Prospect 68, St. Viator 62 (OT)

Jason Leblebijian and Joe LaTulip were better late than ever Tuesday night for Prospect.

The Knights have a chance to clinch a share of the Mid-Suburban East boys basketball title at home Friday against Rolling Meadows. So first-year coach John Camardella went with an all-senior lineup in the rivalry nonconference matchup at St. Viator's Cahill Gym.

That led to uncustomary roles for Leblebijian, a junior who usually starts, and LaTulip, a sophomore who normally gets in earlier.

But they had plenty of time before it was over to combine for 36 points and lead Prospect from a 6-point deficit in the final 2:09 of regulation to a 68-62 victory.

"It's happened so many times," LaTulip said of the Knights' season-long trend of overcoming deficits.

"Experience is a huge factor and we've been in that situation five or six times this season," Leblebijian said. "It seems like we always pull through."

Leblebijian scored 10 of his career-high 23 points in the final 5:33 as Prospect (15-9) improved to 8-1 in 2008. The first of his four 3-pointers broke a game that was scoreless in the opening 5:15 and he finished 7-for-11 from the field and had 5 rebounds.

LaTulip provided a huge spark with a career-best 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists as he never came off the floor after halftime.

"I'm very much a believer in flow," Camardella said. "For both of them to deal with extenuating circumstances … both of them played their best games of the year on the same night."

Prospect built a 43-34 lead even though Alex Toth (9 points, 9 rebounds) and Kevin Reed (6 points, 6 rebounds) were hampered with foul trouble and Jeff Heiden (13 points) being contained by Viator (9-13) stopper Mike Landuyt (16 points, 6 assists).

But 9 turnovers fueled a 15-point Viator run for a 49-43 lead at 2:54 on a 3-point play by sophomore Richard McLoughlin (19 points) on a Landuyt feed.

"I'm proud of that effort," said Viator coach Joe Majkowski. "Down nine, we didn't give in and kept playing hard and took the lead."

Three missed shots helped Prospect erase it on Toth's drive, Leblebijian's twisting off-balance layup and LaTulip's 2 free throws with 42.5 seconds left. Landuyt's 24-footer off the glass rimmed out with a second left.

"We totally had the momentum," LaTulip said.

And it grew into a 15-point run as Leblebijian hit a pullup jumper 28 seconds into overtime to put the Knights ahead to stay.

"I was surprised we did it," Leblebijian said, "and I think everyone else in the stands was, too."