Fans of the St. Aloysius Flashes are certainly getting their money’s worth this season – a few chills, a few thrills, and plenty of free basketball.

Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 3 seconds to play in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, then hit another in the extra period that put St. Al ahead for good as the Flashes beat West Lincoln 68-59 on Tuesday.

It was St. Al’s third overtime game in 10 outings this season. It has won them all.

&#8220They’re a good basketball team, and for us to come out and play with a team like that, it builds on the confidence that we’ve got right now,” St. Al coach Drew McBrayer said.

Chase Smith led three St. Al players in double figures with 20 points. Chris Baer scored 13 and Johnson had 12, while Marsh Willis and Chip Donald netted nine points apiece.

Shane Lynch led West Lincoln (8-3, 1-1 Division 7-1A) with a game-high 21 points.

St. Al (8-2, 1-0) hit an astounding 70.5 percent of its shots in the first half, but 12 turnovers and a 21-7 rebounding edge for West Lincoln kept the Flashes from pulling away. Similarly, West Lincoln couldn’t extend any of its small leads because of its woeful 12-for-33 shooting effort.

Neither team led by more than eight points in regulation, helping to set up a thrilling finish.

Stephen Jones hit a layup off an inbounds pass from Lynch with 40 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, giving the Bears a 55-52 lead. After Baer missed a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining, Jamey Byrd had a chance to ice it for West Lincoln at the foul line.

Byrd missed the front end of a one-and-one, however, and St. Al’s John Robert Burnett grabbed the rebound. After a timeout, the Flashes eventually worked the ball around to Johnson, who buried a 3-pointer from the left corner to tie the game at 55 with 3 seconds left.

&#8220It was a rush,” Johnson said of hitting the big shot. &#8220I felt like I had to hit it, though. I had some turnovers earlier and I kind of wanted to redeem myself. It came at a big time.”

(G) St. Al 42, West Lincoln 30

There’s still nearly two months worth of games to play before the Division 7-1A championship is settled, but St. Aloysius served notice Tuesday night that it’ll be there when it is.

Sarah Kerut had 12 points, eight rebounds and five steals, Annie and Amy Beaugh each scored 13 points, and St. Al (10-0, 1-0) remained undefeated by knocking off the defending division champs.

&#8220To be able to win the district, you’ve got to be able to win games like this,” McBrayer said. &#8220I hope it shows that we can play with the upper teams in this district. That’s just one goal we’re striving at.”

St. Al beat the Lady Bears (6-5, 1-1) with a mix of defense and clutch free throw shooting. The Lady Flashes held West Lincoln to eight points or less in every quarter, and 30 percent shooting for the game.

St. Al took the lead for good with an 11-0 run in the third quarter, then put the game away at the foul line in the fourth. The Lady Flashes did not hit a field goal in the final period, but went 12-for-18 from the line. They were 21-for-31 from the line in the game.

&#8220We were trying to run a stall with about three minutes left, and you can’t do that if you can’t make free throws,” McBrayer said. &#8220And we made a ton of them.”