With the playoffs approaching soon several important boys basketball games involving teams jockeying for playoff position were play Friday. Here is a list of five crucial games that occurred, and the implications of what happened.

1. Conneaut Valley 45, Cochranton 43 6 OT - The Indians have fought their way back to .500 in Region 3 after starting 0-4. Valley also tied the Cardinals in the region standings as the two teams split the season series. Both teams are trying to get the No. 2 seed out of the region to play their first playoff game closer to home.

2. Titusville 48, Saegertown 36 - The Rockets clinched the Region 3 Class AA automatic playoff spot with the win. Titusville will also receive a top four seed in the Class AA playoffs by taking the automatic spot. It's the first winning season the Rockets have had in over a decade.

Girard's Andrew Rickard, right, shoots over Harbor Creek's Josh Rzepecki

3. Girard 41, Harbor Creek 40 - The YellowJackets kept pace with General McLane for first place in Region 6 and a top seed in the playoffs. The Huskies are still sliding and need to recover quickly. The No. 3 and 4 seeds in Region 6 might have to tangle with Hickory and Farrell, so the Huskies need to pull it together and try to get back into contention for the No. 2 seed.

4. Grove City 56, Meadville 53 - The Eagles might have played their way into the playoffs while certainly eliminating the Bulldogs' playoff hopes. Franklin fell to Hickory, putting the Eagles and Knights into a fourth-place tie in Region 5. The two teams split the regular season series, and both will play Farrell one more time.

5. Villa Maria 62, Maplewood 40 - The Victors clinched a playoff spot in their first season in Region 3. Villa will more than likely receive a first round bye for winning the Region 3 Class A automatic spot. More importantly, the Victors won't have to mess with No. 1 Kennedy Catholic until the D-10 championship.

-- Tom Reisenweber