A five-point lead was the best either #13 Dobson's or #20 Notre Dame Prep's girls hoops team could manage through the third quarter of Tuesday's first-round game of the first-ever Open Division state tournament. 

Dobson finally tired of the tight contest with a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter. The run keyed a 50-42 triumph at Dobson High School.

The victory was the 20th this season for the 6A East Valley Region champion Mustangs and veteran coach Henry Bribiescas. Notre Dame Prep (19-8), under first-year coach Shaun Coleman, will be allowed to compete in the 5A state tournament later on - a proviso of losing in the first or second round of the Open Divison Tournament. Notre Dame Prep won the 5A Northeast Valley Region crown. Dobson advances to the second round Thursday visiting #4 Xavier Prep, a 69-32 winner over #29 Corona del Sol.

Dobson's starters provided all the scoring, Each contributed a basket in the 10-0 burst. Three of the starters finished in double figures, led by junior guard Ahdiayh Chee's 17 points. Next were senior Aaliyah Garcia (13 points) and sophomore Jaziah Billey (10 points).

"We were waiting for a run," Bribiescas said. "It finally came and allowed us separation."

The fourth quarter opened with Dobson on top, 33-32. It took until the 6:08 mark of the quarter for the first points to be scored and the start of the 10-0 run. Junior forward Isabella Jensen got the honors with a bucket in the paint. Billey tallied next with a nifty spin move in the lane. Then it was Garcia, who made a living penetrating for layups, with her fifth of the game. Chee gave the run its best perimeter bucket - a 12-foot shot. Sophia Fonseca completed the run with layup off a Billey assist and a 43-32 advantage.

Notre Dame Prep managed to trim the deficit to 48-42 with 20 seconds left. Two free throws from Chee with 12 seconds to go sealed the outcome. Junior forward Ava Pautz spread her team-high 17 points quite evenly by quarter. Sophomore wing Olivia Frankel was next scoring nine points --  all via a trio of three-point baskets.