Down by one with less than 10 seconds to play, Vanessa Gonzalez drove the lane for a chance to make a layup that would put Sobrato over Leland.
The Chargers’ defense collapsed around Gonzalez, forcing her to put up a tough shot that hit off the rim and Sobrato never got the ball back, falling 41-40 Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs (11-7, 6-3) nearly overcame a sloppy first half and a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to pull off what could have been their third dramatic come-from-behind win.
But turnovers and missed opportunities plagued Sobrato the whole way.
“Sometimes they have that unconditional faith and belief and sometimes they kind of take themselves out of it,” said coach Erica Wallace. “It was the difference between believing completely and questioning.”
Sobrato committed seven turnovers in the first quarter to allow Leland to go on an 11-4 run for an early lead. Later, an 11-1 run put Sobrato down by eight at the half.
In the second half, Leland’s offense went cold, making just four field goals and three free throws for the entire half for 12 points after the break.
For the game, Sobrato committed 16 turnovers and went 7 of 16 from the freethrow line.
“It was a sloppy game for us,” Wallace said. “We have some making up to do now.”
But all of it was nearly atoned for inside the final four minutes when Sobrato went on a 9-3 scoring run.
In the last 30 seconds, Sobrato had several chances to steal the lead.
A Leland inbounds pass under the Sobrato basket hit off a Charger hand and out of bounds.
Megan Yabumoto was then fouled going up for a shot and put Sobrato to within one at 41-40.
Later, with 20 seconds to play, Leland was called for a travel setting up for an easy layup.
That doesn’t take into account numerous Leland air balls and four other turnovers in the period.
Yabumoto finished with 11 points with Gonzalez leading all shooters with 13.
Hazel Hill was one point shy of a double-double with 13 boards and nine points.
Sobrato remains in second in the Santa Teresa Division, but is now tied with Leland and is two games back of league frontrunner Leigh.
The Bulldogs will look to get back on the winning track at Andrew Hill on Thursday. That will be a replay of a Jan. 16 game where Sobrato used a 19-0 scoring run to overcome an eight-point deficit to win in overtime.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
