By Don Ketchum

When you are cornered and appears the end is near, there is only one choice if you want to survive.

Fight your way out of it.

The girls basketball team from Chandler High could have been demoralized after being outscored by host Phoenix Xavier Prep 27-13 in the third quarter and trailing by 10 points with 4:23 left in their Class 5A Division I Fiesta Region game on Friday night (Feb. 11).

The Wolves battled back with an 11-0 run and managed to escape with an 85-80 victory.

Chandler (21-4) solidified its hold on the No. 2 spot in power points behind Phoenix St. Mary’s. Xavier (16-7), which entered the game at No. 3, likely will not drop far, if at all. The state tournament begins Feb. 22.

“We have the heart of a champion,’’ said Chandler coach Zon Thompson. “Everyone said we have been inconsistent, but to go 10-0 in this region, which might be the best in the state, is not an easy thing to do.’’

Chandler got a huge game from junior post player Je Zhe’ Newton. The 6-foot-4 Newton scored 30 points and was plagued by foul trouble most of the second half. Junior Kylened Knutsen scored 18, including three three-pointers, and junior Simone Westbrook had 17.

Thompson said Newton should be a candidate for Player of the Year.

Newton scored 20 points in the first half as Chandler built a 10-point lead at the break. She picked up her fourth foul with 5:57 left in the third quarter, forcing Thompson to sit her on the bench for quite awhile.

Chandler had been whistled for nine team fouls with 2:57 to go in the third, and it was no coincidence that it figured into Xavier’s comeback. The Gators converted 13 of 16 free-throw attempts in the period.

Xavier’s lead increased to 75-65 with 4:23 left in the fourth. Chandler went on its 11-0 run, with a bucket by guard Dezirae Elias putting the Wolves back in the lead 76-75 with 2:21 left. Xavier regained the lead with 2:06 left on a pair of free throws by Rikki Mulloy (27 points), but Chandler went up for good with 1:54 left on a basket by Newton.

Thompson was asked what he told his team after Xavier took its 10-point lead.

“I said, “Do you want to go out of here 9-1 or do you want to be 10-0?’ Thompson said. “It took discipline for us to come back. You have to credit Xavier. But we played like a champion.’’

Thompson figures his team will see Xavier again and is certain to face St. Mary’s at some point. St. Mary’s defeated Chandler 64-41 in a Jan. 11 game at St. Mary’s. He said he expects a different game if the teams play again.

“This team is ready for postseason,’’ he said.