EFFINGHAM — When you think about legendary figures in basketball programs, you would never imagine a scorekeeper being one of them.
Bill Farray is an exception to that.
He truly means more to the St. Anthony boys and girls basketball programs than most would imagine. Farray has been the scorekeeper for Bulldogs basketball games for over 30 years.
He’s the one constant in an ever-changing sport that sees players, coaches and administration move on.
“You appreciate his dedication to the program,” St. Anthony head boys basketball coach Cody Rincker said. “He’s great at what he does because he pays attention to the details.”
Last year, Farray was honored for his work and service to the community with an induction into the St. Anthony of Padua Hall of Fame in March and the National Athletic Hall of Fame in November, where he was the “Twelfth Man Award” recipient.
“Honored,” said Farray bluntly. “I got the (Illinois Basketball Coaches Association) one in 2004, but to be praised locally and by the parish, I was very honored by it.”
Farray began scorekeeping when he moved back to Effingham from Chicago. He wasn’t sure of the exact date when he moved, but said it was in the early 80s.
“I was in Chicago working for Kmart at the time, but then moved back to Effingham,” Farray said. “Dave Bartlett and Randy Jones were rooming together and I had gone over to their apartment (one day) in the fall. Randy asked me, ‘What are you doing this winter?’ I said, ‘Probably going to St. Anthony basketball games.’ Dave was the freshman coach at the time and commented, ‘Why don’t you come and do the book for me?’”
Farray said he wasn’t all that sold on the idea at first, because he had never been tasked with doing it before.
Bartlett felt he could learn, and he did.
“I did the freshman book for Dave and progressed up,” Farray said.
The first game that Farray ever kept score of was a contest against Effingham at, what is now, Effingham Junior High School.
Farray joked that he learned quickly about being impartial at the scorer’s table.
“I learned very quickly to shut my mouth,” he joked.
Art Althoff was the scorekeeper for the varsity games at the time.
Once he decided to move on, Farray then took over.
Farray also wasn’t sure when he first started keeping the scorebook for varsity games, but felt it was around the 1983-84 season.
He’s been in the same seat ever since.
“All I have to do is walk in and act like I own the place,” Farray laughed.
There is nothing that makes Farray happier than St. Anthony basketball.
Farray graduated from the school in 1973. He finds himself “bored” whenever they’re not playing.
“I like basketball and I like St. Anthony basketball,” Farray said. “If we’re not playing, I get bored.”
Since he began scorekeeping, Farray has seen eight different head coaches guide the Bulldogs.
He’s also witnessed several incredible games and plays made.
In January, Farray had a perfect view of senior Keenan Griffith’s buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer that won St. Anthony the National Trail Conference Tournament.
He was with the team when the Bulldogs won the only state championship in program history in 2017.
“They refused to lose,” said Farray of that 2016-2017 group. “The one thing that sticks out with the state championship run is how important free throws are. I asked Cody (after the season) if I could see the book, so that I could make copies of the box scores. When I took a look at them, and saw the free-throw shooting that state championship team had, it was unbelievable.”
The Bulldogs returned to the state tournament in 2025 after defeating Mounds (Meridian) in a super-sectional at Eastern Illinois.
Other than those two runs the boys team gave him, another moment he felt was just as special was when the girls basketball program started.
“I did the second girls game and, other than winning the state title, I’ve never been more pumped to go to a basketball game than I was that night,” Farray said.
For the first time in program history, St. Anthony was able to defeat county rival Teutopolis on Dec. 16, 2024, at the Enlow Center.
It was yet another “feather in the cap” for Farray.
“We had been close with T-Town before,” Farray said. “You always sit there and think, ‘OK. They’re going to come at us and find a way to beat us, because they always do.’ That never happened (in this game).
“We just kept taking it to them.”
Those memories will always last with Farray.
What he would like to forget, though, are some of the changes the game has made over the years.
“I can remember the jump ball occurring after held balls,” Farray said. “That one changed and then, all of a sudden, the possession arrow comes in and then there comes another headache you’ve got. Free throws were also at five fouls, then moved to seven and then to 10 with the double-bonus.
“The one I don’t like, but they feel makes life so much easier, is holding substitutes at the scorer’s table when you have multiple free throws.”
The 2026-2027 season may be even trickier for Farray with the shot clock coming into play.
Needless to say, Farray isn’t in favor of it.
“I’m not looking forward to the shot clock,” he said.