Edward Little High School basketball team captain Eli St. Laurent shakes the hand of Bim Gibson at center court Tuesday night after Gibson received a commemorative basketball for announcing his 500th game. EL hosted Scarborough on the court in Auburn.  Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

AUBURN — As the Red Eddies faced off against Scarborough High School on Tuesday night, Bim Gibson celebrated his 500th game announcing for the Edward Little High School basketball teams.

The Auburn Middle School history teacher and local author reminisced over his quarter century of announcing. Gibson said he only realized how close he was to 500 games at the start of the season when he went back over recent basketball history for his sequel to “The History of Edward Little/Lewiston Basketball.”

Bim Gibson looks at the Edward Little High School basketball court Tuesday night in Auburn. It was his 500th game as announcer. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

“I started counting and I was like, ‘Holy mackerel,’ I walked into this season with about 490 (games),” Gibson said. “I was like, ‘Wow, I only have to do 10 games to get 500. That’s pretty cool.”

But that’s just basketball, Gibson said.

While having enjoyed basketball announcing since 1996, he got started on the gig with the Red Eddies football team in 1992. He reckons he’s up to around 150 games for football and since beginning announcing baseball in 2006, likely has about 100 games there as well. Gibson also announces the occasional soccer match and track meet.

As if dedicated announcing for one of Maine’s greatest high school basketball programs wasn’t enough, Gibson also worked 25 years for Maine Public Broadcasting’s high school basketball tournament coverage in Augusta. Some of that coverage involved reporting, interviews with athletes and analysis.

Bim Gibson announces his 500th game for Edward Little basketball Tuesday night in Auburn. Edward Little hosted Scarborough on the court in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

All told, Gibson said he couldn’t really count how many games he’s been involved in collectively, but he certainly isn’t sick of it. Far from it, he said.

In the spring, Gibson will be retiring as a teacher of 25 years and said he’s still not counting out game 750 announcing for Red Eddies basketball.

“Why not?” he asked. “I wouldn’t mind to just keep going … I decided this is good, I’m about ready to go as far as the teaching piece, but I’m still going to announce … It’s just been so much fun, it really has. To really answer the question: I’m just old. Stick around long enough and the numbers get big.”

Bim Gibson waves to the crowd after being presented a commemorative basketball Tuesday night for calling 500 games at Edward Little High School in Auburn. From left are team captain Eli St. Laurent, Gibson, team captain Marshal Adams and coach Mike Adams. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal