Elevator

Kenny Lemon, Olympic basketball: Reserve center got a huge ovation when he got in the game against South Caldwell on Monday, and an even bigger one when he scored a nice running one-hander in the fourth quarter. UP

NCHSAA Playoff seedings: Too many conference teams playing each other, or county neighbors playing each other in the first round. West Charlotte and North Meck get a huge reward, for example, for winning their first round games: a third meeting this season in the second round. DOWN

Mallard Creek defense: Mavericks held Skyland Roberson to 24 points on the road in a 50-24 win. Bradley Robinson had 10 points, six rebounds for the Mavs. UP

South Meck defense: Sabres didn't allow any Vance scorer more than seven points in a 62-38 win at home. UP

Concord offense: Spiders go triple digits in 100-53 win over McMichael in the first round of the 3A playoffs Monday. UP

Monday's Headlines

Harding starts playoffs with bang, easy win over Brown

Harding upset Sweet 16 No. 1 Olympic Friday and backed that win up in the first round of the N.C. 3A playoffs.

The Rams, No. 3 in the Sweet 16, beat A.L. Brown 81-55. The Rams led 28-9 after the first quarter.

Harding star Jarvis Haywood had 27 points, five rebounds, and teammates Emmanual Patton (23 points) and Tony Lowery (13 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, three assists) also had big games.

A.L. Brown got 12 points from Tevin Stark and 12 from Derrick Copeland.

Harding (23-4), seeded No. 7, will get a tough second-round game Wednesday at No. 2 seed North Forsyth (22-4). North Forsyth beat Hickory Ridge 83-69 in its first round game.

West Charlotte's reigning state champs impressive in first round

West Charlotte, the defending N.C. 4A champion, beat I-Meck 4A conference rival Mooresville 77-52 in the first round of the N.C. 4A playoffs Monday.

The Lions led 24-11 after the first quarter and 39-24 at halftime en route to the easy win.

West Charlotte center Kennedy Meeks finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Michael Brown, a Western Carolina recruit, had 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Wiggins' big night leads North Meck past Myers Park

North Mecklenburg senior guard Shivaughn Wiggins, the Observer's pick for I-Meck 4A player of the year, went for 30 points in Monday's 63-50 win over Myers Park in the first round of the N.C. 4A playoffs.

Tahjai Watt had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings, who will play at West Charlotte in Wednesday's second round.

Myers Park's Patrick Wallace had 16 points to lead the Mustangs.

High Point Central upsets Sun Valley

High Point Central, a No. 16 seed in the 4A playoffs, upset No. 1 Sun Valley 55-51 in overtime on the road Monday.

The upset, one of the biggest in the state, ended Sun Valley's 14-game win streak. Sun Valley ends its season at 22-5 after winning Southern Carolina regular-season and conference tournament championships.

High Point Central (11-15) will play at Richmond Senior (19-6) in the second round Wednesday. Richmond Senior, seeded No. 9, won 83-78 in overtime at No. 8 seeded Butler.

Monday's Top Playoff Performers

Sharee' Boyd, Hopewell girls: 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals in 48-31 win over Olympic.

Mercedes Davis, R-S Central girls: 10 points in 56-40 first round playoff win over Hibriten to surpass 1,000 points for her career. Teammate Shannon Hines had 21 points. Kiesha Corpening had 25 for Hibriten.

Zach Ferguson, Butler: 27 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals for Observer's Southwestern 4A player of the year in a 83-78 overtime loss to Richmond Senior. Richmond's Shydamian Ellerbe went for 32 points.

Nicole Graham, Mallard Creek girls: 17 points, three steals in 69-53 loss to Skyland Roberson.

Anika Jones, Shelby girls: 35 points, five rebounds in 63-47 loss to East Burke.

Jevon Patton, Highland Tech: 23 points, 10 assists, six steals in 70-32 win over Rosman.

Brooke Redmond, North Iredell girls: 12 points, 20 rebounds, six steals in 43-28 win over East Rowan.

Symphonie Richardson, Butler girls: 19 points, 18 rebounds in 54-51 win over West Mecklenburg. West's Quintashea Lewis had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Josh Smith, Olympic: Clemson recruit had 24 points, 12 rebounds in 76-41 win over South Caldwell.

Dikembe White, Monroe: 17 points, six steals in 83-35 win over East Montgomery.