by Chris Hunt

North Mecklenburg and Hopewell won their first-round games in the 4A state playoffs on Feb. 21.

The Vikings (22-5) took advantage of point guard Shivaughn Wiggins’ 21 points, seven assists and three steals to rout the No. 2 seed out of the Southern Carolina Conference, Indian Trail Porter Ridge, 92-42. Viking shooting guard Carlin Bremner chipped in 17 points.

North Meck is the No. 2 seed out of the I-MECK 4A conference. On Feb. 23, the Vikings faced Olympic in the second round of the 4A playoffs. The Trojans (26-1) are the No. 1 team in the Carolina Weekly Newspaper Group’s Super 10 rankings.

Hopewell, the No. 5 seed out of the I-MECK, took out Southern Carolina co-champion Indian Trail Sun Valley, 61-41. The Titans’ Elliott Pope scored 17 points and Daron Curry chipped in 12 points. Hopewell (12-12) traveled to face West Meck in the second round on Feb. 23. The Titans defeated the Hawks, 54-49, on Dec. 20 in the Queen’s University holiday ­tournament.