File photo – Trinity Preston in action for the McKinleyville girls last year.

By Ray Hamill — A couple of H-DNL basketball teams got some good news today when they were cleared for an immediate return to the basketball court.

The McKinleyville girls and Fortuna boys were each given the green light to begin play again after their scheduled season openers were canceled earlier in the week because of COVID protocols.

The McKinleyville girls will now open their season against Ferndale at Arcata High on Wednesday night.

The Fortuna boys will now open at home to St. Bernard’s on Thursday night.

The Panthers had been scheduled to host St. Bernard’s on Monday night, but were forced to call the game shortly before tip off.

The Huskies suffered a similar fate on Tuesday, when their varsity and JV games with South Fork had to be canceled earlier in the day.

The Fortuna boys will return to play with a limited number of players.

The Arcata girls also were forced to cancel their season opener against Eureka on Monday because of COVID protocols and will return to practice this coming Monday before opening their season the following day.