Boys Basketball: Chargers win in OT

Updated: December 22, 2011 10:26PM

Reggie Johnson led a second-half comeback and hit the game-winning free throws with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to lead St. Joseph to a 56-54 win at St. Patrick. Johnson was fouled after he took a full-court inbound pass with 10 seconds left and drove the length of the court.

‘‘I just wanted to create something on that last play,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘I saw the lane and just took it hard to the hole.‘’

The Chargers (4-4) trailed 27-20 at halftime and came out of the locker room looking like a different team in the third quarter. St. Joseph scored the first 15 points to take a 35-27 lead midway through the quarter. Johnson scored seven of those points and A.J. Patty contributed a pair of baskets. Johnson scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half.

‘‘We knew the only reason they were winning was because they were playing harder than us,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘Me and all my teammates did a self-check at half and realized we needed to pick it up.’’

The Chargers took its biggest lead at 41-29 on a Paul Turner jump shot from the free throw line. But St. Patrick (4-4) came storming back with an 8-0 run to close the gap to 41-37 with 7:06 left in regulation. Elijah Watson hit a trey on his way to 10 points. Ismar Seferagic started the run with a layup and Loren Horton scored as well.

It was Horton who tied the game at 50 by converting a layup after a steal with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter. Horton led the Shamrocks with 16 points and Seferasic added 13.

‘‘When we were in the same [East Suburban Catholic] conference, these games always came down to the wire,’’ Chargers coach Gene Pingatore said. ``This is a big rivalry and nothing has changed.’’

Patty grabbed 12 rebounds and had four blocks.

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