DIVISION I GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Poway Completes Playoff Roll With Rout

Stephanie Guerena said she knew her team would be champion before ever stepping on the court. Still, Guerena’s team had to play the game.

And so, Poway repeated as the San Diego Section’s Division I girls’ basketball champion Saturday at the Sports Arena, with a 55-33 victory over Mt. Carmel, its toughest rival.

The victory capped a remarkable season for the Titans (26-3), who opened the year ranked No. 1 in the county and stayed there. In weeks before the playoffs, they had intensified their hold on what seemed to be their destiny. They led second-seeded Mt. Carmel (20-5) in the penultimate game of league play by 33 points before settling for a 20-point victory.

When the playoffs finally did arrive, they beat San Dieguito, 81-18; Rancho Buena Vista, 71-45; and Bonita Vista, 90-24.

From Day 1, when Coach Jay Trousdale began preaching the importance of defense, the title has been theirs to lose.

They didn’t.

“It would be hard to say if we’ll ever have another team as good as this one,” Trousdale said. “This team has to rank in the top seven or eight teams in San Diego basketball history.

“Our offense averaged 67 points a game, our defense allowed 37, and in the championship game, we only allowed 33 points against the second- or third-best team in the county.”

The 22-point margin of victory was the greatest in a large school final since 1986, when the Point Loma team that featured Terri Mann scored a 65-42 victory over Monte Vista.

Poway took advantage of 20 Mt. Carmel turnovers and got a balanced scoring effort led by Kara Milling (14 points), Guerena (10) and Julie Lunardi (nine).

Poway’s Palomar League co-players of the year, Allison Brady and Jamie Shadian, scored six points apiece. Each average a team-high 14.

“Most teams, if they had a Brady or Shadian, they would see a box-and-one (defense),” Trousdale said. “With our depth, that would probably not be a wise thing to do.”

Poway players shared the spotlight throughout. Brady (6 feet), Milling (6-1) and Kristen Carlson (6-4) were supposed to contain Mt. Carmel’s Kris Grazzini (6-2). They did. Grazzini finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Carlson had four points, eight rebounds and three blocks; Milling had six rebounds with her 14 points, 10 of which came in the third quarter.

“The key for us was to outrebound Mt. Carmel and shut down Grazzini, and our front line did a great job of containing Grazzini.”

Mt. Carmel took the early lead on Grazzini’s three-point play, but Poway scored nine straight that began a 19-6 run. After holding a 13-7 lead at the quarter, Poway led 27-17 at halftime.

Mt. Carmel scored the first four points of the third quarter, but after a Poway timeout, the Titans again scored nine in a row. The period ended with Jennie Blankenbeckler stealing the ball and passing to Wendi Swinehart for the layup and a 44-28 lead.

“The girls were very confident and the coaching staff was very confident,” Trousdale said. “But you still have to look at their team and recognize they have some talent. To beat a team like that, you still have to play well.

“It wasn’t our prettiest effort, but for a CIF championship, we’ll take it.”