The road trip that looms ahead for the Lewis-Clark State basketball teams this weekend is a big one – and not just in terms of the 570-mile, 10-hour, 45-minute journey through the mountains of Idaho and Montana to Billings. Seedings and matchups – and key host roles, into next week's Frontier Conference Tournament will be determined over the next few days.
 
"You have to have a dream to make a dream come true," Warrior women's basketball coach Brian Orr said as the Warriors prepared for the venture to Carroll College and Rocky Mountain. "We have to dream big."
 
The final regular-season action for the teams begins Thursday with the 4:30 p.m. (PT) women's game and 6:30 p.m. (PT) men's game at Carroll College. Heading into the weekend, Carroll's men's team is second in the league standings and is ranked sixth in the most recent NAIA poll. The Saint women lead the Frontier Conference and are 11^th nationally.
 
Lewis-Clark State's men split with Carroll with both teams winning on the road, while the Warrior women dropped both games to the Saints.
 
From Helena, the Warriors continue east to Billings for Saturday games (4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) at Rocky Mountain College. With games against Montana Western on tap before LC's visit, the Battlin' Bears' women are second the conference and the men are fourth. Again, the Warrior men split (this time with both teams winning at home) with the Bears, and the women were swept in the two previous games.

"It's going to be a tough road trip to finish conference at Carroll and going to Rocky," LC men's coach Brandon Rinta said. "It's going to decide a lot of our fate in the post-season."
 
The Warrior men, 19^th nationally and third in the league going into the weekend, have secured a first-round host role (Tuesday, 7 p.m.). This weekend's games will determine the final seeding with Nos. 2, 3, and 4 earning the host roles to Nos. 5, 6 and 7 with the regular-season champion earning the first-round bye.
 
The Warrior women, fifth heading into the weekend, could nab a host role depending on Providence's outcomes against Montana State-Northern and Montana Tech. The women's league tournament begins Wednesday.
 
"Our focus now is we have two games to prepare for a third game," Orr said. "To extend our season, we have to win the third. We know the mission in front of us is really, really tough. Really challenging.
 
"I know this team is going to do its best. I know we've had our moments and we've struggled but, honestly, that's part of the process and we're continuing to get better. Honestly, I think we have a chance. Going on the road and doing it … It's what you have to do to be successful in this league."
 
Rinta agrees.
 
"All the trips are tough," he said. "There's a lot riding on these games. Our guys know what they mean. I have faith they're going to bring the energy and the mindset they need."
 
All Warrior games are live on KOZE Sports Radio (950-AM).