North Meck girls roll past Asheville in NCHSAA first round playoff game
The North Mecklenburg High girls’ basketball team had no issue in a first round N.C. 4A playoff game Monday.
The Vikings, seeded No. 16, crushed No. 17 seed Asheville, 86-53, by playing up tempo and very physical.
“We were really just focused on moving the ball well,” North Meck coach Jennifer Baker said. “We’ve got a little chip on our shoulder from the last second play against Mallard Creek (that led to a loss in the conference tournament championship Friday). So, we are using that as motivation to push us through.”
North Meck will now have to travel to top-seeded Watauga for their second round game on Friday.
Watauga beat South Iredell 76-34 in its first round game Tuesday.
“Kate Sears is an incredible player,” Baker said of Watauga’s star. “She’s got a lot of supporting cast around her that can really shoot as well. So it will be a bit of contrasting styles. We’ve got to make sure on offense we find our mismatches and on defense we’ve got to find their shooters quickly.”
While Baker is making sure her team isn’t overlooking Watauga, she knows her team would love another shot at Mallard Creek in the third round next week.
Mallard Creek has beaten North Meck three times this year, and the Vikings want their get back.
“I’ve told my team from the beginning they would probably have to play Mallard Creek four times,” Baker said. “So, that would be another great game here in Charlotte if we get it done in the mountains.”
