Barlow’s Tom Johnson: He inspires, he mentors, he teaches life lessons, and he wins …

I walked into Barlow High on a recent Friday night to the sweet sound of basketballs bouncing in the gym, and the reassuring sight of fans filing in the doors and milling around in the lobby, awaiting a game.

There were no concessions being sold, no cheerleaders dancing, no pep band playing, and everyone was masked up.

Even so, it was a return — somewhat — to the normalcy that COVID-19 had stolen from us more than a year ago.

Gresham beat Barlow 61-47 before a crowd I’d estimate at about 300 spectators, seated in every other row in a facility with a capacity probably about 1,000.