night when they met for the second time this season to finish 6A East Valley Region play.

Dobson's Rachel Early's hot shooting highlighted a huge first quarter for the Mustangs in building an 18-5 lead on the way to a 52-22 triumph over Westwood at Westwood.

Dobson's win avenged a five-point loss a month ago and means essentially a three-way tie for the region title among the Mustangs, Westwood and Mesa. Dobson (13-2 overall, 7-2 region) and Westwood (14-3, 8-2) have met six times since the last three years and split the contests. Westwood entered play No. 4 in the latest 6A power rankings and Dobson rested at No. 5. Dobson's regular season is over while Westwood hosts Cibola on Friday in its final game before next week's playoffs.

Noone was more stunned by the margin of outcome in this one than Dobson coach Henry Bribiescas.

"Our games with them are always close, so no way did I expect this," Bribiescas said. "I'm thankful we weren't on the other end of the score. They are a dangerous team. Even if you have a big lead you can't let down. This was as good a game as we've played this season. The girls played well."

Bribiescas cited the opening salvo offensively by Early and the Mustangs executing the defensive game plan as keys.

"No doubt Rachel got us going with her shots," Bribiescas said. "I told the girls this was a game we needed to show some dominance. Our defense was relentless. We knew we couldn't let their shooters get going. If they do ,they can get away from you."

Early was exceptional with 13-first quarter points and totaling 16 at halftime. The senior guard sank  four of five shots (three of them threes) from every angle. Dobson led 18-5 after the first period and 29-7 at intermission. Westwood made 3 of 25 shots in the first half (0-11 threes). Most of those attempts were way off the mark. For the game the Warriors were 8 for 40 (20 percent) from the field and 3 of 12 from the free-throw line.

The only noise Westwood made was a 6-0 run to begin the third quarter. The Warriors still trailed 32-13 after three quarters. The Warriors' leading scorer, - senior Mya Johnson (15 points a game) - was limited to two points in the first half and five through three quarters. She finished with 13.

Westwood played most of the final quarter without head coach Ron Campton, who was ejected after picking up two technical fouls. Campton won't be available to coach Friday's final game as the ejection merits a one-game suspension.