It's playoff time in the senior boys basketball sphere, where the tough road to the provincials requires all-terrain -like preparation.

First up is North League playoffs that features the circuit's top-10 teams in a series that began yesterday (past The NOW's deadline).

The continuing drama of hoop playdowns, and a whack of other interesting local sports events, are all worth checking out:

WE HEART PLAYOFFS

For the top-four teams, action starts today (Wednesday) in the Fraser Valley North senior boys basketball playoffs. At Terry Fox Secondary, the Gleneagle Talons face the winner of Port Moody and North Surrey at 6 p.m., followed by the host Ravens versus either Pinetree or Riverside at 7: 45 p.m.

In Pitt Meadows, the Heritage Woods Kodiaks face Fraser Heights at 6 p.m., while Pitt takes on either Centennial or Dr. Charles Best at 7: 45 p.m.

VALENTINE'S DANCE

In senior girls basketball, the regular season wraps up this week with a few big games. The Gleneagle Talons play Yale on Thursday, 6 p.m. at Gleneagle, in a battle of 4-5 teams, while winless Centennial ventures to Port Coquitlam to take on 2-7 Terry Fox in the other league match.

PICKING UP STEAM

After knocking off the first and second-best teams in their division, the last-place Coquitlam Express hope to continue that momentum on Saturday when they host the Nanaimo Clippers.

With just seven games remaining in the regular season and sitting three points back of the final playoff berth, Coquitlam needs to keep winning if it hopes to catch fourth-place Langley.