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Mideastern Conference Tournament Championships: New Hanover boys, Hoggard girls go back to back

michael cuneo, wilmington starnews
·2 min read

It was a night of repeat champions in the Mideastern Conference tournament finals Friday as both the Hoggard girls and New Hanover boys earned consecutive titles.

New Hanover boys keep conference win streak alive

It's not easy to beat a team three times in one season, but New Hanover did just that for the second time in the last two years as they defeated Hoggard 53-52 Friday.

The Wildcats, who have a 28-0 regular-season conference record over the last two seasons, have defeated their cross-town rivals six times in the last two years.

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"You should see how hard we practice," New Hanover coach Kirk Angel said. "I told (the team) after the regular season, I've never been more proud of a group than this one to date."

Hoggard senior Jack Voth led all scorers with 19 points. Zeus Batts led New Hanover with 13 points, while sophomore Rodmik Allen scored 12.

Hoggard girls never in doubt

Hoggard's Coach Boubacar Aw celebrates winning the MEC Championship with his team as they defeated Topsail 57-27 in the Girls MEC Championship game Friday Feb. 17, 2023 in Wilmington, N.C. at Laney High School. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS
Hoggard's Coach Boubacar Aw celebrates winning the MEC Championship with his team as they defeated Topsail 57-27 in the Girls MEC Championship game Friday Feb. 17, 2023 in Wilmington, N.C. at Laney High School. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

In almost identical fashion to last season's MEC conference championship final, Hoggard dominated from the start, defeating Topsail 57-29.

Senior Lexi Steed led all scorers with 15 points. Fellow senior Laney Scoggins scored 14 points.

Hoggard coach Boubacar Aw said his team's strong senior play has helped it succeed all season long.

"It's been fun for us, and I credit that to our wonderful coaching staff," Aw said. "Anna-Hollis Pit and Lexi Steed, I call them my dogs. I would put them on any men's team and they would go toe to toe. They are studs."

Hoggard advances into the NCHSAA state playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the 4A East.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Mideastern Conference basketball tournament championship results