Dobson and Mountain View each enjoyed a three-minute stretch of the fourth quarter on Thursday night in trying to lock down a tight 6A East Valley Region matchup. Dobson's stretch was last and proved decisive.

Donovan Beard capped a 34-point peformance with a game-winning three at the buzzer giving Dobson a 57-56 victory over Mountain View at Toro Gym.

Beard, a sophomore, tallied 15 of the Mustangs' 19 points in the fourth quarter that started with the score knotted at 38. The final basket saw Beard take an inbounds pass, dribble and cut across half court toward the left sideline. He pulled up behind the arc in front of Dobson's bench and drilled the high-arching three for the win.

Dobson wrapped up its region schedule and its regular season. The victory strengthened its position in earning a state tournament berth. Dobson entered play #21 in the power-rankings and needs to be in the top 24 when the regular season concludes next week. Mountain View finishes the regular season Tuesday at Mesa High. Mountain View was #15 entering play on Thursday.

The Mustangs are 18-7 overall, 7-3 in region. Mountain View, which still had a shot at a share of the region title, likely saw that vanish with the loss. The Toros are 13-12 overall, 7-2 in region. Mesa (8-0 region) needs a win over Red Mountain (Friday) or Mountain View next week to claim the region crown.

Mountain View used a 12-2 run for a 50-40 lead with 4:51 left to play. The Mustangs fell a back a bit more, 54-42, at the 3:09 mark after a steal and lay-up by Brigg Wolfe (team-high 16 points). Beard tallied eight of 12 points in a 12-0 run. The final basket of the run by Garrett Justice tied the score at 54 with 56 seconds left.

Wolfe, as he'd done several times throughout the game, penetrated the lane and dished to Peyton Rule for a layup and 56-54 lead with 25 seconds to go.

Dobson turned the ball over on its next possession and fouled Wolfe with 7.9 seconds to play. Wolfe missed the front-end of a one-and-one. The Mustangs rebounded, called time and found themselves winners 7.9 seconds later.

Rule and Conner Cook also scored in double figures for Mountain View with 12 points apiece. Denton Latimore tallied 13 points and was the Mustangs only other player in double figures.