MCCONNELL – The First Baptist Church of McConnell Summer Basketball League, also known as “Godbyball,” celebrated 28 years of existence this summer.

The league began with four teams playing in different colored T-shirts at the Stollings Grade School Gym in 1982.

The league has grown over the years to include players from Logan, Boone, Wyoming, Lincoln, Mingo and Kanawha counties in West Virginia, and Pike County, Ky. It changed from a winter league to a summer league 16 years ago when it expanded to the old Logan East Junior High School at Coal Branch.

This summer’s games were played in the months of May through July on Monday and Tuesday nights, with 15 teams participating in two divisions, the Old Testament and New Testament.

Each team played an 11-game schedule.

There were more than 130 players ranging from middle school to a few "old timers" and one woman.

The average team consisted of eight members that played by high school rules.

The teams wore a preferred color with the name of a local business that gave financial support on the back side of the jerseys.

The purpose of the league is to occupy the youth of our area with a supervised, drug-alcohol free, wholesome, spiritual and recreational environment.

Each evening, Bible devotion was given between select games.

An extra event for the league took place at the Logan Memorial Field House on Friday evening, July 16 called the Midnight Madness.

Out of the 15 teams that played in the 10-hour event, Picklesimer Mowing won the championship.

That team consisted of Aaron Kelly, Bub Godby, Jeremiah Butcher, B.J. Picklesimer, Gary Burgess, Adam Dingess, Matt Dickey, and Derek Mazon.

Twenty of the young men were voted to be the All-League Team and played an All-Star Game.

The league is sponsored by a variety of people and businesses in Logan County including John Dardi Distributing, Logan Bank and Trust Co., Family Discount Pharmacy at Mt. Gay, Dr. Pete Short, DDS, State Farm Insurance, Steve Nichols, agent, Bill’s Electronics, Robert Kuenzel, Pichlesimer Mowing, Thornhill Superstore, James Funeral Home, Southern West Virginia Physical Therapy, International Industries, First Place Screen Printing, Patty and Joe St. Lawrence, National Pump, Weatherization Works, Dan and Dave’s Sporting Goods Store, Mollett Wielding, Mayo Manufacturing, Holden Machine, Service Pump Sales, Refab Company, Edward Eiland, B&M Repair, Southern Elite, Brian Adkins, Baisden Brothers, Century 21 of Danville, Daddy Rabbit Band, Chris Johnson, The Aracoma Hotel, and Logan Automotive Machine Shop. The league also received offerings and love gifts at the games for maintenance.

The James Funeral Home Team won the regular season league title, finishing atop the league. They also won the tournament championship. The young men who played on that team were: Steve Browning, Stevie Browning, Bryce Dalton, Trent Dalton, Jonathan Bevins, Greg Adams and Drew Vess.

The second place tournament team was the Service Pump Team. The members of that squad were: C.B. Green, Ryan Haught, Grant Adkins, Jeremy Shepperd, Brett Sorrell, Wyatt Ables, and Brant O’Briant.

Trophies from the regular season included Mr. Defense – Caleb Luther, Rookie of the Year – Brent Vannatter, The Ron Vance Memorial Best Sportsmanship Award – Jeremiah Butcher, and the John Coleman Most Valuable Player of the League Award – Jon Bevins.

The regular season scorebook statistics awards went to Caleb Luther, Mr. Free Throw of the league (with 27 made shots), Jerome Gaiter, Mr. Three Point (he made 40 for the season, 120 points) and the top scorer of the league “Top Gun Award” was Forrest Trammell with 208 total points.

The following players were voted to the all-league team that consisted of: Aaron Kelly, Caleb Luther, Greg Fuji Williams, Bryce Dalton, Jon Bevins, C.B. Green, Allen Miller, Jeremiah Butcher, Brett Sorrell, Timmy Rein, Gary Burgess, Bub Godby, Shane Wyatt, Jerome Gaiter, Grant Adkins, Thomas Adkins, Derek Mazon, and Mike Coleman.

On All-Star Night, several players won individual awards for the following: Mr. Free Throw, Allen Miller; Mr. Slam Dunk, Fuji Williams; Mr. Ball Skills, Fuji Williams; and Mr. Three Point, Jon Bevins; Bryce Dalton was named the Clyde Keaton Honorary Most Valuable Player Award of the tournament.

Pastor John E. Godby appreciates all the folks that assured the success of the league by volunteering time to keep the scorebook, score clock, concession stand and those who refereed. Those people were Brenda Napier, Cliff Jarrett, Joni Godby, Claude Adams, Jack Bailey, Greg Williams, John Gardner, Drew Martin, John Dardi, Eric O’Briant, Scottie Ellis, Mike Tothe, Jimmy Lakatos, and Steve Browning.

A special thanks to those who donated money to support the financial needs of the league and to the Logan County Board of Education and Robert N. Lucas, principal of Logan High School for the use of the facility.