From one 1-versus-2 matchup to another.

Santa Fe was treated to one battle between the state's top two girls basketball teams in Class AAA on Saturday between Albuquerque Hope Christian and Santa Fe Indian School. For an encore, the city will get a second helping of a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 battle royal when the Hope Christian boys, the three-time defending AAA champions, take on St. Michael's in Perez-Shelley Gymnasium on Thursday.

Don't expect a seat to be empty, and the sidelines will be packed with people straining to catch a glimpse of what is the premier game of the week -- and maybe the season. So get your sleeping bag and plenty of snacks while you camp out for tickets.

Thursday is only three days away.

Girls basketball

Last week: Just to dispense with the drama, the Lady Huskies showed they are the equal of the Lady Braves in a 49-37 District 5AAA win. That completed a 1-2 mark for the Lady Braves, who lost to Kirtland Central, but beat St. Michael's.

Santa Fe High had to survive a 47-46 scare at Bernalillo in 2AAAA play, while challenger Española Valley beat Los Alamos to stay one game back of the Demonettes. Meanwhile, the juggernaut that is Mora continued with a 3-0 mark this week (over Pecos, Santa Fe Preparatory and Mesa Vista) to improve to 19-1.

This week: The target moves from SFIS to Hope Christian, but can the Lady Horsemen pull off the upset on Tuesday before the boys do? Round 2 of the Lady Sundevils-Demonettes saga is Friday, and a Demonettes win would ensure smooth sailing to the district title. Meanwhile, District 2AAA play begins with a Taos-Las Vegas Robertson battle on Tuesday.

Mora gets Monte del Sol and Peñasco this week before a rematch at Pecos. McCurdy School starts 4A play by playing host to Escalante.

Boys basketball

Last week: The prelude to Huskies-Horsemen was a 60-50 St. Michael's win over Taos on Saturday. Los Alamos almost was good enough to beat Española Valley and Capital, emphasis on almost. Santa Fe High, meanwhile, moved into second place in 2AAAA by beating Bernalillo on Friday (see "This week" for the significance).

Mora also went 3-0 to match the girls and is 2-0 in 4AA in
the process. Santa Fe Waldorf came close again to a big win, but Maxwell escaped with a
38-37 1B victory.

This week: You already know about Hope-St. Michael's, but don't sleep on these:

Capital entertains Santa Fe High on Wednesday with first place in 2AAAA on the line, then is at Albuquerque St. Pius X on Friday. The Demons then go to Española on Saturday. Taos-Robertson kicks off 2AAA play Thursday; then comes Robertson-West Las Vegas on Saturday. Santa Fe Preparatory has Pecos on Thursday and Monte del Sol Saturday. Mesa Vista gets its 7AA schedule started with Cuba Tuesday and Jemez Valley Saturday.

Swimming

Last week: So much for the Seth Montgomery-Jack Feely showdown in the 100-yard backstroke. Feely, who chose to compete in two other events, watched Montgomery win the backstroke at the Griffin Invitational. Matt Smallwood of
St. Michael's notched a win in the 100 breaststroke as the Horsemen took third as a team.

This week: The city schools are at the Capital City invite. Los Alamos takes the long way home by traveling to an APS meet.

Wrestling

Last week: The Horsemen continue to flex their muscles by winning the Cardinal Classic and taking home five first-place medals.

This week: Capital, Pecos and Las Vegas Robertson head to Los Alamos for the Byron Sanchez invite. St. Michael's heads back to Las Vegas for a series of dual matches.

Contact James Barron at 986-3045 or jbarron@sfnewmexican.com. Read his blog at thereadbarron.com.