4A Championship: New Hanover vs. North Mecklenburg

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Meck further established itself as the team to beat in the 4A ranks following its state win over New Hanover at the conclusion of last season. This season's Wildcats rendition decided to invoke its rematch clause.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With victories over Rolesville, Heritage, Richmond, Green Level and Sanderson, New Hanover found its way back to the 4A state game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for North Meck, the Vikings' path back to the 4A championship game would include getting in the win column against Mallard Creek, Davie, Weddington, Watauga and Chambers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Would the Wildcats get sweet revenge over North Meck or would the Vikings reign supreme over the 4A lands one more time prior to reclassification? The answer was the latter as the Vikings came from behind to claim state glory once again with a 59-56 victory to stun the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Meck adds a state championship to its trophy case – and said championship trophy will also display that the Vikings compiled a record of 30-3 in addition to its conference mark of 13-0. As for New Hanover, its 2024-25 concludes with an identical 30-3 mark with a perfect 14-0 conference record and an East Region championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike last season's state get-together between New Hanover and North Meck, the Vikings were the designated road team and the Wildcats were in their home white uniforms. New Hanover opened the contest on a stunning 14-0 run. A motivated Wildcats team looking to exercise the demons of last season's state loss would assume a 31-18 lead after eight minutes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the many things this game was shaping up to feature, a defensive clinic was not one of them. As both teams entered into their respective locker rooms for the second half, New Hanover's lead over North Meck was 41-31.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings' furious comeback continued into the third quarter. North Meck opened the frame with a 12-0 run which equaled a 42-41 lead – and prompted a New Hanover timeout. The Wildcats would exit the third quarter holding on for dear life to a 45-43 advantage.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The object that was closer than it appeared named the Vikings would pull in front of the Wildcats. New Hanover showed signs of life late, but North Meck's championship pedigree showed itself once again and it would complete the miraculous comeback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812350,"width":"569px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5661-crop-2985x1960-1742104210.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5661-crop-2985x1960-1742104210.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812350" style="width:569px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Mecklenburg's two-headed monster of 2025 wings proved to be a bit too much for New Hanover to withstand. One of those heads was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1916754' first='Carson' last='Evans']</strong>. He led all point-getters with 23 – including connecting on four of his five attempts from downtown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812353,"width":"571px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_6040-crop-3499x2298-1742104391.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_6040-crop-3499x2298-1742104391.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812353" style="width:571px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other head was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1409583' first='Chadlyn' last='Traylor']</strong>. He would add 22 to the efforts for the Vikings. He would also add four rebounds and a team-high four assists. Traylor's kicks were on the Wake Forest hardwood from the opening tip to the final buzzer as he logged all 32 minutes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812356,"width":"574px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_6025-crop-2528x1660-1742104549.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_6025-crop-2528x1660-1742104549.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812356" style="width:574px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An unsung hero of Saturday afternoon's contest could be junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680977' first='Ashton' last='Pierce']</strong> who is a backcourt stalwart for North Meck. He tallied eight points but he also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and collected a pair of steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812361,"width":"569px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5784-crop-3499x2298-1742104743.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5784-crop-3499x2298-1742104743.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812361" style="width:569px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220122' first='Rodmik' last='Allen']</strong>'s afternoon – and his high school career, being a senior – concluded with a 14 point effort. Allen's sneakers also were on the court from start to finish as he played all 32 minutes. He also dished out five assists, corralled five boards and collected four steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812365,"width":"565px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5831-crop-2108x1384-1742104913.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5831-crop-2108x1384-1742104913.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812365" style="width:565px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Hanover's efforts also were buoyed by the 13 points and eight rebounds that came courtesy of junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1950203' first='Kellum' last='Brown']</strong>. He also played all 32 minutes. Brown is one of six juniors on this season's Wildcats rendition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812368,"width":"563px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_6052-crop-2108x1384-1742105065.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_6052-crop-2108x1384-1742105065.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812368" style="width:563px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adding scoring depth off the bench would be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225663' first='CJ' last='Kornegay']</strong>, a 2025 forward. He only played a bit over nine minutes, but scored 10 points and hauled in four rebounds in his allotted time. Kornegay made some clutch plays late that gave New Hanover hope it would stave off the ferocious Vikings comeback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2812371,"width":"556px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5978-crop-2108x1384-1742105210.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5978-crop-2108x1384-1742105210.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2812371" style="width:556px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2077345' first='Nolan' last='Billings']</strong> also would sport New Hanover's signature orange for one final time. Billings contributed nine points to the Wildcats' cause. Billings also grabbed six rebounds in nearly 23 minutes of playing time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1220121' first='Zeus' last='Batts'], Cam Angel, [player_tooltip player_id='1220122' first='Rodmik' last='Allen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1225663' first='CJ' last='Kornegay'], Jakim Beatty and [player_tooltip player_id='2077345' first='Nolan' last='Billings'] will soon trade their New Hanover uniforms for caps and gowns. The same applies to [player_tooltip player_id='1409583' first='Chadlyn' last='Traylor'], [player_tooltip player_id='1916754' first='Carson' last='Evans'], [player_tooltip player_id='2045172' first='Zion' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1454559' first='Greg' last='Murray'], [player_tooltip player_id='2173934' first='Kyce' last='Matthews'] and Nick Estell at North Meck.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Reclassification</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If North Meck and New Hanover meet for the third consecutive season in a state championship game in 2025-26, it will be for the 7A championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->