If they do that, the goal of winning a conference title will be a reality.
What has to be done? The Vikings have to pull away from the pack, just as they did in a game that was close for a half, but ended with a 79-49 victory.
But now, given their sole possession of first place in the eight-team league, the Vikings are the hunted, rather than the hunter. Everyone is chasing North.
Viking coach Duane Lewis says the key for his team, 14-2 overall and 6-1 in the I-Meck, is to remember how it moved into the favorable position of league leader, after being overlooked, at least by some pre-season prognosticators, as a contender for the conference crown.
"It's going to be tough, as tough as the first (half)," says Lewis. "They gotta keep reminding themselves what people thought of them at the beginning of the year. We've got to keep approaching the game with hard work."
Lewis says it's cliché, but his team needs to play with a chip on its shoulder in order to stay out front, which he says works out well because it does anyway. The energy North brings defensively, especially, has caused more than one opponent to simply back down.
"They work hard," says Lewis. "Everybody that leaves the gym knows we play hard. We win because we go hard."
The Vikings just love playing basketball and more specifically, playing it together. Lewis has arrived at North before a few away games this season only to find his players playing a full-court pickup game. They had already been at it for at least an hour. Most coaches discourage that kind of physical exertion before a game that counts, but Lewis encourages it. It's like it primes his team for the game it will play later.
"They can play basketball 24-7," says Lewis. "They love it. They like being around each other. They play pickup, play 3-on-3, play shooting games."
Point guard Shivaughn Wiggins remains the Vikings' catalyst. He has scored 30 or more points in seven games, including the 31 he had against Hopewell and a high of 33 against Lake Norman Dec. 9. He's averaging 25 points and 5.5 assists per game, and makes positive things happen by breaking down defenses with drives to the basket. Often, he scores, sets up a teammate for easy baskets or gets fouled.
Lewis loves his unselfishness.
"At the end of the night, the main thing (he cares about) is his team is still winning," says Lewis. "He's just great, great with the ball, makes good decisions."
Against Hopewell, Wiggins made it to the foul line 18 times and hit 13 free throws. It wasn't quite the 19-of-20 foul shooting performance he had against Lake Norman, but was nearly as effective.
"Any team moving forward, if you play North Meck, if you can't keep (Wiggins) off the foul line, you're going to struggle," said Hopewell coach Damon Bost.
But the Vikings are getting contributions from across the board. Wing player Rashaan Brown, who scored 21 at Mooresville Jan. 10, continues to emerge as an offensive weapon. Post player Tahjai Watt is playing well, and Watt electrified the crowd against Hopewell by catching the ball at the top of the key, driving the lane and throwing down a thunderous dunk. And guard Kelly Hall has stepped up the past two games with solid play from the perimeter.
Having won six straight games, North was to play a non-conference game at Garinger on Wednesday before hosting Lake Norman. A showdown with defending 4A state champion West Charlotte, the lone I-Meck team to beat North so far, is set for Tuesday at West Charlotte. The Lions won the Dec. 13 meeting 53-50.
West Charlotte, Mooresville and Mallard Creek are tied for second in the I-Meck with 5-2 league records. North beat Mallard Creek 66-44 on Jan. 3 before topping Mooresville 67-51 a week later.
Lewis says he loves how his team approaches each game. The Vikings aren't taking anyone lightly, but are also not intimidated.
"They always respect the other opponent, but also have a confidence that we can beat each opponent," he says. "They have a little swag and confidence."
The loss at North was the sixth straight for Hopewell, a team relying heavily on young talent.
The Titans (4-12, 2-5) are tied with Lake Norman for sixth in the I-Meck, one game behind Vance. The Titans beat Hough and Lake Norman during the first half of the I-Meck season, but have not won since topping Lake Norman 70-58 on Dec. 16.
Bost says his team is still trying to find consistency. An example of the Titans' inconsistency occurred in the 68-59 loss to Mallard Creek on Jan. 6. The Titans scored 25 points in the second quarter and appeared to be well on their way to not only a notable win, having taken a 36-29 lead into halftime, but also to another level of play going forward. But Hopewell followed its dynamic second-quarter performance with just four points in the third as the game slipped away.
"We just can't put together four quarters," said Bost.
