Millennium's confidence was evident from the get-go Friday night as was its steadfastness. The No. 5 Lady Tigers led wire-to-wire and beat top-seed Desert Vista, 52-43, to reach the Division I girls championshp game in the final game of four semifiinals at Grand Canyon University.

Junior guard Raina Perez, limited to three points in a quarterfinal win over Valley Vista on Wednesday, was back as she usually is running the show and controlling the Lady Tigers' attack. Perez scored 16 points, added four assists and four steals.

The triumph was no fluke. It was the second time in three meetings Millennium (28-4) conquered Desert Vista (29-4) this season. The first meeting was a single-digit win for Millennium the opening week of the season. The second meeting went to Desert Vista by double digits at the Nike TOC  and that may have made many believe Desert Vista had an edge. Millennium now faces Dobson in the title game on Monday (March 2) at 4 p.m. at Gila River Arena. Dobson rallied with its depth playing a big role in a 59-52 victory over Liberty.

Quynne Huggins led Milllennim in scoring with 19 points and added seven rebounds. Wati Franklin also played a key role with eight points and 11 rebounds. Millennium nearly matched Desert Vista rebounding and did not allow the Lady Thunder's Kristine Anigwe to enjoy a huge night. Anigwe, headed to Cal in the fall,  finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Sabrina Haines, who is headed for ASU, tallied 13 points for the Desert Vista. Desert Vista struggled from the perimeter, especially three-point range making only 1 of 17.

Millennium didn't create distance from Desert Vista until the final couple minutes when its lead hit double digits. The Lady Tigers led 12-8 after one quarter, 22-19 after two and 34-30 after three. Millennium still held a four-point lead (36-32) with 4:51 to play, but got consecutive baskets from Franklin, Huggins and Perez pushed the margin to 10 with under three minutes left. Desert Vista wasn't able to make a strong run  to the finish.

DOBSON 59, LIBERTY 52: Using its depth and will to win, theNo. 6  Lady Mustangs (29-2) regrouped from the loss of team leader Dyesha Stahley for a quarter in the opening half and went to rally to victory over the No. 2 Lady Lions (28-4). It's Dobson's second trip to the final in six years. Dobson won the title in 2010.

Alexis Todd led Dobson with 13 points, Kayla Clark added 12 and Shamara Troupe chipped in with 11. Courtney Christmas paced Liberty with 18 points, only six in the second half. Christmas was 1 of 9 from the field in the second half. Jenae Lewallen was next with 17. Lewallen made five of the nine threes the Lady Lions sank.

Liberty started fast, building a 13-4 late with just more than three minutes left in the first period. That's the time Stahley went down grimacing in pain with what would turn out to be a left-knee sprain. Dobson battled back and cut the deficit to 28-23 at intermission. Liberty connected on five three-pointers in the first period.

Stahley, who scored just three points, was cleared by trainers to return a few seconds into the third period. Her teammates had taken up for her by then and Dobson grabbed the lead heading to the final quarter, 39-38. Dobson's bench outscored Liberty's for the game, 17-0. that was namely Troupe and Monay Mariscal, who combined for the 17 points and 19 rebounds.

"Dysesha is tough as nails," Dobson coach Tyler Dumas said. "This team's dealt with adversity this year, and did so again. I told her to let her teammates carry her. They did. She got back in and gave us a lift."

Liberty regained the lead to open the final period on what else -- another three by Lewallen. Liberty twice led by three in the quarter -- the final time 46-43 with 5:02 to play. A five-point run sparked by Kayla Clark and Stahley had Dobson back in front, 48-46,  just 20 seconds later. Clark scored on a putback. Stahley made a quick steal and Clark followed it with a three-point play.

Dobson held a 55-49 lead with 53 seconds left, but three Liberty free throws cut the lead to three with 35 seconds to go, Dobson made four free throws in the final 18 seconds to close it out.