The bulk of Dobson's girls basketball victories this season have been by wide margins. Seven of 10 wins have been by at least double digits, including the previous five prior to Thursday. Coach Henry Bribiescas knew the Mustangs' foe this day - Williams Field - would not be one of those.

See-sawing runs all game, visiting Dobson produced the the final burst to pull out a 54-51 triumph over Williams Field. Dobson (10-1) entered the day No. 4 in the latest 6A power rankings and Williams Field (7-4) checked in at No. 7 among 5A schools.

Dobson seniors Jaden Leslie and Rachel Early scored 18 points and 14 points, respectively. They combined to make eight threes (four each). Freshman Ahdiayh Chee finished with 12 - eight in the first half. Williams Field got 13 points apiece from transfer Tatyanna Clayburne and Solaya Sanchez. 

"Williams Field was as tough as I thought they'd be," Bribiescas said. "The one thing we didn't want them to do was get in transition. That's what they do best. For the most part we played their game. When we executed on offense we got some good shots. Maybe we did that just enough to pull it out."

Trailing often by five to 10 points from late in the first period to as late as 2:52 left in the final quarter, Dobson outscored Williams Field 10-2 from that point to the final buzzer. None of it without anxiety attached.

Dobson senior guard Jaden Leslie, a four-year varsity fixture,  supplied the late heroics. Leslie splashed consecutive threes 30 seconds apart to begin the game-winning rally. Those baskets put the Mustangs up for good, 50-49 with 1:57 left. Two free throws by recent 1,000-point club Mustangs' member Rachel Early a minute later made it 52-49. Williams Field's response was a strong move through the lane for a bucket by Clayburne - to cut the lead to 52-51 with 10 seconds left. 

Williams Field elected to foul quickly and sent Leslie to the line for a one-and-one. Leslie made both. Dobson did not want to surrender a three and had a foul to give and did so with 6.1 seconds left. After a final timeout with 3.5 seconds left, Clayburne was able to put up a contested three in the left corner that rattled in and out as time expired.

Williams Field's Tatyanna Clayburne (white uniform, red mask) watches her final-second shot spin out. (Azpreps365 photo)

Leslie has been a gutty performer her four years for the Mustangs. She posted a strong freshman season and then missed her sophomore year with a torn ACL. Back again last year, she had to underbo knee surgery again over the summer. Her play to this point of the season has been limited

"I really credit Jaden tonight," Bribiescas said. "She made lots of big shots. She's been limited due to the last surgery to playing four minutes a quarter this year. They are usually good minutes. Before the end of the season she may have that four-minute restriction lifted. We'll have to see."

Dobson saw a 7-2 lead the first three minutes of the game vanish as Williams Field wrapped up the quarter on a 13-0 run. Dobson sank three consecutive threes (two by Early and one by Leslie) to begin the second period and take a 16-15 lead. By halftime Williams Field was in charge, 28-20. Runs continued on both sides in the second half. 

No games for either team the rest of this week. Williams Field plays again Tuesday hosting 4A Washington while Dobson gets back in action Wednesday at home vs. Mountain Ridge.