Three weeks ago at a team meeting in Winnipeg, the University of Victoria Vikes men’s basketball squad decided it is was time to make a push for the Canada West playoffs.

The team went into Winnipeg with a 7-7 record but since that meeting the Vikes have rolled off six straight wins and have clinched a playoff position.

“The playoffs started early for us,’’ said Vikes’ fifth-year guard Jeff Cullen. “In Winnipeg, we set a team goal of entering the final weekend of the season with a 15-7 record. We are two wins away from that now but we are still gunning for a top-four spot so we can host the first round of the playoffs.’’

The UVic teams take their show on the road for the final time this regular season with a pair of games tonight and Saturday against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Kamloops.

“This year’s team has found a way to win close games at home and on the road. Last year, we found ways to lose them.

“It has really helped us by going so deep on the bench. We seem to be very strong in the fourth quarter when the games are on the line.’’

The weekend showdown will also feature a battle between the Pribilsky brothers — Vikes’ rookie Reese and veteran Kevin from Thompson Rivers. Kevin is the top three-point shooter in Canada West, nailing 51 of 105 attempts for a .486 percentage. He also averages 14.3 points.

The WolfPack are out of the playoff picture at 4-16, but they do have the top rebounder and shot blocker in Greg Stewart.

Ryan MacKinnon, after a big performance in Brandon last weekend, continues to lead the Vikes in scoring (16.7), followed by Mike Berg (10.9). The Vikes still have the top-rated defence in Canada West, allowing 69.8 points per game.

The women Vikes, on a four-game winning streak, have also clinched a playoff spot at 15-5. Thompson Rivers has a 7-13 record but are still in the hunt for one of the eight post-season positions.

“The WolfPack are a very aggressive team and they have their backs to the wall,’’ said Vikes’ coach Brian Cheng. “They have lost 10 games in a row but they have been very close in several of them.

“Thompson Rivers has a very big team and we have to challenge all of their shots. Some of the people we have to pay attention to are Jen Ju and Kaitlyn Widsten. Ju has improved her skill sets and she can get into the paint at will. Widsten has the ability to knock down shots.’’

Fifth-year player Vanessa Forstbauer will not make the trip for the Vikes as she has an upper body injury.

Debbie Yeboah and Carmen Lapthorne both feasted off the Bobcats last weekend and they lead the Vikes in scoring. Yeboah is sixth in the league, averaging 14.3 points, while Lapthorne, is hitting at a clip of 10.2.

The UVic teams are idle next weekend before closing out the regular season Feb. 18-19 at McKinnon Gym against UBC.