North Tier League Basketball, Gary Grassi and Big 30 Hoops.

 

1971 North Tier All Stars, left to right- Jeff Lloyd (Emporium), Jeff Dann (Port Allegany), Rich Bisso (Emporium), Rob Maynard (Smethport), Bill Leonard (Emporium) and Tony Flint (Port Allegany). Flint was league MVP.

Kevin Bacon is a well-known actor who has appeared in such films as "Novocaine", "Footloose", "The Air Up There" and "Animal House." To many movie watchers, it seems he has appeared in an inordinate number of films-a prolific amount.

"Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" is a parlor game, a contest where players challenge each other to choose an actor and connect that actor to another one via a film that both have appeared in together. They repeat the process to find the shortest route that ultimately leads them to Kevin Bacon.

The assumption is that anyone involved in the Hollywood film industry can be linked through their roles in film to Bacon within six steps. The game's name is a reference to the concept which contends that any two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintances apart.

Several college students invented the game in the '90's and the popularity of their efforts took off to a national level and references to the game can still be found in television, music, movies, documentaries, etc.

I've discovered that this writing and research (along with a few others I have done) accidentally follow the "Bacon Law."

I start with an idea for an essay with a a subject(s) and a time span in line, like "North Tier Basketball, 1965-1985." Before the story is finished, the list of topics has increased and the time span has widened simply because of all the connections. One player leads to a team that leads to a coach that leads to a previous coach that leads to an all-star team....... The connections are seemingly endless.

For example, my 1965-1985 outline eventually expanded from 1951-2020. There are some shortcuts along the way, but I enjoy the process because it brings a lot of names (hundreds) to the surface and those names can generate some pleasant memories of players, teams and events.

There might be a few bumps and some sharp curves in the road, but let's go for a ride down the path of recent and some way, way back recollections.

The central thrust of this work was to write about the North Tier League and the annual Big 30 awards for the area scoring champion and the Coach of the Year.

The player with the highest scoring average receives the Gary Grassi Memorial Award.

Bradford Central Christian's Gary Grassi.

Gary Grassi was born January 11, 1947. He was an outstanding three year varsity athlete at Bradford Central Christian HS in both football and basketball. He attended Pitt- Bradford and Lock Haven University before entering the Army on September 1, 1966. He did his basic training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama and advanced training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. 

Sgt. Grassi was a telephone and radio operator and had been cited for his "outstanding performance"- his devotion to the American cause and his exceptionally fine character both as a soldier and as a human being" by his commanding officer, Lt. Ronald Eksala.

In February 1968, Lawrence "Gary" Grassi was killed in action in Vietnam. He was 21 years old.

Gary Grassi, second from left, receives the Olean Times Herald Football Player of the Year Award from E.Boyd Fitzpatrick of the OTH. Jim Donavan of Smethport HS receives the Football COY Award and Mike Kosciol of Olean HS (far right) is named MVP of the Olean-Bradford game.

Gary Grassi at the BCC Sports Banquet- winning the team MVP award in basketball . NOTE-guest speaker for the event was Hall of Fame, Baltimore quarterback, Johnny Unitas.

1962 scoring leaders at the halfway mark-1. George Petruney, /Sheffield 25.5  2. Bill Young Angelica,  21.2  3. Roy Mutuszak of Delevan-Machias 19.3  4.Denny Griffith of Portville at 18.1

1962 Emporium key players: 12-0 at the time with only one close game. Jim Thompson was in his fourth year as coach. Thomas from Kane and was a Bloomsburg graduate. Left to right- Jim Kinsler, Tim Meusel, Rich Kamata, Joe Heiberger, Gary Gross and Joe Yahmite. Kinsler was the leading scorer on this balanced club at 14 ppg. Thompson was 58-21 at his juncture in his coaching career.

Scoring Champions

1965- Bill Young, Angelica                                                                                                                           1967- Tom Yachinich, Bradford High                                                                                                       1968- Jerry McDermott, Oswayo Valley    NOTE: First recipient of the Grassi Award  

NOTE: Chuck Crist, the textbook example of an all-around athlete and a definite candidate as the best ever in the Big 30, played four years of basketball at Penn State followed by a seven year career in the NFL as a defensive back. Jerry McDermott of Oswayo Valley won the first Gary Grassi Memorial Award averaging 28 a game.

NOTE: 1969 early season scoring leaders. Eventual winner, Don Hurlburt is 7th. Hinsdale teammate, Tom Oakley is also listed.

                     1969-Don Hurlburt, Hinsdale                                                                                                                     1970-Steve Cook, Richburg                                                                                                                   1971-Jack Amphlett, Olean Bishop Walsh 

NOTE: Below-top 1970 scorers with Steve Cook, Tom Ripple (Austin) and John Oszustowicz (O-E), 1-2-3. 

John Oszustowicz- Otto-Eldred HS, 1970

                                                                  1972-Paul Dorman, Portville

NOTE: Paul graduated in 1972 as the second all-time leading scorer in Portville history (1187 points). In 2011, he along with his father Dennis, were part of the inaugural class inducted in to the Portville Athletic HOF. Dorman played college basketball at Charleston Southern University before transferring to Slippery Rock University.  In 1971, as a junior at Portville, he was the Big 30 runner up in scoring average at 23.7ppg. He won the title in '72 with an average of 27.8. and was also named the Olean Times Herald Basketball POY.

1972 Player and Coach of the Year-Paul Dorman and Emporium's Jim Thompson (right) OTH President, E.Boyd Fitzpatrick congratulates both winner.

NOTE- Emporium's streak of North Tier titles. Coudersport went to the state finals in 1964 led by Virginia Tech-bound, Dan Wetzel and then nine straight championships for the Red Raiders before Dick Danielson's Smethport team won the league in '74

Emporium Sports Hall of Famer, Jeff Lloyd was an outstanding basketball player in the early '70's, but his professional career was in the NFL where he played several seasons.

                                                                    1973- Jeff Grandusky, Olean Bishop Walsh                                                                                             1974- Pat Dugan, Pioneer                                                                                                                           1975- Matt Grimone, Emporium                                                                                                              1976- Dennis Thomas, Fillmore

Some high scorers in 1975 behind Grimone included Bruno DeGiglio (Bishop Walsh), Barry Houben (Otto-Eldred) and Jeff Nix of Portville.

NOTE: The 1976 Portville club that went 20-1 overall and had an undefeated regular season. Members of that team included: Top row (left to right)- Dieter Hart, Clark Pycher, Tin Hinman, Dick Larson, Jim Gughan, Don Sweigart and Tom Rasey. Bottom row (L to R)- Ray Aumann, Barry Crocker, Jeff Nix, Fred Caya, Tim Yanetsko. Tom Yanetsko and Coach Ray Deland.

The '76 team averaged 75 ppg while allowing only 42 ppg, a 32 point differential.

Two players of that team were 2015 Portville Hall of Fame Inductees, Tom Yanetsko and Jeff Nix. Yanetsko lettered four years in football, basketball and track. The '75 football team was undefeated as Tom served as a captain of both basketball and football for two seasons.

Jeff Nix was also a 1976 graduate. He lettered four years in basketball and golf. He was a Section VI All-Star and was named the Times Herald, Cattaraugus Co. POY in 1975 and 1976. In his senior season, Nix was named the Big 30 MVP, the Buffalo Evening News MVP and was named to the State Sportswriiters' HOF. 

He holds the school record for points scored in a game (46). Nix played college basketball at Canisius. After several college coaching positions, Jeff began a long and successful career in professional basketball serving in a variety of roles, working and coaching with many NBA greats, including Lenny Wilkens, Pat Riley and Don Nelson.

Portville was 54-9 during his three years as a starter.

             NOTE: You have to allow a 25 year veteran of professional baseball to sneak in a little Alle-Catt Baseball. Several of these all-stars were also high school basketball players including Crosby's second baseman, Denny Maynard, a senior member of a talented 1964 Smethport basketball squad.

NOTE: Some HS basketball stars: Ed Swanson, Smethport, Bill Leonard, Emporium, Randy Cooney (who played basketball for Austin HS,), Kerry Snow, Eldred and North Tier all-star in 1972 and Denny Glenn, Eldred an all-star performer for Otto-Eldred HS.

1977- Dave Glass, Scio                                                                                                                                 1978 and 1979- Gordon Enderle, Cuba.

 Carson Linderman poses with Franklinville coach Terry Dolan. Linderman was named as the Cattaraugus C MVP. Jeff Anastastia of Olean was named MVP of the Expressway Conference.

NOTE: Enderle averaged 34.2 ppg in '79. Cuba ended the '79 season at 25-3. Coach Gary Wight's three year coaching record moved to 55-11. Enderle also had a 65 point game in '79.

NOTE- 1978 Award Winners include Enderle winning the Gary Grassi Award (over 31 ppg), Carson Linderman of Franklinville was named MVP in the Cattaraugus County C league, Mike Welch of Otto-Eldred-MVP, North Tier League and other league MVPs listed above.

Mike Welch (O-E), North Tier MVP in 1978.

1980-Doug Norton-Wyoming                                                                                                                      1981 and 1982- Gerald Duffee, Austin HS.

NOTE:Gerald Duffee, two time area scoring leader. He had a high of 39 for a team that was 2-17. Andy Moore of Cuba was second in the race.

NOTE- Andy Moore of Cuba finished second. Cuba and Northern Potter lead N.Y. and Pa. teams.

NOTE- 1981 season

1983 and 1984-Jeff Haskell, Franklinville                                                                                                 2016- Adam Enders, Belfast                                                                                                                      2019- Owen Chambers, Coudersport (also named Charles Ward, boys' POY)                                                                                           

 Through the years- a list of All- Western, N.Y. All-Stars

1963- George Hicker, Franklinville- averaged 34.2 ppg.

1964- George Hicker, Franklinville and Bill Young, Angelica

1965- Bill Young, Angelica

1968- Dan Metzler, Olean Bishop Walsh and Brice Miller, Fillmore

1969-Don Hulburt, Hinsdale

2007- Zach Moore, Olean High

2013-Wil Bathurst, Olean High

2017- Tavien Kemp, Olean Bishop Walsh

1968 Otto-Eldred HS roster.

The Terrors finished the regular season at 9-11 and 7-7 in the North Tier League. I was in eighth grade and O-E coach, Jim Kinsler, almost guaranteed a Terrors win over the heavily favored Red Raiders. Kinsler had been an all-star performer at Emporium (Athletic Hall of Famer) and a starting guard at Mansfield University. There was no doubt about his playing ability, but a win over Emporium was a long-shot, but that's what happened.

O-E played a near flawless game, scoring three times right before a quarter ended with guard Tom Sherwood hitting a couple of jumpers. Lester Shoff (who passed away on February 10), Bill Rote, Randy Nuhfer and John Ozustowicz plus Paul Sullivan, Tut Hanks and Denny Bickford  were at their best. I was a youngster, but I could certainly identify a great game.

NOTE: Mansfield University Basketball Squad: O-E head coach and Cameron County HS Hall of Famer, Jim Kinsler is seated in the second row, far left.

Senior Randy Nuhfer made the NTL first team all-star squad, averaging 16.6 a game and sophomore Oszustowicz, on his way to a 1,000 point career made the second team, averaging 11.5. Sherwood averaged 10.7 ppg with Rote and Shoff bringing an average of 9.0 and 8.1 to round out the top five scorers. 

O-E career scoring leaders. 1. John Oszustowicz, 1200 points-2. Barry Houben, 1151 points- 3. Jerome Wolcott, 1,050 points- 4. Randy Nuhfer, 935 points (Nuhfer played at least three games less than the players ahead of him) 5. Denny Glenn 904 points

The 69 North Tier All-Stars were Gene Crosby of Austin, John Oszustowicz (O-E), Roger Simar (Port Allegany), Mark Harrington (Oswayo Valley), Jack Armstrong (Emporium) and Dave Schaub (Coudersport) 

NOTE: 1970 MVPs in all the area leagues. Steve Cook of Richburg won the scoring crown with a 29.3 ppg average. John Oszustowicz won the North Tier MVP and the following year was a pitcher for the Mansfield University baseball team.

Johnny "O" scoring vs. Emporium. Red Raiders' players on defense: Judd Schager, Carl Carlson and Pat Vogt.

The 1973 North Tier season saw Emporium and Otto- Eldred make the playoffs with the Terrors' Jerome Wolcott leading league scorers with a 20.3 average. Austin's John Frank (18.9), Randy Cooney (17.3) and Gary Price (15.8) made up a tough trio for the Panthers. Herb Shirey of Coudersport landed at 16.9 with Emporium's Matt Grimone (16.2) and Bill Vasallo (15.7) Wolcott continued his basketball career at Elmira College and Cooney eventually signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization.

Pat Dugan of Pioneer won the scoring race in '74 with a 27 ppg season with Keith McDivitt of Portville in the two spot. Matt Grimone of Emporium (22.9) and John Frank (Austin) were NTL players in the top ten.




  The Coach of the Year honor is named the Thomas K. Oakley Memorial Award.

Tom Oakley was a star player for Hinsdale Central HS (NY). Tom died only a few hours after scoring 24 points in leading the Bobcats to an 83-51 victory over Little Valley. That win vaulted Hinsdale to an 11-0 record.

Tom was killed in a head-on crash on Route 16, just north of Olean, when a drunk driver crossed over in to his lane. Tom, 18, was the only fatality, but his 15-year-old brother, Terry, was seriously injured.

I published an online story in early December, "The Big 30's Record Breaking Scorer, Then and Now." The piece arose from my recall of Tom's teammate, Don Hurlburt, scoring 70 points in a 1969 game.

 As I began to assemble information about that phenomenal  performance, Don quickly informed me his record setting effort was a very small part of the 68-69 Hinsdale season.

The events of that season were recalled decades later when the Olean Times Herald newspaper received an email from Hinsdale's Jim Welch.

Welch, who lived in Florida for over 40 years before returning to the northeast, wrote, "I was on that team and we were one of the best for our area. Our team was together for several years and with the guidance of our coach, Carl Saglimben, we improved each year. (As seniors) we were going through the season undefeated and our team brought the whole town together.

The gym was packed every game, home and away, plus we had a great player, Don Hurlburt, who scored 70 points in one game. Our goal was to get through the season and play at the Buffalo Aud as we called it."

Welch continued, "After another victory on a cold Friday night, January 24, 1969, soon to be 50 years ago, our dream of the Aud vanished. One of our key players, Tom Oakley was tragically killed by a drunk driver. The news hit our community very hard. It was like a numbing fog came over Hinsdale. The viewing was especially hard as many area teams paid their respects with their coaches wearing their varsity jackets. It was an honor that I was a pallbearer for my classmate/ teammate/friend.

I am so happy that the Boys' Coach of the Year Award is named in Tom's memory."  

The first recipient of the Thomas K. Oakley Award was Hinsdale's coach, Carl Saglimben. Coach Saglimben was inducted in to the Big 30's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Coach of the Year

1969- Carl Saglimben, Hinsdale

1970- Paul Vienna, Belfast 

1971- Bob Johnson, Cattaraugus

1972-Jim Thompson, Emporium  

NOTE- Emporium went 22-0 during the regular season . The Red Raiders won the District 9 title, before being eliminated in the state quarterfinals, ending their season with a 25-1 mark. Emporium's, Bill Leonard, was the MVP of the North Tier League. He went on to play at Canisius College.

1973-Hal Hansen, Bradford High 

NOTE- Hansen had previously coached at Otto-Eldred HS. The O-E athletic community has seen two former basketball players pass in the last two weeks. Jeff Wolcott, a 1965 graduate and the team's leading scorer as a senior, died on January 29. Lester Shoff, who played for O-E coach Jim Kinsler , passed February 10. Shoff was also an outstanding football player and a 1968 graduate.

1974-Dick Danielson, Smethport 

NOTE- Smethport won the North Tier League title in Danielson's final year with the Hubbers. He later went on to a successful college coaching career at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford.

1975-Dick Lindamer, Bolivar
1976-Ray Deland, Portville
1977-Roger Rigby, Scio

1978- Lou Disorbo, Allegany

1979-Tom Finnetruck, Kane

1980-Gary Wight, Cuba

1981-Ray Deland, Portville

1982-Bill Fulton, Johnsonburg

1983-Bill Fulton, Johnsonburg

1984-Aaron Straub, Elk County Christian

NOTE: Nate Sestina was born in St. Marys, Pa (May 12, 1997) He played for Cameron County HS (Emporium ). As a senior at C.C.., he averaged 22.6 and 14 rebounds a game and was named the North Tier Conference POY in 2015. He finished his H.S. career with 1,703 points and 955 rebounds.

He became the first D-1 basketball player from any PIAA District 9 school since 1990. Playing for Bucknell University, he injured his shoulder early in his freshman year, taking a medical redshirt. His numbers grew each season, averaging 15 points and over 8 rebounds in his senior year. Still having a year of eligibility remaining (because of the redshirt) he became a graduate transfer and committed to the University of Kentucky. The 6'9, 230 pound player averaged almost six points and four rebounds a game for the Wildcats. He scored over 1,000 points in his college career.

He began a journey in to professional basketball that is continuing as this is written.

2016-Brian Furman, Coudersport and David McKann, Ellicottville (co-winners)

2017-Jeff Haskell, Franklinville 

2017 award winners- Barb Close, Otto-Eldred (Margie Holland Award, girls' Coach of the Year), Dani Haskell, (Martha Altmire Award, girls' Player of the Year), Tavien Kemp, Archbishop Walsh (Charles M. Ward, boys' Player of the Year) and Jeff Haskell 

Jared Green of Coudersport HS led his team to the PIAA Sweet 16 and District 9 and NTL titles. The Falcons were defeated by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 74-66. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart eventually went to the PIAA finals. Green earned the 2018 Big 30 Player of the Year edging out Ellicottville senior center Elliot Bowen and several others.

Green averaged 16.4 ppg and 4.7 assists ppg.

 NOTE- Pictured above are 2019 award winners - Dani Haskell, Franklinville (Co-Player of Year), Abby McCoy(representing small school poll champion Franklinville) Sarah Pfeiffer(representing large school poll champion Olean and girl's co-Player of the Year and girls' scoring champion-Laura Hughes Kopp Award) and Adam Enders, Belfast (representing boys' small school champion) Back row, left to right-Matt Droney (representing boys' large school poll champion, Olean), Jeff Anastastia-Olean (Randy Stebbins Memorial Award), Glenn Anderson-Allegany-Limestone HS (Thomas K. Oakley Memorial Award) and Tom Parks-Fillmore (girls' COY)

NOTE: Jeff Anastastia and I were groomsmen at Randy Stebbins' wedding. Sadly, Jeff, Terry Gribble (Emporium) and I spoke at Randy's funeral service years later. I did not know Jeff had received Randy's award until just a few days ago. 

Back in time- the 50's. 65-70 years ago, yet some readers will be able to make connections with a few players. The photos may be worn, but the memories are everlasting. These players were league all-stars. The exact year may be off in some cases. As always, more than happy to make any corrections. The years should range in the 1951-1956 period. Some players could not be clearly identified.

Ted Wichert- 1951, Coudersport HS

Ronnie Johnson (Smethport) and Jack Foster (Otto)- pictured above

NOTE: Allegheny Mountain/ North Tier League Membership Changes:

1950- The Ludlow Wildcats merge in to Kane High School

1951- Northern Potter drops out of the league after three years.

1952- The Mt. Jewett Magicians, winner of the first 7 league championships, close their school and merge in to Kane Area, boosting the Wolves enrollment back in to Class A.

1956- Eldred Twp. Oilers merges with Otto Twp. Terrors in Duke Center, Pa. to create Otto-Eldred HS.

1961- Emporium is added after 14 years as a member of the Allegheny Mountain League. Northern Potter is readmitted after a ten year absence.

North  Tier All-Stars, 1951 include John Foster and William Brunner of Otto Twp.

Bill Brunner (Otto) and Charles Ross (Port Allegany)

1953 Allegany, North Tier and Cattaraugus All-Stars. Robert Ezzolo and Brice Irons from Otto and George Kokinos from Eldred- North Tier All-Stars are noted above.

Below- North Tier All-Stars, Fred Howell(Eldred), far right-front row. Other 1956 All-Stars in the photo are Skip Rote (Smethport) and Van Campbell (Coudersport)

Head Coach Joe Wolcott is far left on bottom row. Joe's sons (Jeff, 1965 grad and Jerome, 1973) both played for Otto-Eldred HS.

NOTE: The six players above, (left to right)- Jim Gross (Shinglehouse), Jim Ball (Shinglehouse), Bob Anderson (Coudersport), Bob Ezzolo (Otto), Brice Irons (Otto) and George Kokinos (Eldred)

NTL Coaches- left to right- Wolcott (Eldred), Cecil Gamble (Port Allegany), Bill Stavisky (Shinglehouse), Fred Harwick (Otto), Ted Vesber (Smethport) and Buzz Shirey (Coudersport)

NOTE: Wolcott, Gamble and Shirey were all coaches on the 1951 Potter-McKean All-Star Team that played in the 1951 Little League World Series in Williamsport. The P-M All Stars led by Freddie Howell (shown in a previous photo) lost their opening game to a squad from Connecticut. Howell came in as a relief pitcher and shut down the opposition, but P-M lost the close game. Connecticut went on to win the LL World Series with the Potter-McKean team giving them their closest contest.

Fred Harwick (physical education) and Joe Wolcott (history) were both teachers at O-E for lengthy periods. Avis Harwick, Fred's wife, taught English and Joe's wife (Margaret) taught science and home economics. The Harwicks' son, Barry, played basketball for O-E

Above- Barry Harwick and other O-E scoring leaders (1960) Below- Harwick and 1959 scoring leaders.

All-Stars, Brice Irons (Otto), Don Wykoff (Port Allegany), George Kokinos (Eldred), Jim Smith (Smethport), Hal Chilson (Smethport) and Garold Terrette (Shinglehouse)

Jumping ahead this time to the 70's and 80's:

1974 award winners ( check out the clothing styles of this era!) Scoring leader, Pioneer's Pat Dugan (5'7") is center, front. Matt Grimone (Emporium), fourth from left. Far right is Smethport's Dick Danielson (COY) with Bradford's Dan Lloyd beside Danielson. John Morton of Olean High is third from the left.

Tighter shot of '74 award winners.

Above: 1980 Big 30 award winners- left to right, Bob Weise (Allegany), Andy Moore (Cuba),  Dan Larson (Hinsdale), Faulkner (Scio), Randy Riale (Port Allegany), Doug Norton (Wyoming), Keith Rolick (Kane) and Ken Pistner.

Weise is the son of St. Bonaventure University coach, Larry Weise. Andy Moore of Cuba played at St. Bonas and had a long coaching career at Pitt-Bradford.

1984 Award winners. Front row, left to right- Scott Lecker (Johnsonburg), Jeff Haskell (Pioneer), Jeff Struble (Elk County Christian), Joe Kosco (Elk County Christian) and Aaron Straub (ECC). Back row- Frank Smith (Belfast), Aaron Wolfer (Fillmore), Tim Schaub (Coudersport), *a Franklinville player*, Rob Padlo (Olean Bishop Walsh)

NOTE: Some added clips:

Well, that's going to wrap up this extended essay for now. I will try to add more photos and information as the days go by. Over 250 names of players and coaches are listed in clips and/or photos. That does not include a few references to baseball and football. 

You can share corrections or added info by using the comments section of the blog.

I hope you can "connect" with some of the athletes and coaches in this piece.  It was an enjoyable piece to work on and stay warm inside, especially with sub zero temperatures in the Midwest. Thanks for reading.