DANIEL DE MATO PHOTO | Riverhead senior Quinn Funn is hacked on the arm as he goes up for a shot last week against Centereach.

When the Riverhead boys basketball team lost to North Babylon in mid-January — putting the teams in a tie for first at the midway point of the league season — it appeared the League III title might come down to the final game of the season when the teams would meet again.

As it turns out, it’ll be the penultimate game of the regular season that will have the biggest determining factor on the league title.

The Blue Waves, winners of four straight, will host Smithtown West at 5:45 p.m. tonight at Riverhead High School. Both teams are 10-2 in league and the winner of tonight’s game will be guaranteed at least a share of the league title. Smithtown West closes out the season Thursday against East Islip (10-6).

North Babylon, after the big win over previously unbeaten Riverhead Jan. 15, lost three of its next five games to slip to 8-4 and fall out of contention for the league title.

The Blue Waves won 59-55 against Smithtown West Jan. 10 on the road. The Blue Waves had four players in double figures that night, led by 17 from Markim Austin. The Blue Waves needed a big second half to come back from a eight-point halftime deficit.

Be sure to check back tonight for a full recap of tonight’s game.

joew@timesreview.com