It was a forgettable season for the Highland boys’ basketball team, but it ended with an unforgettable moment.

It was Senior Night, and before the Huskies’ season-ending 65-41 loss to the Saugerties Sawyers, the Huskies honored their two outgoing seniors: guard Josh Bishop, and longtime team manager Andy Lovgren before a packed house on Feb. 20 at Highland High School.

“It meant a lot,” said Lovgren, who has been on the Huskies’ bench since he was in second grade. “It showed me that people cared, and they want to support me because, like I said, if it wasn’t for (Highland) Coach (Mike) Milliman and me helping out with basketball, I don’t know that I’m part of anything without him.”

Lovgren has cerebral palsy, the most common cause of motor disability in children, and the term describes a group of movement disorders caused by an injury in the early developing brain. When he’s out in public, Lovgren walks with two canes, but can walk unaided when he is at home. He has also had several surgeries to make sure he can walk correctly without hurting his feet.

He’s probably been on the Highland bench for about 200 games over those 10 years, but this one was different. Wearing No. 25, Lovgren was in uniform and was announced as part of the starting lineup.

Last of course, immediately after Bishop, as he walked out to greet Milliman and his coaching staff, the game officials, and the Saugerties coaching staff.

“I’m extremely surprised that I didn’t start crying, because there was one or times where I got close, but it was awesome,” Milliman said. “Andy came in, and he was nervous as hell, and he sucked it up and he made it out to half-court, and I didn’t even know if he was going to do that.”

Then, he got in the game.

The Sawyers let the Huskies win the jump-ball to open the game, and Bishop brought the ball down to where Lovgren was waiting – without his canes – just outside the paint.

Bishop tossed Lovgren the ball, and he banked it off the glass, giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead with 6 seconds into the game.

“I was happy that shot went in because it relieved a ton of pressure that I had,” Lovgren said. “I felt like I had a chip on my shoulder. I really didn’t play a lot in the game, and I knew I wasn’t going to have an effect on the outcome, but I had some pressure on me.”

Then he hugged Milliman on the court and received a standing ovation from the full house: Highland and Saugerties fans alike.

“I thought about earlier what was going to happen, and that was not it,” Milliman said. “I thought Andy would just stand there, but when it happened my emotions were just like I had to hug him. It was an immediate response. I’m so happy he made that shot.”

The rest of the game wasn’t so happy. The Sawyers erased Lovgren’s lead in a hurry and knocked down 11 3-point baskets on their way to a 24-point victory.

Nick Stinemire led the Sawyers with a game-high 19 points and McCoy Rothe added 13.

Reid Berean led the Huskies with 18 points. Bishop scored nine points and one big assist to start the game.

“They played hard,” Lovgren said. “That’s all you can ask is that you give your best effort, and you play hard. The chips may fall, or they may not fall where you want them to go. But as long as you play hard and give them all you got, that’s all you can ask for, really.”