With the state playoffs just a few weeks away, each and every game that is played from this point on carries a little more significance.

So when the Niles girls and boys basketball teams host Kalamazoo Central Friday night and Brandywine heads to Buchanan to face the Bucks, plenty will be at stake.

For the Viking girls team, it’s a chance to start building momentum for the postseason and to send a message to a team that is in its district.

The Niles boys team has one four of its last six games, so the Vikings would like to keep that momentum rolling over the final three weeks of the regular season.

Tip-off for the girls game is 5:45 p.m. with the boys game to follow at approximately 7:15.

the Brandywine boys have won two games in a row heading into Friday night’s Lakeland Conference match-up against the league-leading Bucks.

The Bobcats would like to hand the Bucks their second loss of the season and their first in conference play.

The Bucks are 8-1 following an impressive 58-52 win over St. Joseph Tuesday night and are 2-0 in the Lakeland.

The Bobcats had to rally to beat Benton Harbor Dream Academy 50-48 to improve to 5-9 overall. Brandywine is 0-3 in conference games.

The Bobcat girls team will be going after its 52nd consecutive Lakeland Conference victory Friday night.

Buchanan gave Brandywine a tussle in its first meeting before falling 61-44.

The boys game will kick off the doubleheader at 6 p.m. with the girls game to follow at approximately 7:30.

The state shifts its focus to individual wrestling Saturday.

Niles will travel to Vicksburg for the Division 2 tournament beginning at 9:30 a.m. while Brandywine heads to Bangor.