All 6 active Bay Rivers schools were on COVID-19 pause. They’re set to come back by next week.

With all six active teams following COVID-19 protocol, there have been no Bay Rivers District boys basketball games for almost a week. However, with the addition of district favorite Smithfield, which played its first game on Tuesday, all seven teams could be back in uniform by late next week.

Several games have been canceled since the most recent one to be played this past Wednesday, when New Kent defeated Bruton. But those two teams paused activity following that game, joining Grafton, Poquoson, Tabb and York, all of which were on protocol either because of an active COVID case or exposure to one.

Poquoson athletic director Ken Bennett said the Islanders, whose last game was on Jan. 18 against York, will return to action on Saturday against Windsor. Katherine Goff, York County Schools’ Public Relations and Communications Officer, said boys basketball teams in that division can begin playing games again Feb. 3.

Goff, Bennett and New Kent athletic director John Spiak all confirmed that varsity boys basketball is the only sport paused at this time while COVID protocols are observed. Smithfield, opened its season on Tuesday at Franklin and was scheduled to play at Gloucester on Friday and again at Franklin on Saturday, before playing its first home game on Monday against Gloucester.

The Packers, who went 21-3 a year ago, will play their first Bay Rivers District game on Feb. 3.

“We’re excited,” Packers’ coach Theotis Porter said before Tuesday’s game at Franklin. “We understand we’re one of the few, especially in our area, getting the opportunity to play.

“We’re a senior-laden team this year, with eight seniors, so I’m ecstatic for those guys to have a season, especially coming off the type of season we had last year.”