The Siuslaw Vikings boys basketball team still has a shot at the state playoffs.

A long shot. But a shot.

The Vikings likely need to sweep their final three regular-season games — at Marshfield on Tuesday, at Elmira on Friday and the regular-season finale at home against Junction City on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Siuslaw currently is ranked No. 25 in Class 4A by the Oregon School Activities Association, which uses an average of RPI rank and Colley rank.

The Vikings currently have an RPI rank of 22 and a Colley rank of 24, a total of 46 and an average of 23.

Madras and Tillamook also have totals of 46, or averages of 23, but have higher Colley ranks, which is used as a tiebreaker.

Twenty teams make the Class 4A playoffs, the first 12 automatic qualifiers including the top two teams in each of the six leagues.

The final eight, based on OSAA rankings, advance to playin games to settle the final 16-team playoff bracket.

As of Sunday morning, Feb. 9, all top 20 teams would make the playoffs.

The Vikings need to leap five teams in the final two weeks for a berth.

Siuslaw also has a mathematical shot at second place in the Sky-Em League, which would give the Vikings an automatic berth.

The Vikings would be 6-4 in league with a sweep of their final three games.

Siuslaw currently is fourth place at 3-4, with no shot at catching league leader Marist Catholic (7-0), a very long shot at catching Junction City (5-2) and an outside shot of catching Marshfield (4-3).

But that would start with a must win Tuesday at Marshfield.

Tipoff is about 7:15 p.m., or about 20 minutes after the completion of the girls game, which has a 5:45 p.m. scheduled start.

OSAA rankings are online at http://www.osaa.org/activities/bbx/rankings.

OSAA CLASS 4A PLAYOFF PICTURE
20 teams qualify

Automatic qualifiers (current top 2 from each league, total 12)
COWAPA — Banks (ranked No. 5), Seaside (8)
TRI-VALLEY — North Marion (1), Gladstone (13)
OREGON WEST — Woodburn (3), Cascade (7)
SKY-EM — Marist Catholic (2), Junction City (12)
SKYLINE — Klamath Union (6), Henley (9)
GREATER OREGON — Baker (16), La Grande (19)

Playin teams (next 8 schools in rankings)
  4 Philomath
10 Sweet Home
11 Hidden Valley
14 Stayton, beat visiting Siuslaw 57-38 on Dec. 18
15 Marshfield, won at Siuslaw 64-55 on Jan. 24
17 North Valley, beat Siuslaw 52-38 in Crossover Jan. 10 at Marshfield
18 Phoenix
20 Newport, won at Siuslaw 68-48 in season opener Dec. 4

Still hopeful
21 Corbett
22 Valley Catholic
23 Madras
24 Tillamook
25 Siuslaw

SKY-EM RACE
Marist Catholic (7-0): Has 2-game lead with 3 to play. Hosts Junction City on Tuesday, at Marshfield on Friday and finishes at Cottage Grove on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Junction City (5-2): Has no easy road in final 3 games, playing Tuesday at Marist Catholic and its season finale at Siuslaw. In between, the Tigers host Cottage Grove, a team they beat by only 1 point, 64-63, in the first round.
Marshfield (4-3): Finishes with 3 home games, Siuslaw on Tuesday, Marist Catholic on Friday and Elmira on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Siuslaw (3-4): At Marshfield on Tuesday and Elmira on Friday, finishing at home against Junction City on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Elmira and Cottage Grove are each 1-6 with 3 games to play.