Old Lyme — They tested the Theory of Relativity — or at least as it relates to sports — in the 06371 Friday night, a "huge" crowd by any observer's glimpse, yet numbering but about 500 in total. Put 500 people in, say, the XL Center and you get crickets. But in the quaint gym of Old Lyme High School? Standing room only. In full throat, too.

Ah yes. Americana at work again, the hot gym on a cold winter night, reminding us through tweeting whistles, squeaking sneakers and student section barbs, that community trumps all.

Sometimes, it felt as though the basketball game between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook, the alliterative Battle of the Baldwin Bridge, was a mere backdrop for what the gym had become: the town green, the place to be seen, the meeting place for what felt like two whole towns to reiterate to their kids the enduring message: what you do matters.

There are surely other endeavors to occupy a Friday night, whether going out for a bite and a movie, or perhaps to stay home with the big screen. Yet they chose to combat the cold and fill the gym for the game, all the little kids wide-eyed in the hope they get to do this one day. A sense of community for the adults, too, many of whom could look around and think, "geez, I know everybody in here!"

Quite the number of notables among the masses as well. There was a 1,000-win coach (Jere Quinn of St. Thomas More, whose nephew, Patrick Quinn, is the Old Saybrook coach). There was a notable broadcaster (Mark Brown of ESPN, a former play-by-play voice of our own GameDay, whose son, Davis, plays for the Rams). There was a Superintendent of Schools (Cynthia Ritchie, the boss in New London, watched her son, Jared, score 12 points for Old Lyme).

There was a state television anchor (Kevin Hogan of Channel 3 watched his son, Connor, play for the Wildcats), a famous lawyer (Jack Collins of Suisman Shapiro), financial advisor extraordinaire (Chris Holloway of Merrill Lynch whose son, Liam, plays the Old Lyme) and state championship coach (Don Bugbee, who led the Old Lyme girls to the 2009 title). The son of a former NBA player (Kam Baker's dad, Vin, played in The League many years). There were even dads whose kids play basketball elsewhere sporting Old Lyme garb (Old Lyme social studies teacher Brett Eckhart's son, Dylan, the kid with the best hair in the ECC, plays at Waterford).

Many of us here in Day Nation often forget about Old Lyme, a fringe town and member of a league other than the ECC. Yet even with its affinity for the arts, there is no prouder sports town among us. The gym bears banners of many accomplishments past, including two national championships in rowing. There is already a state title in tow this season, the girls' soccer team and the great Mya Johnson won their fourth straight under coach Paul Gleason, who gives the Dos Equis guy a run as the most interesting man in the world.

Former Old Lyme athletic director Bill Buscetto said something interesting after the festivities moved from the gym Friday night around the corner to the Hideaway. Buscetto said our corner of the world could produce basketball champions this March as we've never seen before: Waterford (Div. II), East Lyme (Div. III), St. Bernard (Div. IV) and Old Lyme (Div. V) all have legitimate chances. Throw in the New London (Class LL) and East Lyme (Class L) girls, too. Imagine all them at Mohegan Sun?

Makes for a remaining winter of hope and wonder as we honor the emotional tether high school sports provide their communities. And so while we enjoy a de facto holiday today watching the pros play on the national platform, we await more nights like Friday in the coming months. Nothing like it.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro