python 2.7 - How would you code this? Should I use a loop or keep it how I have it coded? -

i have method nba basketball game simulation. method checks variable named self.quartermins tell if minutes in quarter done. changes index 2 different variables use in code tell quarter being played.

def checkquarter(self):     # method checks , makes sure quarter , game aren't over.     self.quarterindex = 0      if self.quartermins[0] > 0:         self.quarterindex = 0         self.playermins = -4     elif self.quartermins[1] > 0:         self.quarterindex = 1         self.playermins = -3     elif self.quartermins[2] > 0:         self.quarterindex = 2         self.playermins = -2     elif self.quartermins[3] > 0:         self.quarterindex = 3         self.playermins = -1     else:         return false 

the following method same:

def checkquarter(self):     self.quarterindex = 0     in xrange(4):         if self.quartermins[i] > 0:             self.quarterindex =             self.playermins = -4 +             break     else:         return false 

this uses loop let variable i go 0 3 , it'll set self.quarterindex , self.playmins variables whenever if statement true. when that's case, it'll break out of loop using break , method done. if doesn't happen @ python run else: section that's part of loop - run when don't use break in loop.

i'm not saying above code better shorten logic. can write (but i'm not sure whether that's better):

def checkquarter(self):     self.quarterindex = 0     index = none     in xrange(4):         if self.quartermins[i] > 0:             index =             break     if index none:         return false     self.quarterindex = index     self.playermins = -4 + index