D-I girls hoops: Desert Vista rallies past Dobson in 4th

February 28, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Kristine Anigwe scored the go-ahead basket with just less than five minutes to play and Emily Wolph followed with a steal and 3- point basket that ignited No. 5 Desert Vista past top-seed Dobson, 54-49, in the second Divison I girls semifinal on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.

Anigwe a 6-foot-4 junior committed to Cal, scored 15 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. Anigwe batled foul trouble, but did not foul out. Wolph also was in foul trouble and fouled out with two minutes left. Wolph, a senior signed to play at Santa Clara, finished with 15 points. Anigwe's basket and Wolph's 3 combined to break a 42-42 tie and give Desert Vista the lead for good, 47-42. The Thunder had trailed late in the third period, 40-34, after Dobson senior guard Tori Lloyd went off for 11 third-quarter points. Lloyd, who is headed to NAU this fall,  finished with 18, but did not score in the final period.

Desert Vista made four free throws late -- two each by Sabrina Haines (13 points) and Tatum Brimley. Dobson had a chance to tie the game at 52, but three-point shots by Lloyd and Dyesha Stahley were off the mark with 7.9 seconds left.

Dobson got 10 points from post Monay Mariscal and nine from Miyah Leith. The Lady Mustangs betplayed much better in the second meeting  between the teams, but coouldn't make enought plays down the stretch to pull it out. Dobson finished up 30-3 with two of the losses to Desert Vista.

Desert Vista (29-2) faces Westview for the D-I title on Saturday (March 1) at 1 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena.