The I-Meck 4A boys basketball conference has been dubbed one of the toughest in the state by a number of pundits.
Mooresville coach Mike Micklow leaves no doubt on his stance.
"Oh, I think it is the toughest conference in the state for sure," Micklow said. "You can't coach size. I think that's going to be our Achilles' heel all season. I'm hoping with our speed and the way we shoot the ball, hopefully that will counter our lack of size."
The run-and-gun Blue Devils will join the likes of Hopewell (28-1 last year), Vance (24-4) and Lake Norman (27-2 in 3A).
West Charlotte, which went just 11-13 last year, is loaded and may be the team to beat.
The Blue Devils, though, are up to the challenge.
With three total seniors and two starting sophomores, Mooresville is young but athletic.
The team will be able to run with anyone and hopes to win games with defense.
"Expect the unexpected this year," Micklow said with a chuckle. "The guys are excited to get into this new conference. We are going to work hard, get up and down the court, and we're going to play some real good defense this year."
Standouts
The most notable returning player for Mooresville is Shawn Lester. The 6-foot-3 sophomore was all-conference and all-region last year after a spectacular freshman campaign.
Dantae Carson, a West Iredell transfer, gives the Blue Devils some options in the backcourt.
He's currently penciled in as the starting point guard, which will allow junior Isaiah Johnson to slide over to the No. 2 spot to free him up on offense.
With Lester and 6-foot-1 sophomore Kendrick Johnson in the starting lineup as well, Mooresville may have the most athletic starting five in the county.
"Jay Willis will also come in and give us a lot of good minutes," Micklow noted. "Again, we're going to have to get up and down the court."
New leader
After watching the progression Mooresville's girls basketball program made over the last two years, Melanie Allen now gets to keep the momentum going as head coach.
The Blue Devils went from nearly winless to the playoffs under Jim Lambert, who did not return this season.
Allen, an assistant coach the previous three years, now has the reins of a program on the upswing.
"I think the main thing is that we changed how we worked in the offseason," Allen said. "With the way teams are now, you have to play basketball year-round. And that's the difference, really.
"We had a good offseason again this year and we're excited about this upcoming year."
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