Boys Basketball: Stevenson hands Libertyville first loss in OT

Updated: December 16, 2011 10:17PM

Host Stevenson survived a game-tying three-point basket at the fourth-quarter buzzer and beat Libertyville 69-62 in overtime on Friday in a key North Suburban Conference Lake Division game.

The No. 25 Patriots (7-1, 3-0) never trailed in the four-minute overtime. Libertyville is now 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the division.

Anthony Mack nailed the three-pointer that got Libertyville even at 49-49.

Amazingly, Stevenson scored 20 points in four extra minutes, including going 11 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Michael Fleming’s three-pointer opened the overtime scoring and Jalen Brunson’s two free throws gave Stevenson a 54-49 lead early in overtime.

After Griffin Pils scored on a layup to cut the deficit to 54-51, Brunson hit two more free throws to make it 56-51. After a Pils three-point made it 56-54, Matt Morrissey and Brunson scored buckets to give Stevenson a 60-54 lead. Pils hit one more three-pointer, but free throws sealed it from there.

Fleming finished with 22 to lead the Patriots, and Brunson, a freshman guard, added 20. Colby Cashaw added 12.

For Libertyville, Pils led with a game-high 26 points, and Ellis Mathews added 19.

“This was a good home win, and we’re going the right things, moving forward,” said Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose, whose team led early 17-3. “Libertyville went to a zone and kind of stuck it to us.”

By halftime, Libertyville was within 23-21 and it was close the rest of the way.

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