Vikings thisclose to making state playoffs


OSAA Class 4A boys basketball rankings as of 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.

The Siuslaw Vikings boys basketball team is thisclose to making the state playoffs.

And the Vikings can get there without winning another game, given how close they are to reaching the top 20 and a play-in bid.

Friday, the Vikings play at Junction City in the first game of the Sky-Em League playoffs. Tipoff is 7:15 p.m.

Win, and the Vikings play at 6 p.m. Monday at Marshfield.

Win Monday, and it's off to the Oregon School Activities Association Class 4A playoffs as the league's No. 2 automatic qualifier.

Lose Friday or Monday, and the Vikings will be at the mercy of the vagaries of the OSAA ranking system.

Simply put, the Vikings need to displace Newport at No. 20.

Valley Catholic is one place ahead of Siuslaw in RPI ranking. If the two teams swap places, then Siuslaw would slip into the No. 20 slot overall.

Rankings average RPI rank and Colley rank. Those two numbers are divided by two, and ties are broken based on a better Colley rank.

No. 21 Siuslaw currently has an RPI rank of 22 and a Colley rank of 20, an average of 21.

No. 20 Newport has a 20 RPI and a 21 Colley, an average of 20.5.

Should Siuslaw move up a slot in RPI, it would tie Newport with a 20.5 average, then replace the Cubs at No. 20 because of a higher Colley.

As for Newport, it's no easy road to the finish line, despite two home games remaining. Friday the Cubs play No. 3-ranked Philomath, Tuesday No. 11 Sweet Home.

It's a bit convoluted, but the Vikings can make it simple:

Win Friday. Win Monday. Go to state.