NORTH COLLINS – Behind Josh Halterman’s two clutch free throws, the Cattaraugus/Little Valley Timberwolves (2-9 overall, 1-2 league) defeated the North Collins Eagles (1-6, 0-4), 52-48, on Friday in a Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Athletic Association East 2 matchup.
The Timberwolves held a slim lead throughout the first half, but at the end of the third, both teams were tied at 40-all. Cattaraugus/Little Valley coach Josh Forster hoped his team of one- and two-year players would fight through adversity as they trailed by five at the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
Down by one with 1:05 left in the fourth quarter, Halterman netted both of his free throws to take back the lead and the Timberwolves never let it go.
“We were in some trouble there, down by four to six points,” Forster said, “and then it was good to see them battle through that and come back.”
Shane O’Neill and Nick Savidge led the team with 11 apiece, while Halterman added nine. Cattaraugus/Little Valley was proficient beyond the arc as it scored eight three pointers.
“We got hot,” said Savidge, who made three treys. “(It was) a big game, coming in clutch.”
Cattaraugus/Little Valley is three games into its 10 consecutive league matchups. Forster wants his team to limit the fouls and grab more rebounds when it hosts Ellicottville (7-5, 4-0) on Tuesday with a 7:30 tipoff.
For the Eagles, success — or lack thereof — at the free throw line could have been the difference between a win and a loss. North Collins coach Jan Warren was not pleased at the team’s misses at the charity stripe.
“Until we act like they matter in practice, we are never going to make them,” Warren said. “We were six for 24 from the foul line and that is pitiful. We should’ve ran away with this game; it shouldn’t have even been a game. We should have just won it at the foul line.”
Warren turned to a positive note saying his team is not done. He is optimistic that when Tome Filkov, AJ Puntillo and Christian Loretto return, the team will put it together. All three of those players were absent for the game on Friday.
Tyler Robinson led the Eagles with 24 points as David Gullo and Mitchell Warsaw both netted eight apiece. Robinson utilized his size and speed down low to gather blocks, rebounds and put backs to put North Collins in the game.
“We played good for the first three quarters, but the fourth quarter we couldn’t finish,” Robinson said.
North Collins will host Franklinville (4-7, 2-1) on Tuesday. The tipoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
