It's only a three-game sampling before teams head their separate ways over the holiday break, but the I-Meck Conference basketball season begins with a slate of games Friday night.

And anticipation is high as one of the state's premier conferences gets started.

Though the conference alignment has been changed somewhat since 2003, I-Meck boys' teams Vance, North Meck, Lake Norman and West Charlotte have combined to make six state finals appearances in nine years. That includes state titles in 2003 (Vance) and 2005 (North Meck), and the last two years by Lake Norman (2010) and West Charlotte (2011).

"I wouldn't be surprised if the state champions come out of this conference" again this year, says Hopewell coach Damon Bost.

West Charlotte, led by Division I recruit Kennedy Meeks, and Mooresville, led by Charlotte recruit Shawn Lester, appear to be the frontrunners. But North Meck, which finished second only to West Charlotte in the I-Meck with an 11-3 league record last year, cannot be overlooked, despite losing key players to graduation. Point guard Shivaughn Wiggins has been the catalyst so far, averaging 23 points per game as the Vikings have started the year 6-0. That includes a 30-point performance against Garinger last Friday.

"He's scored when he's had to," says North coach Duane Lewis. "He's motivated guys. He's really stepped his game up. He's playing the way we thought he would."

Lewis says he likes how this year's Vikings, which play at Lake Norman Friday before hosting West Charlotte Tuesday, compete.

"I go to practice knowing the energy level is going to be there," says Lewis. "I don't have to worry about that."

Following a 61-50 win over Myers Park Monday, Hopewell's boys were 2-4 entering Wednesday's non-conference game with Concord. The Titans finished fifth in the I-Meck last year, securing the final automatic state playoff berth, but are very young this season. Bost says his team is still trying to find what works.

"It's just going to come down to the togetherness of our team," says Bost, whose Titans travel to West Charlotte Friday and host rival Hough Tuesday. "If we stick together, we'll weather the storm. If we don't stick together, it'll clearly rain."

Hough's second team has started the season 3-3, a year after winning five games. Only one of those victories came against I-Meck opponents, but Justin Batts' team was more competitive down the stretch last year. He's hopeful the Huskies, who were to visit non-conference foe Harding Wednesday and host Vance in the I-Meck opener Friday, can improve inside the league, but says results like Monday's 82-58 loss to an up-tempo Berry team serve as a reminder of what the Huskies will face from teams such as West Charlotte and Mooresville.

"I think the most important thing for us against teams like that is valuing our possessions," says Batts.

Girls' race 'wide open'

Though it could not beat Mallard Creek in last year's conference tournament final, Hopewell won the I-Meck regular season crown by going 13-1 in league play.

But the Titans lost significant production to graduation, as did Mallard Creek, which causes Hopewell coach Gary Richmond to view this year's I-Meck race this way:

"I think it's wide open," he says. "I don't think there's a clear-cut favorite."

The Lady Titans, who made their first regional appearance last year, were 3-3 entering Wednesday's non-league game with Concord, and Richmond says Hopewell is still looking for a consistent third option offensively, to complement Shareé Boyd and Bryanna Curry, as it opens league play at West Charlotte. The non-conference slate has been tough so far, including a win at state power Salisbury and two losses to Myers Park.

"That's going to help us in December and January, as long as we keep getting better," says Richmond.

Hough tied Lake Norman for third last season and took a 3-2 record to Harding Wednesday, having lost 49-46 to Berry Monday in overtime.

The Huskies struggled in taking care of the basketball against the Cardinals, but coach Sonja Tate says her team, which returns all its top players from last year, has potential as it opens the league season against Vance.

"I feel we can play with the best of them," says Tate.

North Meck took home fifth place last season and lost multiple starters to graduation, but coach Jennifer Baker has been pleased so far with how her team, 4-2 after Tuesday's 69-30 loss to Myers Park, has been playing.

"Every night, somebody different has stepped up," says Baker.

As her team opens the I-Meck schedule at Lake Norman Friday, Baker hopes that depth will be difficult for opponents to stop.