Before we move onto the insanity that is the district basketball tournaments, let's give credit to a program that has stayed under the radar.

The Class B season doesn't end until Saturday, and as it stands now, the Lady Roadrunners of New Mexico School for the Deaf are the leaders in District 1B. That is key because the regular-season champion gets a berth into the Class B State Tournament at Bernalillo High School. It has been a good year for the girls program at NMSD, what with the volleyball team making its first appearance in the state tournament in eight years last November.

We'll see what happens over the next two weeks, but suffice it to say, the Lady Roadrunners deserve kudos for their performance this year on the court -- volleyball and basketball.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Last week: Just when the loose ends were supposed to be tied up ... well, they weren't. Mora beat Peñasco on the final day of the regular season to set up a one-game playoff for the 2AA championship.

Hope Christian prevented a mess of the 5AAA standings by beating St. Michael's on Friday to win the district crown. It ended a promising week as the Lady Huskies beat Santa Fe Indian School at home on Tuesday to settle the issue -- for now -- of which is the best team in AAA.

Santa Fe High whiffed on its chance for a playoff with Española Valley when it lost to Bernalillo on Tuesday. The Lady Sundevils secured their fourth straight regular-season title by beating the Lady Spartans on Friday. Meanwhile, Coronado won the 4A title with a win at McCurdy on Saturday -- avoiding a one-game playoff.

This week: Mora and Peñasco travel to Pecos on Monday to settle the tie. The loser plays host to Monte del Sol the following day in the 2AA first round. If Sandia Preparatory or Pojoaque Valley want to make a miracle run, they have to beat the other on Monday,
..0St. Michael's on Tuesday, SFIS on Wednesday and Hope on Friday. No problem, right?

All signs point to a Santa Fe High-Española showdown on Friday -- as long as Bernalillo doesn't come calling on Thursday to Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium. NMSD can avoid a potential playoff by beating Santa Fe Waldorf on Tuesday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Last week: Speaking of failing to tie up loose ends, Mesa Vista couldn't beat Dulce and avoid a tie atop 7AA. Las Vegas Robertson and Taos maintained their positions to set up a playoff in 2AAA. Escalante's win at home over McCurdy School on Tuesday ensured a playoff in 4A.

Capital's loss at Santa Fe High and Española's win over Bernalillo created a three-way tie for third (also last). The Demons got the short end of that scenario and took the fifth seed. St. Michael's fell to Hope Christian on Saturday to tie with Sandia Prep for second, but the Horsemen still got the second seed.

This week: Mesa Vista/Dulce (in Gallina) and Taos/Robertson (at SFIS) will settle things on Monday, while McCurdy/Escalante (also Gallina) go at it on Tuesday. Can SFIS avoid a 0-27 season? The last chance for the Braves comes on Tuesday when they travel to Pojoaque.

Santa Fe High has to travel to Española on Monday, then the winner must sit through the girls 2AAAA quarterfinal at Los Alamos before playing the Hilltoppers for the right to go to Bernalillo on Thursday. If everything plays out on Monday (Pecos beats Monte del Sol; Santa Fe Prep beats Peñasco), then it's a Panthers/Blue Griffins rematch in the 2AA semis on Wednesday.