COUGAR MEN LOOKING TO PLAYOFS

The men's basketball team at Sault College will host an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association playoff game on Friday night. But before it's official, the Cougars will play host to their cross-town rivals, the Algoma University Thunderbirds, tonight at 8 p.m. On paper, the game is a relative mismatch, as Sault College takes a 7-4 West Region record into the game against Algoma, which is 1-10. But Algoma has been competitive this season despite its record. Not only did the Thunderbirds' only win come at the expense of the 7-5 Fanshawe Falcons, but also in an earlier meeting with Sault College, Algoma kept pace with the Cougars before losing 85-72. Tonight's game at Sault College (8 p.m. start) is one of two as the regular season closes out in the West Region. St. Clair, with a record of 6-5, is at Lambton, which is tied with Sault College at 7-4. At St. Clair win would create a three-way tie with it, Lambton and Fanshawe all having 7-5 records. If that should happen, the OCAA tie-breaking formula would come into play. As a matter-of-fact, should St. Clair beat Lambton and Algoma upset the Sault, there would be four teams tied with 7-5 records. (Niagara has clinched top spot with a 10-2 record.) Thomas Cory, Sault College's rookie head coach, is taking nothing for granted. And he said his Cougar men are not looking past tonight's game. "We know what's at stake for us," said Cory. "We have been working hard preparing for this game. We want that playoff game at home on Friday and we aren't about to let up for (tonight's) game with Algoma. "We can't take Algoma for granted. They've got some good players like (Greg) Sirie, (Jason) Trinier and (Bruno) Tassone and they didn't beat Fanshawe by accident." Both Cory and Algoma head coach Ray Barsanti are playing down tonight's game as a cross-town rivalry. "We need to win to guarantee that home playoff game on Friday," said Cory. "We'll play the game the same whether it's Algoma or any other team. We need and want this win very badly." Barsanti said if his team had the overall talent and depth of Sault College, the cross-town factor might mean more. "This isn't the time for me to be giving one of those rah-rah, win it for local pride speeches," offered Barsanti. "My guys are too smart for me to try and pull that on them. What I want to do is play hard and compete hard and give Sault College as good a game as we can. "There are no delusions on our part. But a lot of our kids know their kids from having played against them in high school and besides, any player should always want to give his best." Both coaches report healthy lineups for tonight's game. Sault College is led by scoring leaders Sean Seivwright (11 games, 199 points, 18.1 average), Robbie Green (10 games, 164 points, 16.4 average), Tim Walker (11 games, 167 points, 15.2 average), Tim Higgins (10 games, 117 points, 11.7 average) and Ray Henry (11 games, 84 points, 7.6 average.) The Cougars also have a deep bench led by defensive specialist Chris Muncaster, big, strong Ron Kelly (eight games, 48 points, 6.0 average) and versatile rookie Jeff Rennison, who has delivered a number of key baskets and rebounds in spot duty. Also available, to give Walker a break when needed, is 6-foot-7 veteran forward Ryan Court. Algoma is led by Sirie (nine games, 180 points, 20.0 average) and Trinier (11 games, 152 points, 13.8 average.) The game could also feature the three-point shooting exploits of the Sault's Green and Algoma's Sirie. Green has 24 treys -- 14 in his last two games -- on the season, while Sirie has 21 from downtown.