Last Friday night, the senior basketball players of Southern West Virginia gave their fans and all who were in attendance at the 11th Annual Twin Rivers Classic a goodbye present.

No, it wasn’t a present that they purchased. It wasn’t a present that they bought. It didn’t come with fancy wrapping paper.

But what they gave us was one last night of heart-racing, breathtaking, hold-on-to-the-edge-of-your-seat basketball played at it’s very best by a group of young people who have been giving us that for the last four years.

I mean, come on...this was an exhibition game. Those things aren’t supposed to make your pulse race and raise you to your feet. Right?

Not this time.

Who expected to go to the Larry Joe Harless Center and see a boys game that went into overtime, have both teams score over 120 points AND score a combined 253 points? Who expected a leading scorer with 41 points? Who expected a girls game that had co-leading scorers with 21 points each and the intensity and no quit attitude displayed y both teams? I sure didn’t. And neither did most of the fans who gathered at Gilbert Friday night. But then this night was not all about the basketball either.

This night was all about these seniors saying goodbye and going out just the way they wanted to - playing the game they love with passion and skill for all to see.

Most of these players will go on to college and all of them will surely make their mark in this world in some special way. Some may even play basketball at the college level.

But one thing is certain. If this indeed was their last game, each of them can say it was a fine way to go out.

Friday’s Twin Rivers Classic games won’t be forgotten very quickly by anybody who witnessed them. And that’s a lasting testimony to the excellence of execution and dedication to the sport that these senior girls and boys exemplified. And there’s a message and example in their efforts for all of us.

Thanks kids for deciding to travel to Gilbert and give us your best one last time. May we always give you our best as you move on in life.

Finally, if thanks are being passed out, you can’t talk about the Twin Rivers Classic without thanking Danny Browning, his wife and the Harless Center.

Danny, a 35 year veteran official, and his wife have been dedicated to working for children and community for more years than they probably care to talk about. They have directed this Twin Rivers Classic for 11 years and Danny says as long as he’s alive, the Classic will continue. It’s a lot of work to put the pieces together to make a night like Friday was. But when you love the game like they do, you can tell it’s a labor of love. Thanks Danny and Mrs. Browning. We appreciate it.

That’s how I see it from the other side of the desk.. See you down the road.