A 16-2 start to a basketball game is a very big step toward an easy victory.
Most times.
Poway High looked like it would run away with the FIBA West Division championship in the annual SoCal Holiday Classic, the largest girls basketball tournament in the nation.
But just when it looked like it would be the Titans’ day, Fallbrook roared back to make the rest of the game interesting.
However, Poway hung on for a 39-34 win Friday at El Capitan High, never relinquishing the lead.
Junior Katelyn Johnson scored six of her 10 points in the fourth quarter to help secure the crown.
Johnson earned tournament MVP honors for her efforts.
Sophomore guard Mya McGowan, better known for pitching the Titans softball team into the San Diego Section finals, had a three-point play in the fourth quarter.
“They changed things up after we started the game loose and relaxed,’’ said McGowan, who tossed in 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. “We were flustered after the big lead.
“We just kept going, doing what we could.’’
It was Poway’s fifth straight win.
It was not easy.
Poway opened the door for the Warriors (10-6) to rally by scoring one point the rest of the first half, as Fallbrook sliced the deficit to 17-13 at halftime.
When Poway opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run, the momentum went right back to the Titans.
Once more, the Titans (11-2) appeared to be on the verge of breaking it open with a 30-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.
“When we have chances like we had today, we have to follow through,’’ new coach Carissa Jones-Fletcher said. “The best part of this was the girls fought their way through what turned out to be a tough day.
“They believe in each other now, but they are stressing me out all the time.’’
Fallbrook again closed the gap, trailing just 32-28 thanks to a 7-2 run with 5:42 left.
The Warriors got as close as 34-31 before McGowan’s three-point play pushed the lead back to six points with 2:17 to go.
Johnson’s two free throws made it a 39-31 lead with 33 seconds left and essentially iced the game.
“I am excited for the rest of the season except the season is almost half over now,’’ said McGowan. “Winning this tournament means a lot, especially with a new coach.
“There’s never anything wrong with winning.’’
Poway’s only losses this season are to Scripps Ranch (71-65) in double overtime and to Westview (58-36).
Fallbrook, which had its four-game winning streak snapped, got 12 points from senior Brooke Quintana and 11 points from junior Claire Nordeen.
Junior Ari Mason led Poway with 13 points, 12 of which came in the first quarter.
McGowan was ed in double figures by Johnson with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Warriors edged Poway 51-49 last season in a nonleague game.
