The Siuslaw Vikings boys basketball team apparently has two pathways to the state playoffs, the first as the Sky-Em League's No. 2 seed and second as a top 20-ranked team.

Siuslaw completes the second round of league play tonight, hosting Junction City on senior recognition night at Glenn Butler Court.

The Lady Vikings tip off at 5:45 p.m., with the boys game to follow.

The Siuslaw boys, the fourth-place league team, will play the league's third-place team (currently Marshfield) in the first Sky-Em playoff game.

The winner of that game will play the second-place team (currently Junction City) for the league's second automatic berth in the state's final 16-team playoff bracket.

Sky-Em champion Marist Catholic, currently ranked No. 1, is one of 12 automatic qualifiers to state (2 each from the 6 Class 4A leagues).

If the No. 2 seed escapes Siuslaw's grasp, the Vikings also are on the cusp of qualifying for a state play-in game.

Siuslaw, currently ranked No. 21 in Class 4A by the Oregon School Activities Association, needs to move to at least No. 20 to secure a play-in game.

Current No. 20 Newport has three games remaining, all against top 10 teams — at No. 4 Woodburn tonight, followed by home games against No. 3 Philomath and No. 9 Sweet Home.

So, two legitimate paths to the playoffs for the Vikings.

And one bottom line: It's possible, and it's in their hands.

NOTES

Seniors playing their last home games include Caleb Hennessee and Kiger Johnson on the boys' team, and Lindsey Long, Savannah Morris, Mia Collins, Kelsey Larson, Brooklyn Cahoon and Brittany Rodriguez on the girls' team. … Long is a junior but reportedly is graduating early. …

The games will be available on Coast Radio (on air and Facebook) and the NFHS Network. … Radio coverage begins at 5:30 p.m., the NFHS feed (a subscription service) at 4:15 p.m. with a junior-varsity game. …

STATE 4A PLAYOFF PICTURE

Automatic qualifiers (top 2 from each league, total 12)
COWAPA — Banks (currently ranked No. 6), Seaside (8)
TRI-VALLEY — North Marion (2), Gladstone (12)
OREGON WEST — Philomath (3), Woodburn (4)
SKY-EM — Marist Catholic (1), Junction City (15)
SKYLINE — Henley (5), Klamath Union (7)
GREATER OREGON — Baker (16), La Grande (19)
Playin teams (next 8 schools in rankings)
  9 Sweet Home
10 Cascade
11 Stayton, beat visiting Siuslaw 57-38 on Dec. 18
13 Hidden Valley
14 Marshfield, beat Siuslaw in both rounds of league play
17 North Valley, beat Siuslaw 52-38 in Crossover Jan. 10
18 Phoenix
20 Newport, beat Siuslaw 68-48 in season opener Dec. 4
Still hopeful
21 Siuslaw
22 Madras
23 Tillamook
24 Valley Catholic
25 Corbett