The Erie BayHawks (8-12) may have just found their groove.

They’ve won four of their last five games, scored 100 points in three of their last four games and showed the ability to close out an opponent in Wednesday night’s 109-97 win against Fort Wayne.

However, none of those wins have come against a team that currently has a winning record. Erie beat Reno (6-12), Los Angeles (7-8) and Fort Wayne (8-12) twice.

Michael Harris (2) and the Rio Grande Vipers will come to Erie next week to seriously challenge the BayHawks. The Vipers lead the West Conference with a 13-5 record. They're 3-1 in their last four games.

So there is much they have to prove. Erie will two games at Tulsa, which is 10-7, this weekend and travel to Austin for a Tuesday tilt. The Toros are 9-8.

When they return home, the BayHawks will have a true test when taking on Rio Grande Valley, which has the best record in the West at 13-5, for two games Jan. 22 and 23.

Now if Erie can sweep the Vipers when returning home next week, then maybe its lead local investor, Owen McCormick, can have more faith in his prediction that the BayHawks will make the playoffs.