Pine-Richland's gym has been a special place for Butler boys basketball in recent years.

The two teams have battled for section supremacy for seemingly the past decade, making for some critical match-ups when they get together.

“I've had a lot of memories in this place, good and bad,” Butler coach Matt Clement said following the Golden Tornado's 65-61 loss at P-R last week. “This is one of the bad ones.”

Butler lost a 10-point lead in the second half of that game.

The game will go down as a bad memory for me as well, but it has nothing to do with the scoreboard or the result.

It was the atmosphere.

Or lack of it.

When I arrived at the gym that night, the junior varsity game was still going on. Under normal circumstances, I'd walk into the gym, catch some of that game and jot down the rosters for the varsity contest.

Unfortunately, it seems we haven't had normal circumstances for some time now.

I had to wait in the hallway outside of the gym until the JV game was completed. The facility was already at its capacity of 120.

When people began leaving the gym once that game was over, I was permitted to enter.

No problem there. Protocol. I get it.

High school basketball is able to take place amid this pandemic, so long as certain restrictions are honored. I get that, too.

Doesn't mean I can't feel some sorrow for what is lacking at Butler games now.

Packed gyms. Rabid student sections. Noise. Lots and lots of noise, almost deafening at times.

It's gone.

While the Butler-Pine-Richland game was as intense as ever on the court — the outcome remaining in question as the clock ticked under a minute — the intensity in the building was missing.

The loudest people were those players sitting on Butler's bench, whenever the Tornado made a positive play.

There was no good-natured “Can You Top This?” banter between the rival student sections. Butler's Green Party — the name for the team's ever-growing student fan base — hasn't been allowed in to watch a game yet.

That's not going to change this year.

And it's sad.

Devin Carney scored his 1,000th point without any fanfare. It was announced over the p.a. and a few people clapped.

The Green Party would have roared.

Don't get me wrong. Reporting on high school sporting events and the remarkable young athletes competing in all sports remains a privilege I am forever thankful to have.

Someday — hopefully soon — those boisterous crowds will return and gyms will be packed again.

I yearn for that day.

I'm sure those young athletes do, too.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle