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The Atrisco Heritage High dancing squad performs during halftime during the boys basketball game against Volcano Vista Friday night. Spectators were allowed to attend a game for the first time in over a year. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
The first, obvious sign that fans had returned to high school gyms in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho was not seeing the hundreds of bodies in the bleachers, nor was it the higher decibel level created by their noise.
It was the number of parking spaces being filled outside.
For the duration of this abbreviated prep basketball season, those spaces were not only easy to find, but they were relatively close to the front door.