#10 Mesa rallies to beat #7 Dobson

January 6, 2023 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Mesa's Fredrick McCoo attempts to score against Dobson's Zayonte Bolton in Friday's game at Mesa High. Mesa won, 47-40. (Azpreps365 photo)

Top-10 6A power-ranking teams - #10 Mesa High and #7 Dobson - squared off Friday night in their East Valley Region opener. It was a tale of two halves with the host Jackrabbits second half proving to be the better half.

Mesa's 15-7 edge in the third period gave it the lead and the Jackrabbits carried through to the finish for a 47-40 win at Jackrabbit Gym.

Mesa (12-4 overall, 7-1 power-ranking games) used a trio of three-point field goals to take command in the third quarter. Treys from starters Parker Escalante and Noah Hunt and reserve Daniel Arnett helped the Jackrabbits turn a five-point, halftime deficit into a three-point advantage (32-29) to begin the fourth quarter. Mesa didn't make a three in the first half and finished with four for the evening.

Mesa's momentum carried over to the initial 90 seconds of the fourth. It opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run and 40-31 lead. The Jackrabbits lead reached 10 points with 3:12 to play. Dobson (9-6, 6-2) managed to whittle the deficit to 45-40 with 56 seconds left. Senior Zayonte Bolton, who shared game-high scoring honors with teammate Donovan Beard (12 points apiece), tallied nine of Dobson's 11 fourth-quarter points. The Mustangs didn't score again and Mesa iced it with 40 seconds left with two free throws from Conway Cummard.

Mesa's next game is at home Tuesday against Pinnacle. Pinnacle was ranked #1 in 6A heading to Friday's game vs. Liberty. Dobson resumes play Thursday when it hosts a region game vs. Red Mountain.