The Echo Cougars enter this final weekend of Big Sky Conference boys basketball as comfortable as can be. The Cougars have already locked up the Easts No. 1 seed for the district tournament in Hermiston the following week.

But behind Echo, four teams are still fighting for the other two East tournament spots. The BSC?District Tournament will feature the top three teams from each side of the league, but only half of those six advance to the state playoffs.

Ione and Arlington are knotted in a tie for second though the Cardinals have a slight edge now having beaten the Honkers twice already this season. Then right behind those two, Condon/Wheeler and Nixyaawii will also play some meaningful basketball in the seasons final days.

All four teams could finish as high as second or as low as fifth and miss the tournament altogether.

Heres a brief look at how things could shake out in the Big Sky Conferences East as Class 1A boys basketball prepares for the postseason:

 

Echo

Record: 13-10, 10-4 BSC East – 1st (OSAA No. 16)

Game(s) Remaining: vs. Sherman (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Echo has clinched the top seed out of the Big Sky Conferences East for the district tournament next weekend in Hermiston.

Ione

Record: 11-9, 7-6 BSC East – T-2nd (OSAA No. 25)

Game(s) Remaining: at Central Christian (Fri.); vs. Dufur (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Ione can finish at either Nos. 2 or 3 in the East to earn a spot at the district tournament and with two games left against opponents far from postseason contention, has the best chance of those still alive to stay that way.

Arlington

Record: 15-7, 7-6 BSC East – T-2nd (OSAA No. 29)

Game(s)

Remaining: at Helix (Fri.); vs. Nixyaawii (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Arlington can finish at either Nos. 2 or 3 in the East to earn a spot at the district tournament and currently holds tie-breaker advantages over both pursuers Condon/Wheeler and Nixyaawii. Rather than rely on that, though, the Honkers can clinch by winning their two remaining games.

Condon/Wheeler

Record: 11-11, 6-7 BSC East – T-4th (OSAA?No. 21)

Game(s) Remaining: at Nixyaawii (Fri.); vs. Helix (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Condon/Wheeler can climb back into the district tournament with either a Nos. 2 or 3 finish but likely needs to win out and hope for help. If both Ione and Arlington finish off with wins, the Knights will miss out on the postseason in fourth place at best.

Nixyaawii

Record: 9-12, 6-7 BSC East – T-4th (OSAA No. 36)

Game(s) Remaining: vs. Condon/Wheeler (Fri.); at Arlington (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Nixyaawii has what should be the hardest road of BSC East hopefuls, needing to pick off two teams still in postseason contention to get close and then still needing help. The Golden Eagles are still mathematically within reach of Nos. 2 and 3 for the tournament, though.

Girls Basketball

Therell be far less moving and shaking on the girls side of the Big Sky East this weekend. The top two spots have been sewn up already with Condon/Wheeler and Echo locking down their trips to Hermiston a week from now to compete in the Big Sky Conference District Tournament.

The only true unknown is No. 3 the final spot from the East to get a tournament berth. Ione currently holds the edge with a 1.5 game advantage on Nixyaawii. The only way hey swap is if the Cards drop both their remaining games including an improbable loss to the 3-16 overall Central Christian Tigers while Nixyaawii pulls off the even more improbable defeat of top-seeded Condon/Wheeler.

The three East side teams will join a trio of West programs at districts, where three teams will advance to state.

Heres a brief look at how things could shake out in the Big Sky Conferences East as Class 1A girls basketball prepares for the postseason:

Condon/Wheeler

Record: 21-1, 11-0 BSC East – 1st (OSAA No. 2)

Game(s) Remaining: at Nixyaawii (Fri.); vs. Helix (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Condon/Wheeler has already clinched the Easts No. 1 seed for the BSC districts, but could play spoiler in the final weekend of the regular season while maintaining its RPI.

Echo

Record: 10-12, 8-4 BSC East – 2nd

(OSAA No. 36)

Game(s) Remaining: vs. Sherman (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Echo is also secured in its district tournament spot. The Cougars will be the No. 2 team, win or lose against Sherman on Saturday.

Ione

Record: 9-9, 5-6 BSC East – 3rd (OSAA No. 27)

Game(s) Remaining: at Central Christian (Fri.); vs. Dufur (Sat.)

Postseason Possibilities: Ione cant finish higher than the third seed for the district tournament, but could fall out of the postseason with a pair of losses. The Cardinals should lock up their seed with a win at Central Christian on Friday though, a 1-10 team in league play.

Nixyaawii

Record: 11-11, 4-8 BSC East – 4th

(OSAA No. 44)

Game(s) Remaining: vs. Condon/Wheeler (Fri.)

Postseason Possibilities: Nixyaawiis tournament hopes are on life support at this point, but not dead yet. The Cardinals could jump Ione for the last district seed from the East should they pull off the long-shot upset of Condon/Wheeler at home on Friday while Ione faulters in both its remaining contests.

Contact AJ?Mazzolini at ajmazzolini@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0839.