HIghland girls basketball coach Miner Webster and Dobson girls basketball coach Tyler Dumas are very good friends, but they've seen way too much of each other in 2011-2012.

The teams are the last two other than St. Mary's to win a 5A-I (D-I title) and met for the fifth time this season on Monday night. This was the most important since it meant a Division I tournament semifinal berth and Dobson came away the winner in a  surprisingly big way, 53-36, at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena. The previous outcomes were decided by 10 points or less. 

No. 7 seed Dobson (24-9) advances to Thursday's semifinals against defending champ St. Mary's at 2:30 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena. St. Mary's advanced earlier on Monday with a 77-39 win over Desert Vista. Highland, the No. 2 seed, suffered only its  and finished 24-4. Two of the losses were to Dobson.

Leading the way for Dobson was junior Katherine Hamilton, an integral part of the 2010 title team that stopped St. Mary's in overtime for the championship. Hamilton scored 18 points in the first half, including three 3s and finished with a game-high 22 points. She added seven rebonds as well.

Add her effort in a first-round win over Pinnacle (17 points and 15 rebounds) and she's done all Dumas can ask for in the on-floor leadership department.

"She's come out with a lot of focus," Dumas said. "For our seniors and for herself. "

Just less than a week ago, Highland knocked off Dobson, 46-36, in the sectional semifinals. When sophomoer guard Miyah Leith sank a 3 to open the second half Monday night, it extended Dobson's lead to 36-17 -- as many points in two quarters and a possession as it had the entire game previous. Highland won three of the five meetings -- once in  its Thanksgiving Torunament, one of two regular-season meetings and in sectionals.

This night it wasn't to be.

"We had a terrible start and we've gotten off to a lot of them this year," Webster said. "I may have to look at what I'm doing because it's happened way too much this year. Most of the time we've been able to fight  back and win. Not tonight. Dobson did  a great job. They shot well, we're prepared and focused."

Dumas thought having played a game last month at Wells Fargo Arena at the MLK Classic gave his team an advantage, at least in being used to the venue. But execution was the biggest factor.

Dobson made 54 percent of its shots in the first period and Highland connected on just 2-of-11. Six turnovers in the opening period by Highland helped lead to a 21-6 deficit that was never challenged.

Miyah Leith added 12 points for Dobson and Tori Lloyd seven. Highland, usually led in scoring by Olivia Lucero, got 8 points from Amy Pavlica and seven from Lucero. Highland made just six field goals in the first three quarters, shooting 21 percent from the field over that stretch.