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Arogundade’s clutch as Viator tops Proviso E. in OT

With the clock running down in overtime, Ore Arogundade was right on time.

The St. Viator senior standout banked home the game-winning 5-foot runner with three seconds left to give the Lions a dramatic 79-77 victory over Proviso East at the Mac Irvin Diabetes Classic at Larkin High School in Elgin.

The contest was one of four boys games along with a girls game in the event to raise money for the cure of diabetes.

Proviso East had tied the game at 77 with 16 seconds left.

Arogundade took the ensuing inbounds pass, beat the press then held the ball as the seconds ticked off.

He then raced for the basket as defenders swarmed.

“After beating the press, he held the ball for a while, then went to work,” said Lions coach Mike Howland, whose team improved to 5-1. “We spread things out and he drove through a double-team.”

Arogundade’s 18 points also included the big shot in regulation.

His 12-foot pullup jumper tied the game at 65-65 with 20 seconds remaining, and that was the score heading into the extra session.

The Lions rallied from a 5-point deficit in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

“It was an epic game,” Howland said. “It was a lot of fun playing in this event. I love playing different teams. They (Larkin) did a great job and it was a great atmosphere.”

Arogundade also grabbed 10 rebounds and 6 steals.

Teammate Pat McNamara, a junior, led the Lions with 20 points while senior Robert Grant came off the bench and chipped in a career-high 16 points.

“Robert had a huge game off the bench,” Howland said.

Roosevelt Smart added 8 points for the Lions.

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