Goodbye, 2020.

Can't say I'm sorry to see you go.

But, as detailed on these sports pages, you did offer up a number of success stories and remarkable memories.

One stands out for me over all the others, probably because I had the privilege of a court-side view for practically all of it — Butler's run to its first WPIAL boys basketball championship in 29 years.

Almost fittingly — certainly staying with the main theme of 2020 — the COVID-19 pandemic had the closing role in the story.

And that story could be made into a movie.

It had all of the elements:

Senior point guard Ethan Morton, blowing away the school's scoring record, providing late-game heroics, willing his team to victory in the fourth quarter while playing on a bad ankle in what turned out to be Butler's final game.Co-starDevin Carney, a sophomore whose offensive skills exploded on to the scene while providing the Golden Tornado with arguably the best backcourt in the state, certainly in the WPIAL.

Matt Clement, a former major league pitcher, returning to his hometown to coach his alma mater in the sport that is his true passion.His son, Mattix, a 3-point shooting specialist as a freshman who blossomed into a complete player as a junior, especially in the playoffs.Senior forward Mason Montag, sophomore forward Charlie Kreinbucher and guard Raine Gratzmiller, all contributing at key times in big games.

A number of seniors on the roster who received few minutes on the floor, but who pushed the starters every day in practice to be better.And, of course, Luke Patten, who lost his senior year to a knee injury, but never missed a game in helping to coach up his teammates.

The team won three postseason games in overtime, each after trailing by significant margins in the fourth quarter.

A rabid student fan base known as the Green Party, along with thousands of community members packing the stands for every game.

The pandemic ultimately won out in the end, forcing the PIAA to cancel the final three rounds of the state tournament, denying Butler a shot at an ultimate fairy-tale ending.Two other Butler County basketball teams — North Catholic's boys and girls — won WPIAL titles and had shots at state championships denied by the pandemic.North Catholic girls coach Molly Rottmann might have won one state championship while watching her son, Hans, a member of the boys team, win another.That would have been a pretty good story, too.COVID-19 isn't done yet.Thankfully, neither are positive memories being created in spite of it.John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle