Song writers have labeled Christmas as "the most wonderful time of the year," but for the next week or so, I must disagree. One would truly be hard-pressed to find something to top the last few days of the Central Section basketball playoffs.

Every night this week, it's been the same ritual here in our little corner of the newsroom. Who's playing? What gender? Where? What's at stake? Who's covering each game? And awaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy we go, as the late Jackie Gleason used to say.

At times, it does get hectic, with too many nights on too-hard bleachers and dinners of concession stand pizza, hot dogs and Diet Coke.

But every now and then, you get a game that makes it all worth it, like Friday night's Foothill (Bakersfield) at Hanford West.

Two evenly-matched teams, despite the won-loss records. Passionate fan bases screaming, chanting and swooning at each basket, officials content to let the players decide things in a fairly-clean game, and, if you're a Huskies fan, the perfect ending.

(For this week's homework assignment, compare and contrast Friday night's fans with the scene Thursday night at the Sunnyside-Hanford girls game, and a never-ending monologue from the Sunnyside fans on how they weren't getting any calls. If I were a Wildcat fan, I would have been more concerned with the damage done - 28 turnovers - by Hanford's press on a night where coach Tom Parrish was not happy with the defense than the officials.)

Then there's Hanford West's Rodney Webster ... yes, it's cliche you could throw the whole dictionary at his performance down the stretch, but it fits.

Nobody knows for sure what the next week for the Huskies, not to forget the Bullpups, Tigers or the Laton Mustangs, but for one night, we got to see what high school basketball is all about.

And now, a few more thoughts hopefully worth that second cup of coffee as we take a deep breath before the next round.

* Spring is in the air ... thus, we are in desperate need of spring sports schedules from local high schools. Some teams have started seasons already, unbeknownst to us. Athletic directors and coaches are asked to send schedules to sports@HanfordSentinel.com (the preferred address for those of you who like to send in results via e-mail as well) or fax us at 587-1876.

* Local athletes are getting the job done in the classroom as well, at least according to the winter Fresno Lexus Academic Champions list from the good folks at the Central Section office.

Top schools, and recipients of a banner denoting that fact, by sport are: Liberty (Madera Ranchos) in boys basketball, 3.43; Buchanan (Fresno), girls basketball, 3.70; Redwood (Visalia), 3.49; Dinuba, boys soccer, 3.34, and girls soccer, 3.62.

Among local schools (and let's face it, there are no losers in this contest), Hanford was at 3.29 and Hanford West a 3.02 in boys basketball; Hanford 3.23 and Hanford West 3.21 in girls basketball; Hanford 3.07 in wrestling; Hanford 3.26 and Hanford West 3.06 in boys soccer; and Hanford West 3.23, Lemoore 3.16 and Hanford 3.13 in girls soccer.

* Speaking of academics, kudos keep rolling in for Hanford High volleyball star Cecilia Agraz. The Fresno State-bound senior was named second team academic All-America by

prepvolleyball.com

* As the government's stake in Citibank increases, how about racheting back the sports sponsorships on the taxpayers' dime? There's been much ado about Citi Field, new home of the New York Mets, but the company is also a sponsor of the Rose Bowl. If possible, I'd like my middle-class tax cut in the form of two tickets on the 50-yard line, please?

Richard de Give is The Sentinel's sports editor. Reach him at 583-2430 or at rdegive@HanfordSentinel.com

(Feb. 1, 2009)