Earlier in the season, the Nipissing Lakers men's basketball team won three of four games and showed that their hard work was paying off.
They had hit a bit of a slide since then, but they have a chance to really make a name for themselves in the OUA/CIS in their final weekend of play.
Hosting the top teams, aside from Ryerson, won't be easy for Nipissing, but they'll have a chance to really show off the strides they've taken throughout their second season.
The Lakers host the Ottawa Gee Gees and Carleton Ravens this weekend to close out the regular season and wrap up a year where the Lakers earned a few firsts – first win, first winning streak and first three victories in the program's history.
The playoffs aren't mathematically out of the question, but are extremely unlikely, are looking to turn the tables on the first meeting they had with Ottawa and Carleton.
In the first weekend of play, Nipissing lost 91-49 to Ottawa and 102-67 to Carleton in the nation's capital on Nov. 6 and 7.
A positive to take away for Nipissing is their home record, which is a respectable 3-5 this season and the Lakers have scored at least 68 points in three victories on home court.
Friday's opponent, the Gee Gees, enter the weekend the winners of three straight games and have just two losses on the season.
Their last win was a 30-point victory over Laurier which was their second biggest of the season.
Ottawa averages 86.7 points per game, is a perfect 9-0 at home, but 5-2 on the road losing at Ryerson and at McMaster.
Currently tied with Ryerson for top spot overall in the OUA, the Gee Gees have the chance to push their record to 17-2 with a pair of wins in Northern Ontario this weekend, but standing in the way Friday will be the much improved Lakers.
On Saturday, it will be a different test for Nipissing.
The Ravens are just one game behind Ottawa and Ryerson for top stop in the league and are looking to regain their spot atop the standings.
Like Ottawa, Carleton put up over 100 points in their past victory and also put up over 100 in their first meeting with the Lakers at the beginning of the season.
The Ravens are 9-1 at home and 5-1 on the road and are the second highest scoring team in the OUA, along with being the best rebounding team in the league.
It has been a season where the Lakers have moved in the right direction, but they'll be in tough to finish on a high note this weekend.
Regardless of what the standings, stats or how things look on paper, Nipissing will look to entertain the home fans one last weekend.
The Lakers host Ottawa Friday and Carleton Saturday 8 p.m. at the RJS Athletic Centre.
