Kiwanis Basketball Tournament : Poway Makes Lead Stand Up

Poway High cruised through its first three games in the Unlimited Division of the 42nd Kiwanis tournament.

The Titans won by 16, 20 and 27 points over Chino, Mira Mesa and Serra. In the first half of the final against Point Loma Thursday at Serra, it looked as if it might be Poway’s most lopsided victory.

Poway led by 13 at halftime. But the Titans wound up winning by the same margin, 57-44.

With its first Kiwanis title, Poway improved to 8-0. Point Loma dropped to 5-4.

After leading, 26-13, at the half, Poway went on a 8-2 run to start the third quarter. But in the next 8 minutes, Point Loma rallied with a 21-8 streak to pull with six with 6:43 left.

After calling a timeout, Poway settled down. The Titans scored the next six points and were never challenged in the final 4 minutes.

Poway guard Greg Sorrell had 8 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter. Sorrell’s backcourt partner, Jay Blankenbeckler, also had 12. John Culbertson scored 10 before fouling out with 6:34 left, and Adam Jones added eight.

Blankenbeckler and Jones were named to all-tournament team, along with Beau Pack from Point Loma.

The Pointers were led by Jim Griffin with 13 points, including seven clutch points in the fourth quarter, and Pack with 10.

“We got a little tired in the third quarter,” Blankenbeckler said. “That enabled their big men to get back in the game. But after the timeout, we settled down and played our game.”

Added Sorrell: “I wasn’t really that worried. We were just a little lazy.

“My shot wasn’t on in the beginning, but I got it going in the fourth quarter.”

Poway outrebounded Point Loma, 30-24. Jones and Sorrell each had eight.

But the big difference was the Poway defensive effort in the second quarter. Coach Neville Saner went to a full-court, man-to-man defense, and the pressure worked. Point Loma turned the ball over five times in the quarter and managed only three points.

“The tempo was slow, so we tried to pick it up a little,” Saner said. “In the second half we kind of sputtered a little. But the kids did a good job of regrouping. We’re capable of (having) different guys doing the job.”