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Chandler gets hot from foul line to top Westwood
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EYE ON THE PRIZE: Chandler’s Rob Williams, above, left, goes for a steal during the first half of the Wolves’ game Thursday at Westwood. Below, Chandler’s Devirous Jackson, left, and Westwood’s Edgar Jaquez battle for rebounding position. Chandler went on to win the game, 67-46.
Julio Jimenez, Tribune
Julio Jimenez, Tribune
The Chandler High boys basketball team got back to basics to beat Mesa Westwood 67-46 on Thursday night in Mesa.
“All of our games this year have been right down to the wire,” said Chandler coach Mike Ellsworth. “The difference has been the free-throw line.”
So far that difference has been to Chandler’s disadvantage.
But against Westwood (1-1), the Wolves (4-3) shot 89 percent on 18 trips to the charity line.
Seniors Preston Hall and Jason Edwards were perfect from the line on four attempts each.
“We just haven’t been making free throws but tonight we did and that kind of got us the game,” Ellsworth said.
Meanwhile, Westwood only made 9-for-14 from the line.
Efficient zone defense, a nagging full-court press and Chandler’s solid shooting from the free-throw line allowed the Wolves to outscore Westwood 21-4 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Westwood’s Kade Nelson got hot and hit three 3-pointers in a row. But Chandler’s 24-point lead established in the third quarter proved to be insurmountable.
Hall led all scoring with 14 points. Forward Devirous Johnson added 11 points for the Wolves.
The big men were the final targets of tight ball movement by the Chandler offense, especially in the first half.
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