BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

After more than a week off to write exams, the Horton Griffins D-1 boys’ basketball team gets back into action in a big way this weekend: they host the Mainland Athletic Conference (MAC) championship.

It will mark the start of a busy month for the Griffins, who host the Western Region championship Feb. 15-16 and will also host D-1 boys’ provincials Feb. 28-Mar. 1.

Regional rivals Avon View, Park View and Yarmouth, as well as CEC, North Nova, Dr. J.H. Gillis and Northumberland; join the host Griffins this weekend in an eight-team, single-knockout tournament.

“The good thing for us now is that we play at home the rest of the way - including regionals and provincials,” Horton head coach Tim Kendrick said February 4.

“Each game we play now is like a playoff game. Having this kind of tournament, the same format as provincials, just before regionals is why we like playing in the MAC,” he said – even this year, when the competition hasn’t been as strong.

The Griffins, who have won 55 straight games dating back to Dec. 29, 2006, will be the top seed.

Kendrick isn’t taking anything for granted.

“You still have to play the games,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to the weekend. I feel we’re ready, but Park View has a good team and CEC is much improved from the start of the season.”

Kendrick knew his team would be opening against Northumberland at 10 a.m. Friday, but the rest of the opening-round matchups were still to be determined. The final MAC league games were scheduled for last weekend in Truro, but that tournament was cancelled due late-week exams.

“We’re first and Northumberland is eighth - that’s not going to change, but two through seven is still up in the air,” Kendrick said.

There will be quarter-final games at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, followed by championship semifinals at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Horton and consolation semifinals at 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. at KCA.

Saturday, the seventh-place game goes at 9 a.m., the fifth-place game at 11 a.m. and the third-place game at 1 p.m., followed by the MAC championship at 3 p.m.