LaShonda Hathorne picked the right moment for one of her best games in a St. John’s Prep uniform.

“She saved her best for last,” SJP coach Ed Flood said.

The Red Storm star guard poured in a game-high 32 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Astoria school to a 67-61 overtime victory over visiting Cardinal O’Hara (Buffalo) in the CHSAA Class B state girls basketball semifinals Saturday. St. John’s Prep takes on St. Mary’s (Buffalo) 12 p.m. Sunday at Holy Trinity in the final.

“When we went into overtime it went through my mind that I was winning and playing tomorrow, winning and playing tomorrow,” she said.

That’s been St. John’s Prep’s approach throughout this improbable playoff run, after finishing third in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division II and losing to eventual champion St. Saviour in the tournament semifinals. But in the state tournament they beat Sacred Heart, topped rival Fontbonne Hall in the city semifinals and then Good Counsel for the title. St. John’s Prep (11-5), citing better chemistry, has gone a round further than it did a year ago after St. Mary’s ended its season. O’Hara tied the score at 58 with a free throw late in regulation.

St. John’s Prep center Jen Miller had her best game of the postseason, scoring 13 points and most importantly was active in the lane on defense. Caroline Souza scored 15 points for St. John’s Prep and Jennifer Walsh added four. Aaray Shabazz led Cardinal O’Hara with 19 points Leah McDonell chipped in 15 points

“She rebounded well,” Flood said of Miller. “Blocked a couple shots at the end of really contested the backboard. She was very very strong on that today.”

She will be needed to play big again in the final if St. John’s Prep will be heading to Albany. It is so close after all the ups and downs of a long season and has only gotten better with each game this week.

“After you win one big thing, you got a taste of it so, you want the bigger thing that is just confidence for yourself,” Hathrone said. “You just strive for more.”