When you’re on the short end of 14-3 bookend scores in the first and the fourth quarters, the chances of you winning your basketball game are slim and none.

That was Avondale Westview’s tale of woe on Monday (Feb. 18) in a quarterfinal game of the Division I state tournament at Arizona State’s Wells Fargo Arena.

The fourth-seeded Lady Knights couldn’t seem to buy a basket early in the game, even if they had all the money in the world, and faded again late as fifth-seeded Chandler Hamilton rolled to a 48-29 victory.

Hamilton (27-5) advances to Thursday’s (Feb. 21) semifinal game at Wells Fargo, likely against another group of Lady Knights -- top-seeded, defending champion Phoenix St. Mary’s. Tipoff is 6 p.m. Westview finished 34-2. Its only other loss was to St. Mary’s in a sectional tournament last week.

Westview appeared to be in for a long afternoon when it shot four free throws in the first 1:20 of the game and made just one. It made just 3 of 10 for the game.

The game was pretty much a combination of Hamilton’s solid defense and Westview’s inability to hit when it did get an open shot. Perhaps Westview had been accustomed to easier shots, i.e., uncontested layups, during the regular season when its pressing defense caused numerous turnovers.

“We have been preaching solid defense all year,’’ Hamilton coach Jeff Kain said. “We don’t have a 6-5 post, so everyone has to make sure they play good defense.’’

In additioin, Hamilton remained calm on offense as Westview tried to intercept passes or knock the ball away. Turnovers did not occur nearly enough, and Chandler waited patiently for its shots.

Kain said that once his team made a few and built the lead, “that gave us confidence. That helped us.’’

Westview trailed by 15 points at the half and regained its footing in the third quarter and early fourth. The Lady Knights pulled to within 34-28 with 7:35 left on a basket by Saylair Grandon, but scored just 1 more point the rest of the way. Hamilton pulled away again.

Hamilton had three players score in double figures. Kyndall Adams had 16, Ashlee Moore had 13 and Aliyah Dickson had 10. Renee Contreras led Westview with 8 points.

Now Dickson, who is in her second season at Hamilton after previously playing at St. Mary’s, likely will get another shot at her former teammates.

Hamilton has come closer than any Arizona team to St. Mary’s – losing by 18 points on Jan. 7. Kain and his team are well aware of the challenge that might lie ahead.  St. Mary’s will not come into the game unprepared – coach Curtis Ekmark was sitting in the stands and making notations on his iPad throughout the Hamilton-Westview game.