If the start of the season is any indication, the right formula is in play for South Whidbey High School girls basketball.

A 1-1 season start after last year’s 4-16 season was definitely reason for slaps on the back during the past week as the Falcon girls lost one tight game to a 4A school, then beat a tough rival from the 2002-03 season on the road.

The win, which came 49-38 against Lakewood on Friday, makes up for two losses to the Cougars last season. This time around, a balanced South Whidbey scoring attack — plus the second of two surprising scoring performances by senior Marcella Litwiller — had the Falcons in the lead from the start and throughout. Up 39-20 after three quarters of play at Lakewood High School, the Falcons were so far ahead, they could have almost packed it in for the night. And they almost did, according to their coach, Howard Collier. They just did it too soon, getting outscored 18-10 in the final quarter.

“We could have blown them away,” Collier said.

Though paced by Litwiller’s 12 points and another dozen from Caitie Newman, South Whidbey allowed Lakewood to pull within nine points before closing up the holes in the defense. Collier said he was happy to put one game solidly in the win column, especially against the Cougars.

“Every year we play them, we come up short,” he said.

The team proved it had the ability to play great basketball against anyone — even when shorthanded — on the road against 4A Jackson six days earlier. In the season opener, the girls lost 51-47 after making two comebacks from 12 down.

With Newman out of the game due to illness, the Falcons relied on Litwiller for the punch in their offense. Having played junior varsity most of the previous season, the 6-1 senior had 14 points against Jackson. Also producing a significant number of points were junior Danielle Burton with eight and senior Jordan Tobler, who had seven.

The difference in the game was the first quarter. South Whidbey fell behind 12-5 to open before coming back to take a 25-23 halftime lead. Though they would keep the score close through much of the second half, the Falcons could not pull off the victory. Down by one with a minute to go, the Falcons were unable to stop a Jackson three pointer, which proved to be the difference.

After the game, Collier could not fault his team for the intensity of their play.

“They played their butts off,” he said.