By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

No matter what, Missouri Southern is the fourth or fifth seed in next week’s MIAA Postseason Tournament and plays Northwest Missouri State at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in a first-round contest.

Missouri Western can secure a tournament berth by beating Missouri Southern or if Fort Hays State loses at home to Northwest Missouri State.

However, the Lions still have plenty on the line in tonight’s 5:30 game against the Griffons in St. Joseph, Mo.

“A win on Saturday takes away a lot of doubt as far as a regional situation is concerned,’’ Lions head coach Maryann Mitts said. “It would be nice to finish fourth in the league as well. We’ve always said in the MIAA it’s Washburn and Emporia (State), and the rest of us are playing for third. It would be nice to solidify the No. 4 seed.’’

The Lions (18-8, 9-8 MIAA) are sixth in this week’s NCAA Division II South Central Regional ranking. The top eight teams made the NCAA Tournament.

The Lions won 70-53 Wednesday night at Pittsburg State in an effort that resembled the Lions’ play while going 9-0 the first semester.

“When we made that (12-0) run in the first half, No. 1, every single person on the team played her role,’’ Mitts said. “The first semester, it didn’t matter what the other team did. If they stopped our posts, the guards stepped up; if they stopped the guards, the posts stepped up. If they stopped Tynesha (Pierce), Fatai (Hala’Api’Api) stepped up. If they stopped Ty and Fatai, Nichole Helfrich stepped up.

“It seemed like we had the right team chemistry again, and we were healthy. Having Ela (Zawadka) back on the floor made a huge difference, and Robin (Kantin) played 32 minutes. They played with energy and heart again, and it looked like the kids were having fun. It was a much better feeling than we’ve had the last 21/2 weeks.’’

Missouri Western (11-14, 6-11) kept its conference tournament hopes alive with a 69-66 victory Wednesday at rival Northwest Missouri State.

“That speaks volumes what they did Wednesday at Northwest,’’ Mitts said. “It tells me they still have a lot of fight in them. They have three players who started on last year’s team that was No. 2 in the country. I know they have a lot of pride in going from that to not even making the conference tournament. They will fight very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.’’

Griffon seniors Yanique Javois and Jill Johnson rank 4-5 in the league in scoring at 18.3 and 17.8 points, respectively. Both set career highs of 39 points earlier this month, Javois in a 100-87 loss to Emporia State and Johnson in a 93-78 win over Truman State.

The 5-foot-11 Johnson is fourth in school history in scoring (1,440) and fifth in rebounds (727).

“Of all the players in the MIAA, Jill Johnson is the one player our staff respects the most,’’ Mitts said. “She’s a great person and works extremely hard on the floor. I think she’s playing through a facial injury right now that would sideline most players. A couple of years ago she lit us up for 31 points in Kansas City. We’re very much aware of what Jill can do.’’