Cortes Overtakes Mangano as Silver Creek’s ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER
February 7, 2024 | By Braden Carmen – Photos by Braden Carmen | observertoday.com
Pictured above: Ray Cortes (52) poses with family members on the court after scoring his 10th point of the game on a 3-pointer to pass Ryan Mangano to become the school’s all-time leading scorer in boys basketball.
SILVER CREEK — Halfway through the second quarter of a basketball game in Silver Creek on Tuesday, history was made.
Ray Cortes (Seneca, Cattaraugus Territory) dribbled beyond half-court and pulled up at the 3-point line. As the ball swished through the nylon, the Black Knights boys basketball scoring record changed hands.
Ray Cortes became the all-time leading scorer in Silver Creek history as moved past Ryan Mangano, who sat across the court from where Cortes pulled up for the record-breaking shot.
Cortes scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in that second quarter to lead the Black Knights to a 71-49 victory over the Cassadaga Valley Cougars in a Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 East game at Silver Creek High School.
“It was awesome to have (my family) here, to get the record for the community and for my family,” Cortes said. “I’m just thankful for the support throughout my years of playing. It’s just a dream come true.”
Needing just 10 points coming into Tuesday’s game to break the record, Cortes waited a while to get going. Silver Creek (11-6, 5-5) jumped ahead 20-12 after the first quarter, but Cortes was held scoreless.
“I’m trying to be more of a team player, getting people involved,” Cortes said.
Cassadaga Valley (2-15, 1-10) did its best to limit Cortes early, but once he got going, he could not be stopped.
Ray Cortes (52) took a photo with the entire Silver Creek Black Knights team after scoring 24 points in a 71-49 victory over Cassadaga Valley on Tuesday in Silver Creek. 
Ray Cortes is pictured with former record-holder Ryan Mangano who set the previous mark of 1,272. 
Ray Cortes (52) rises for a layup attempt during the second quarter of a CCAA East 1 division boys basketball game against the Cassadaga Valley Cougars.
“I said it before: Ray is a once-in-a-career player,” Silver Creek head coach Ralph Jackson said. “Obviously something like this doesn’t happen too often.”
Cortes had seven early points in the second quarter on three shots from the field and a free throw. Then, Jackson knew that Cortes needed a 3-pointer to not only tie the record, but also break it on the same shot. He drew up a play to get Cortes an open 3-pointer, but the team was not on the same page and Cortes’ contested shot didn’t fall.
On his next opportunity, however, Cortes did it all himself. Cortes pulled up at the 3-point line and drilled the shot, causing most of the crowd to erupt in applause as a large portion of the stands was counting down to the magic number of 10. Cortes, however, didn’t know the shot was the record-breaking tally until the game was stopped for a recognition ceremony.
“I just shot it,” Cortes said, with a smile. “It was wide open so I just shot it.”
Cortes, known by many as a young man who does not say much, was teased by teammates who joked that they expected a speech once he set the record. Instead, Athletic Director Sean Helmer took the microphone and welcomed Mangano to the floor with a customized ball to commemorate the occasion. He then presented the ball to Cortes at center court as Cortes’ family and friends joined him for a group photo before the game resumed.
“Records are made to be broken,” Mangano said. “It was really great to hear that such a good kid from what I’ve heard is able to break the record. I’m just glad I live pretty local and I was able to come down for it.”
Mangano lives in Clarence with his wife and three children. He now works as a nurse with Veterans Affairs. Tuesday’s trip back to Silver Creek was his first trip back in many years.
“It’s wild because I haven’t been here in a very long time,” Mangano said. “… It never really crossed my mind to come back for this, but it was nice that Sean (Helmer) called me and asked me to be here.”
Jackson played against Mangano in high school when Jackson was a player at Forestville. He joked that Mangano probably scored a few of his career points on him.
Once the game resumed, the Black Knights continued the celebration. Silver Creek led 43-23 at halftime; then 59-41 after three quarters; and eventually closed out the 71-49 victory. The highlight of the second half was a layup from Jacob Jimerson in the final moments, which sent the crowd and bench into a frenzy, as the bucket represented Jimerson’s first points of the season.
Cortes led all scorers with 24 points, but he was not alone on the score sheet by any means. For the second night in a row, four Black Knights reached double-digit scoring figures. Jose Pratts and Simon White each had 14 points, while Brady Eick had 13 points.
Cassadaga Valley was led by Hunter Johnson with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Johnson added 11 points for the Cougars, who were playing without point guard Ace Pierce, the team’s leading scorer on the season.
Cortes became the eighth player in Silver Creek boys basketball history to reach 1,000 points earlier this season, and he recently became the fifth player to score more than 1,200 career points. Cortes’ uncles, Zed Williams and Bill Brooks, each also surpassed 1,200 career points, along with Mangano and Brady Woleben. Mangano previously held the school record for more than 20 years, with 1,272 career points, which stood since his graduation in 2003.
“Congratulations to Ray and his family. I hope he keeps scoring and crushes it. I’m nothing but happy for him,” Mangano said.
With relatives like Brooks and Williams, a world-renowned lacrosse star, Cortes said the record probably doesn’t do much yet for his standing at the table.
“I’m still young, so I’ll probably still sit where I’m at,” Cortes joked.
Even as the school’s all-time scoring record holder basketball, Cortes still plans to pursue lacrosse at the next level, like his uncle, Zed. He has NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse aspirations.
“I just go out there and have fun,” Cortes said. “Basketball isn’t my main sport, but I still have love for the game.”
Cortes set the record in less than three seasons, with a career average of 24 points per game. He missed 10 games over three seasons and did not join the varsity team until he was a sophomore. When he did join, however, he set the single-season scoring record and single-season points per game mark. Now, he has the career mark, as well.
From the minute Cortes scored his 1,000th career point, the number to beat became 1,272 in the eyes of everyone in the program, and even Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, who described the countdown she had in her head that night after every point he scored following No. 1,000. She also visited to congratulate Cortes on the accomplishment after Tuesday’s victory.
“I didn’t really think about it throughout the season, but once (Jackson) told me I was only a few points away, I might as well just go for it,” Cortes said.
The all-time scoring record at Silver Creek regardless of gender belongs to Abby Rice, who set the Chautauqua County record with 2,232 points. Her father, Kevin, is a Silver Creek Central School District employee, and her mother, Tammy, is a Cassadaga Valley Central School District employee. They both watched as Cortes set the boys record in a contest featuring each of their schools.Cortes hit the magic number with three games left in the regular season.
