Dobson ends on incredible run to upset Tucson 60-58
February 22, 2024 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365
Brevin Koch hit a 3-pointer with 2:13 left in the third quarter and the No. 3-seeded Tucson High Badgers were rolling, up 44-30 on No. 14 Dobson at home during second round action of the 6A state playoffs Wednesday night. Then, like someone hit a light switch, the Mustangs scored 30 points in the final ten minutes to upset the Badgers 60-58.
The 30-14 run started in the third with the Mustangs closing out the final two minutes of the period to cut the Badger lead down to 46-38. The lead still seemed safe at that point but an uneasy mood overtook the gym and Donovan Beard fueled another run to tie the game up at 49-49 with 3:21 left in the game. Beard finished with a game-high 28 points and a bucket from Beard, and a 3-pointer from Mason Sundberg, put the Mustangs up 52-51 with 2:20 left.
The Badgers picked up a turnover and Beard put the Mustangs up 55-51 with 1:41 left. Adam Bernal hit a free throw to cut the lead down to 55-52 and a turnover gave the Badger the ball back with 1:28 left but Tucson gave the ball right back only to have the Mustangs commit another turnover with 1:13 left. Xavier Grajeda Cruz scored to cut the Dobson lead back down to 55-54 with 56.2 seconds left.
The Mustangs committed another turnover and that led to two free throws from Cruz to give the Badgers a brief 56-55 lead with 53.5 seconds left. Brodi Piluga hit a 3 with 41.6 seconds left and Dobson went up 58-56. Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi tied the game up 58-58 with 12.5 seconds left but Beard went down and he scored with 3.5 seconds left for the 60-58 final. The Badgers had one more shot but a 3-point attempt came up inches short.
Dobson closes on a 30-14 run in the last 10 minutes to upset Tucson 60-58. Great look at the end for the Badgers #azpreps365 pic.twitter.com/qcjcsFavbL
— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) February 22, 2024
Dobson (15-11) will play at No. 6 Pinnacle (15-13) Friday night in the quarterfinal round and Tucson ended the year with a 24-3 record.
Beard had his 28 points, Zayn Young added 16 and Sundberg scored nine for the Mustangs. Quintin Ragland led the Badgers with 10 points, CJ Porter and Cunningham-Hiadzi scored nine points each, Koch added eight and Cruz scored seven. The Badgers went 4-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, missing their first five attempts.
