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The 3-point shot isn’t the best-percentage route to take when chasing a deficit, but it is the quickest.

Host Rich South used it with deadly precision to upset Hillcrest 58-55 and capture the championship Wednesday in the Galaxy Tournament.

Trailing 48-37 with just over six minutes remaining, the Stars went on a 5-for-7 shooting binge from beyond the arc. Then, in the final five seconds, tournament MVP Tierra Webb went 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Webb finished with 22 points, Tierney Lockett 14 and CiErra Garrett six for Rich South (5-0). No. 4 Hillcrest (3-1) was led by Dana Gettis and Mariam Awoniyi, who had 16 points each.

It was Rich South’s first title in its own tournament since 1991. The Stars also ended a seven-year reign by Hillcrest.

“We hadn’t beaten them in anything,” Lockett said of her previous experiences against Hillcrest. “We had to show them that our team is better than theirs.”

Earlier in the game, the Stars showed their explosiveness by turning a 30-21 deficit with 1:28 left in the half into a 30-28 battle at intermission.

But the later drama was more breathtaking.

A short jumper by Awoniyi that made it 48-37 appeared to give Hillcrest more than enough breathing room. But a 3-pointer by Lockett with 5:41 left started what would be an amazing string of long-range accuracy. Tierney hit twice, then Lockett went back-to-back, the second of which, with 1:34 left, put Rich South in front 54-53.

It stayed that way until 43 seconds remained when Awoniyi made a steal to gain the Hawks possession, then banked in a shot from just beyond the free-throw line.

Rich South held the ball until five seconds were showing, before Webb went up and was fouled. She hit both. Hillcrest’s ensuing inbounds pass hit the back of the rim. Webb was again fouled and swished those two as well.

“I felt that there was a lot of pressure on me, but I needed to make it,” Webb said. “We looked at this game as we have to win. This is the game that’s going to get us to state. We’re going to go to state this year, but we have to beat them to get there. This was good.”