was praying that we would stay together and work as a team and come out and get the 'W.'"
St. Mary (11-5, 11-3 National) prevailed by making seven of 10 free throws in the second OT, including 4-for-4 from Taylor. His two free throws with 1:25 left put the Gaels ahead for good, 76-75, and gave him a team-high 20 points.
Senior guard Doug Ford (17 points) denied Hasbrouck Heights the chance at a miraculous final-shot win by making two foul shots with one second left for the four-point lead.
All three of St. Mary's league losses - to Becton, Hasbrouck Heights and Harrison - were by one or two points and came via last-second shots. So the young Gaels were feeling the pressure.
"To finally come out on the other side of it, I think it shows that our younger kids are starting to grow up and make better plays," St. Mary coach Matt Stone said.
Kistner made big plays after intermission. The senior guard hit six three-pointers - all after halftime - and scored a game-high 25 to help Hasbrouck Heights (12-5, 10-4 National) battle back from a 44-27 deficit.
Kistner gave the Aviators life by making a quartet of three-pointers in the fourth quarter, the last of which came from the top of the key with a hand in his face to tie the score at 61 and force a four-minute OT.
Hasbrouck Heights made 11 three-pointers and senior Rob Schrobach (13 points) hit four of them, including two in the fourth and one in the first extra session.
With the score tied at 70 in the first OT, Kistner missed a running 30-footer in the final seconds, and so it was on to the second extra session.
"Our effort was good. We never let up," Hasbrouck Heights coach Jerry Dallessio said. "We made some big shots - Bobby Kistner obviously made some big plays."
St. Mary survived Hasbrouck Heights' big three-pointers, made some big free throws, and now stands atop the BCSL National.