In the 1982 movie Rocky III, Rocky Balboa’s former rival turned trainer Apollo Creed spars with Rocky in preparing for his rematch against Clubber Lang.

During their sparring, Balboa wants to stop, and tells Creed “tomorrow.” Then Creed fired back by saying, “There is no tomorrow.”

That’s the approach that Cordova High School boys basketball team is using when it comes to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.

On Wednesday, the Lancers are one of 16 prep hoop teams that begin action in the section’s D-III playoffs. Tabbed as the No. 15th seed, Cordova makes the short trek to the Bradshaw Road Exit to play at Capital Christian, the No. 2 seed.

Should Cordova beat Capital Christian in the first round, it plays the winner of the No. 10 Benicia-No. 7 Center playoff game. That game would be played today, Friday, at 7 p.m.

Cordova enters the post-season with a 15-11 record, which includes an 8-2 mark in the Sierra Valley Conference for a second-place finish. The Cougars posted a 12-0 record to capture the Golden Empire League title, and went 19-7 during the regular season.

Cordova head coach Fletcher Johnson spoke before Wednesday’s game. He feels the keys going into the playoff opener against the Cougars are his Lancers committing minimal turnovers and fast start on offense.

“That’s what I think will be the key,” Johnson said. “If we execute offensively, and don’t have turnovers, and get some fast breaks, that is what’s going to keep us in the game. In the playoffs, there is no tomorrow.”

Throughout the season, the Lancers have battled injuries to both starters and role players. But Cordova has dug deep with its depth, in particular in conference play that led to only two losses, both to Liberty Ranch, which won the SVC title and also opened the D-IV playoffs as the No. 6 seed hosting No. 11 Lindhurst.

Leading scorers for the Lancers, entering Wednesday’s playoff opener, are guards Markell Briggs at 14.9 points per game, Jason Novik at 14.2 per game and Calvin Augusta at 13.6. Xavier Johnson at 8.7 points per game and Joseph Danielyan follow at 7.9 points per game.

Johnson feels the strength of the Cougars’ offense is the front and back courts. Three players are averaging double-digits in scoring; Zachary Chappell at 15.2 points per game, Austin Alexander at 13.5 and Conor Jeffery at 12.7.

“They’ve got exceptional guards,” Johnson said. “They’ve got outside shooting. That’s going to be a tough battle.”