Not only had St. Charles East senior Tyler Windau not started any games for East before Friday night’s game against St. Charles North, but the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has barely played most of the season.

But East coach Pat Woods, looking for more production in the paint, inserted Windau in the starting lineup for the rivalry showdown, and Windau took advantage.

A crucial put-back by Windau gave the Saints a 48-43 lead with 4:10 left in the fourth quarter of the Saints’ eventual 56-55, overtime victory. Windau also supplied the first basket of the night for the slow-starting Saints in addition to grabbing seven rebounds.