Hawks start MAC tourney play Thursday

HOUSTON —This weekend the Houston Hawks will hit the floor for a Mid-Alaska Conference tournament for the final time.

The Hawks are dropping from the 4A MAC to the 3A Southcentral Conference, making the move to more appropriate competition. As Houston hits its final stretch as a 4A program, the Hawks would love to leave the conference on a winning note and Houston head coach Dave Porter believes his team has a legitimate chance.

Three teams are expected to battle for the MAC boys’ title when the championships start Thursday at West Valley High School in Fairbanks.

“It’s between us, West Valley and Lathrop. Who is feeling the best and playing with the most energy is probably going to win the whole thing,” Porter said. “We’ve had a really great run for our program. I’m proud of our kids and where we’re at. I think we can make some noise at regions.

Porter’s Hawks open tourney play Thursday at 1 p.m. against host West Valley. Both teams finished 3-3 in MAC play this year and split their regular season series.

Lathrop and North Pole play in the other semifinal.

The three-day tourney has a true double-elimination format, meaning a team that loses on the first day still has the opportunity to win the title.

The Houston girls head into the MAC tourney as the No. 4 seed and will play top-seeded West Valley on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. North Pole meets Lathrop in the other semifinal.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.