After losing 55-52 to conference-leading San Joaquin Delta on Feb. 6, the Vikings dropped to third in the Big 8 Conference. 

“It was really a hard-fought game,” said Coach Steve Coccimiglio. “After free throws cut the Delta lead to 33-38 early in the second half; it was a pretty close game.”

Point guard Gary Pinkney was on the free throw line with 30 seconds to go with DVC down one, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. 

Delta secured the rebound and sank two free throws to put Pinkney’s team up by three.  DVC’s Brandon Thomas threw up a prayer, which didn’t connect and ended the game.

“We tried to run something for [Jordan] Fillmore, but it got jammed up,” Coccimiglio said, “and Thomas ended up jacking a three up that didn’t really have a chance.”

With four games left in the regular season, DVC looks towards its matchup with Modesto at home Tuesday, a must-win to secure a playoff birth. 

The score from that game was not available by the Inquirer’s press deadline.

“It’s never been about the other teams the whole season,” Fillmore said. “It’s more about sticking with our game plan.

“It’s about what we can do and executing what coach has told us.”

If the Vikings want a chance at winning the conference title, they must run the table and win all four of their remaining games. 

And they will have to do it without key reserve Antonio Rushing, who is out for the rest of the year with bone chips in his knee. 

“It’s tough losing Rushing, because he’s been here for two to three years, and he’s our most versatile player,” said Fillmore. “It hurt us a lot, but [Murkice] Carter and [Thaddeus] Banks have been stepping it up lately.”

After Modesto, the Vikings play tonight at Sierra College, followed by a home game Feb. 17 against Cosumnes River and a season-finisher at home Feb. 20 against Sacramento City.   

The Vikings have their eye on the state playoffs, which begin Feb. 25 with two play-in games and hope to end their current playoff skid. 

“I think if we run the table, we have a chance at getting a home game during the playoffs, either a seven or eight seed,” Coccimiglio said.

For two consecutive years, the Vikings were eliminated in the first round of the Northern California playoffs after being seeded high.  

DVC got off to a rocky start this season, losing two of its first three games before winning six of their next seven. 

With their recent string of wins, the Vikings moved up to 11th place in the North Division California poll, while conference rivals Delta and Cosumnes River were No. 2 and No. 7; respectively.