Injured SF Kyle Spain (knee) appears on schedule to return to the Erie BayHawks in time for the playoffs.

The Erie BayHawks had its second day of practice Wednesday afternoon at Penn State Behrend’s Junker Center heading into Game 1 of their first-round series against the Reno Bighorns at Tullio Arena.

Kyle Spain, who was waived by the team due to injury last week, was shooting jump shots after having an MRI on his left knee for chronic tendinitis. Because Erie waived him due to injury, it can bring him back.

The BayHawks have brought in forward Chaz McCrommon out of Robert Morris to replace Spain, but if Spain gets back in time before Game 1, the team will have to waive a player.

“We have to make that decision when the time came,” Erie coach Jay Larranaga said. “I honestly haven’t made any determination of what 10 we could dress for the game, but I like all 11 guys that we have. I think they all can help us in the games.”

Larranaga said he hopes Spain can return for the playoffs. After Wednesday’s practice, Spain was shooting jump shots. He’ll do a lot more Thursday.

“He said it’s feeling a little better,” Larranaga said. “We plan on testing it. Tomorrow he’ll do some individual work with (assistant Ben McDonald) and we’re hoping on Friday he’ll be able to go 5-on-5 with the team and be able to see where he’s at. I think it’s progressing good and he feels good.”

But who will Erie cut if Spain does come back as he said he would when waived Saturday morning?

It could be McCrommon, who has practiced with the BayHawks, but they may also release power forward Alton Ford,  who is a former NBA player, but hasn’t played much for Erie this season. Ford has only played seven games and scored a total of seven points in that stretch.

Tasheed Carr headed overseas.

After being waived by the Erie BayHawks two weeks ago, Tasheed Carr will play overseas in Germany for Saar-Pfalz Braves, eurobasket.com reported Tuesday. The Braves have nine games left.

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 205-pound guard out of St. Joseph’s started in Erie’s first five games of the season, but saw his playing time drop considerably after that. In 25 games (6 starts), Carr averaged five points and two rebounds.

Carr, 25, who has played in China and Israel, started his college career at Iowa State. The Philadelphia native ended his college career in 2009 with St. Joe’s.

Looking back at it now, Carr was let go in part to make room for Erie to reacquire Garrett Temple, who rejoined the day after Carr was waived after his second 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks expired.

The BayHawks released Carr when they added big man Alton Ford. Erie coach Jay Larranaga said they needed size, but having Temple back made it easier for him to cut Carr.

Thought Carr was a solid offensive player, but it just seemed there was a division between him and Larranaga.

Carr said he didn’t understand why he wasn’t getting playing time and Larranaga never really gave a clear cut reason as to why Carr wasn’t playing.

Saturday, 2 p.m., Tullio Arena

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Erie — PF Ivan Johnson (A 2011 D-League All-Star, Johnson leads the BayHawks in scoring at 20.7 points a game and 7.4 rebounds. Johnson is the only Erie player to play and start in every game this season.) … SF Tasmin Mitchell (In his last eight games, Mitchell has averaged 26.1 points as Erie’s sixth man off the bench.) … SG Garrett Temple (Has played two games with Erie since returning after two 10-day contracts with the Milwaukee Bucks. Had 25 points and 11 rebounds in Friday’s 132-110 win at Texas.)

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If D-League All-Star forward Ivan Johnson gets an NBA call-up, what will happen to the Erie BayHawks?

The question is will they end the regular season that way?

With a 23-9 record, the BayHawks have won their last eight games, have a superstar in Ivan Johnson and are playing with great chemistry under a first-year head coach in Jay Larranaga, who just turned 36 last month.

Will the winning continue?

As the BayHawks come out of the D-League All-Star break, here are five things to watch for as they resume play Thursday night at Tulsa (24-10), which leads the West Conference.

1. Ivan Johnson – If he gets an NBA call-up within say the next three weeks, Erie will have to play at least four to five games without him. That could be a turning point in the season.

2. Tulsa and Iowa – The BayHawks have to play the 66ers (24-10) three times and the Energy five times. Erie is 1-1 against Iowa (25-10), which is just .05 percentage points lower than them in terms of record. Big games for Erie.

3. Home cooking – With a 12-1 record at Tullio Arena, Erie will play 11 of its last 18 games at home. The BayHawks, who have won 11 consecutive home games, close out the regular season with five home games. Can they stay hot at home?

4. Making more changes – Adding PF Alton Ford gives Erie more size, but the team is rolling. Larranaga says they’re more talented with Ford and Garrett Temple returning from the Milwaukee Bucks, but will they all mesh?

5. Defensive-minded? – Erie prides itself on being a defensive team, but it has allowed at least 100 points in six of its last seven games. Erie had only given up 100 points 10 times in its previous 16 games. Can it get defensive again?