For five years, the Santa Fe Waldorf girls basketball team mired in obscurity, as it looked toward the future.

It finally came Tuesday night as the Lady Wolves held off a late charge by New Mexico School for the Deaf for a 42-38 District 1B win in Fort Marcy Complex for the program's first regular-season district title.

And after the game, the tears flowed in the Waldorf locker room for its momentous occasion.

"It's incredible," said Daniel Wendland, Wolves head coach. "It's the first time in our program. We haven't had these feelings of where we triumphed in this moment."

Junior Sophia Richard, who has been on varsity for the past four years, felt a sense of satisfaction that has made the struggles of the past worth it.

"At Waldorf, it's hard to get a team together," Richard said. "Sometimes, you have to recruit eighth-graders to get there. But we got a great team here this year and it's exciting because we made it."

Waldorf (12-12 overall, 3-1 1B) used a 14-0 run to take a 40-25 lead with 4:01 left, but the Lady Roadrunners battled back with an 11-0 spurt to get within 40-36. But Richard, scored the last of her 12 points on a breakaway at :35 to quell the threat.

Keifer Nace led the Lady Wolves with 14 points, while Lauren Gary had 10 points and 25 rebounds.

Kimberly Herrera paced NMSD with 16 points, while Caldonia Wilding added 10.

BERNALILLO 36, LOS ALAMOS 33

Did Lady Spartans head coach Jeff King have a pit in his stomach the size of the Grand Canyon?

Not at all.

When Marissa Valencia went to the line with 8.9 seconds left in the District 2AAAA quarterfinal, King harbored no doubt his guard would convert.

And she did, giving Bernalillo (14-13) a 34-33 lead in Griffith Gymnasium after trailing by as much as seven points heading into the fourth quarter.

"I'm pretty confident," King said. "I know what my team can and can't do. And Marissa put us on her back. She refused to lose."

The Lady Hilltoppers promptly gave the ball right back to Valencia, who scored a layup at the buzzer.

Bernalillo plays at Santa Fe High Thursday for a spot in the 2AAAA championship.

PECOS 51, SANTA FE PREPARATORY 31

It only took three weeks, but the Lady Panthers finally executed what it set out to do.

And what better time than in the first round of the 2AA tournament in Louis G. Sanchez Memorial Gymnasium.

Behind Brittany Gallegos' 21 points, which including five 3-pointers, Pecos broke the 50-point barrier for first time in six games.

"We tried in the middle of the season to change some things," said Leroy Barela, Pecos head coach. "The guards weren't able to do it until [Tuesday]. We were just money."

KeeAnna Trujillo added 17 points, 11 rebound and three assists in a supporting role, while Cassie C de Baca shut down Prep guard Olivia Cicci, who had just three points.

What hurt the Blue Griffins (7-19) even more was the absence of Maddy Fort with a sprained ankle.

"We missed Maddy more than I thought we would against their press," said Anika Amon, Prep head coach.

BOYS

POJOAQUE VALLEY 78, SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 43

The Braves tried to avoid an 0-27 season, and were within 33-29 at the break.

They ran out of gas, though, as the Elks (9-18) outscored them 45-17 the rest of the way in the first round of the 5AAA tournament in Ben Luján Gymnasium.

Matt Herrera led the way with 18 points, while Chris Martinez added 15 and Brandon Bustos 13.

Derrick Phillips led SFIS with 14 points, while Austin Nieto scored 12.

Pojoaque travels to Albuquerque for a 5AAA quarterfinal against Sandia Prep.

MCCURDY SCHOOL 61, ESCALANTE 41

Here's a title the Bobcats haven't worn in seven seasons: district champs.

They earned the 4A title by beating the Lobos in a one-game playoff at Gallina.

McCurdy's defense stood the test of time, as Escalante scored just 24 points after taking a 17-13 lead after a quarter. A 20-10 spurt in the third quarter padded a 25-24 McCurdy lead at the half.

Eric Vigil had 21 points to lead the Bobcats (10-13), while Roberto Quijandria added 14, Santiago Lovato 13 and Carlos Herrera 12.

Brandon Gonzales led the Lobos with 21 points.

McCurdy will play host to the 4A championship on Saturday.

SANTA FE WALDORF 57, N.M. SCHOOL FOR DEAF 15

At For Marcy Complex, the Wolves (14-9, 4-3) got double-digit scoring from three players in a District 1B rout of the Roadrunners.

Shooting guard Edgar Davila returned from a two-game absense to score a game-high 17 points while Elliot Radsliff and Daniel McCormick each had a double-double.

Radsliff had had 14 points and 11 rebounds. McCormick had 10 points and 14 boards.

Zachary Lee was NMSD's top scorer wtih six.

The Roadrunners managed only four field goals the entire game.

They scored just one point in the second quarter and had three in the final period.

FOOTHILL 71, DESERT ACADEMY 51

The growing pains of the 2011-12 season might pay dividends in 2012-13 for the Wildcats.

Next season began when the Eagles outscored Desert Academy (6-19) 41-17 in the second and third quarters in the first round of the 2A tournament.

Still, Wildcats head coach Jonathan Salazar reflected on the growth a team that had no seniors and one junior.

"I can't believe how much more balanced our scoring and our rebounding was," Salazar said. "Just across the board, we were so much more balanced."

Sophomore Spencer Humphries had 18 points for the Wildcats.

Freshman Michael Montoya chipped in with 17 and sophomore Max Snyder scored 11.