The stage is set.

 It's March Madness, Basketball New Brunswick style.

 A season which began with tryouts in October, all comes down to one weekend for the Northside Minor Basketball Association, its stable of teams and rivals from across the province.

 The NMBA will be represented by six teams next month, one of the largest contingents the association has fielded at the under-12 and under-14 levels.

 The defending provincial champion Division I U14 Lions will carry NMBA colours to Moncton for a six-team field.

 NMBA is joined by the host Hawks, East Saint John Thunder, Kennebecasis Valley Slammers, Miramichi Tommies and Fredericton's YCBC Capitals.

 The Lions' Division II U14 girls are in Hampton and will battle the host Huskies, Grand Manan Breakers, Miramichi Pulamoo and East Saint John.

 NMBA's U12 girls are in Grand Bay-Westfield for the championship, battling host River Valley, East Saint John, Riverview and Miramichi Pulamoo.

 All girls' tournaments are March 14-15.

 Turning to the boys' side one weekend later - March 21-22 - the U14 D1 and D2 squads are in Moncton.

 The D1 side features the Lions with Moncton Gold and Moncton Black, KVBA, Western Valley Attack and YCBC. The D2 Lions will greet host Moncton, Centreville, Salisbury, East Saint John and Hampton.

 The U12 boys visit Saint John with host Lancaster Lynx rolling out the welcome mat. The Lions and Lynx will be joined by East Saint John, KVBA, Sussex and Moncton.

 The NMBA's U12 development team is awaiting a host location. But the crew will be playing against Centreville, Florenceville, Fundy of St. George, Miramichi Tommies, Southern Victoria of Perth-Andover and Woodstock Thunder.