OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Cassadaga Valley’s Connor Crabtree (24) is shown receiving a ball to commemorate scoring his 1,000th career point on his Senior Night at Cassadaga Valley on Friday. Shown at right is his coach, Josh Schauman.

SINCLAIRVILLE — Friday evening was the biggest night of the year for the Cassadaga Valley Cougars boys basketball team. Co-captain Connor Crabtree had the opportunity to score his 1,000th point on Senior Night, in a Section VI, non-league boys basketball game against Cattaraugus-Little Valley. Needing just nine points, Crabtree reached the total with ease, finishing with 18 points in the 62-55 win over the Timberwolves.

“I was pretty calm,” said Cassadaga Valley Cougars co-captain Connor Crabtree. “I didn’t think of it as anything other than normal.”

The Cougars came out energized for their Senior Night game striking first and coming up with a few big stops defensively.

“We’ve had to play in two senior nights in other gyms,” said Cassadaga Valley head coach Josh Schauman. “I was hoping that we would have the same energy as the teams we faced prior. The kids were excited and we got off to a nice hot start there.”

Cassadaga Valley implemented their 1-2-2 press which caused the Timberwolves to struggle coming up-court resulting in a multitude turnovers.

“We have some success with our 1-2-2 press,” said Coach Schauman. “We were able to get them to drive up the sidelines and get some nice traps turning the ball over.”

Halfway through the first quarter the Cougars piled up a 14-0 run and a commanding lead. Towards the end of the quarter Crabtree found himself just two points away from 1,000. Crabtree was beat by the buzzer on a layup, delaying his goal by another quarter. The score after one was 18-5 in favor of Cassadaga Valley.

“I thought I had it,” said Crabtree on the near buzzer-beater. “I turned around and everyone was putting their hands on their head.”

Early into the second quarter Crabtree was sent to the free throw line, making just one of the shots. Being one off the target nine points the gymnasium became silent every time Crabtree touched the ball.

“You could tell that it was something everyone was gravitating toward,” Coach Schauman said of Crabtree’s goal of 1,000 points. “Building up to it, it’s been something that’s been in the back of everyone’s mind.”

A couple minutes after making the free throw, Crabtree received a pass into the paint then did what he does best and used his athleticism to jump above the tight defensive pressure then laid in a shot off the glass for his thousandth point.

“It means a lot,” said Crabtree on scoring his 1,000th point. “I’ll never say that I’m one of the greatest players to ever come from Cassadaga Valley, but it means a lot that I’ll be able to put my name up there with the rest of them.”

Amidst all the excitement with Crabtree becoming the third Cassadaga Valley Cougar to score 1,000 points, the Timberwolves had quietly battled their way back into the game. After two quarters of play the Cougars had a one point lead, 30-29.

“David Peterson is kind of the motor of our team,” said Coach Schauman. “He picked up two fouls. When I had to pull him out there we had to find another guy to run our offense. We struggled a little bit and during that time they started to hit their shots.”

The second half started off slowly. Over time, the Timberwolves started hitting deep shots, including two big 3-pointers, but they were unable to pull away. After three quarters of play, the Cougars trailed 42-39.

After a cold third quarter, Crabtree got back on the scoresheet in the Cougars first possession of the fourth.

“It’s been a pleasure working with him,” Coach Schauman said about Crabtree. “He’s like a younger brother to me. I’m really proud of him, he’s a great kid. I couldn’t be happier for him, I appreciate all the work he’s done for me and I’m looking forward to seeing what life has in store for him.”

Cassadaga Valley fed off the quick start regaining the lead on a big 3-pointer from David Peterson. Seeing the momentum going the other way, Catt-Little Valley called an important timeout.

The Timberwolves managed to tie the game again after the timeout but never retook the lead.

The Cougars went back to controlling the game in the paint as seniors Crabtree and Ty Pattyson went to work down low. The duo combined for 37 points, 18 from Crabtree and 17 from Pattyson.

“I’ve had the opportunity to coach a lot of these guys for four to five years,” said Coach Schauman. “All these kids mean a lot to me. I just look at them like little brothers, having them under my wing and coming in every day trying to get the best out of them. So I’m really going to miss these kids.”

The Timberwolves battled all the way to the end. Josh Halterman finished with a game high 20 points, including four 3-pointer. Cassadaga Valley subbed out their starters in the end and held on for the 62-55 win.

The Cougars finish the season 8-12 and hope to ride Friday’s success into the postseason.

“Next goal is to get a playoff win,” said Crabtree. “We haven’t done that in a few years here, so that’s a big one with the teammates.”