North Mecklenburg girls dominate Southern Durham, win first NC state title since ‘86
Head coach Jennifer Baker remembers being at Lawrence Joel Coliseum last year, watching the North Mecklenburg boys’ basketball team win a state title. Her players looked at Baker, telling the head coach the North Meck girls’ team needed to be where the boys were: competing for a state championship.
“I said, ‘Well, are y’all ready to do the work?’” Baker said. “They said ‘yes.’ ... We completed our goal and job we set forth this season.”
The Vikings defeated Southern Durham, 65-38, in the Class 7A final on Saturday afternoon, winning the school’s second title and earning its 18th consecutive win. North Meck last won a state title in 1986, powered by All-American Andrea Stinson, who helped the school to a win over Fayetteville’s Pine Forest High School that year.
Stinson led an unbeaten North Meck team in that final 40 years ago, finishing with 35 points, nine steals and six rebounds.
During its second state championship, Stinson sat in the stands and watched N.C. Ms. Basketball finalist Lenise Joseph lead North Meck (29-2) with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting and 12 rebounds. The 6-foot-1 junior forward has more than 35 college offers and scored more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in her first two seasons.
Joseph remembers watching the boys’ team win a state title, and she wanted to do everything she could to win one in 2026.
“I didn’t want to cry anymore,” Joseph said, later adding. “We just kept getting stuck at home. I was tired of losing. … The plan never changed. It was just where we, as a team, collectively all bought into it.”
As soon as the game began, Joseph showed why she’s one of North Carolina’s top prospects.
In the opening four minutes, North Meck took an early 12-5 advantage thanks to the junior star, who scored seven points on 3-for-3 shooting, forcing a Southern Durham (27-4) timeout. Joseph rattled off four more points before the end of the quarter, while Morgan Knox — who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds — contributed six. North Meck led 21-7 heading into the second quarter.
“Each person, each time out, each possession, everybody steps up, everybody takes on that leadership role,” Baker said, later adding. “They communicate with each other every single time.”
Southern Durham found some life before halftime, going on a 6-0 run before Joseph made back-to-back layups. Southern Durham outscored North Meck 16-13 in the second quarter. Still, Joseph and Knox kept the Vikings ahead, making late shots to enter halftime up 34-23.
Joseph had 17 points while Knox added 12 by halftime. The pair’s 11 combined rebounds also helped North Meck outrebound Southern Durham 27-10 in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Vikings’ defense overwhelmed Southern Durham, holding the Spartans to five points. Senior guard Stephanie Mobley kept North Meck ahead, hitting a 3-pointer and making a jumper. The Vikings also made seven free throws as they outscored Southern Durham by 13 in the third quarter.
Southern Durham only made two field goals in the second half.
“We preach defense every day,” Joseph said. “That’s what we focus on above all else. That’s what we’re on the most. I feel like we’re one of the best defensive teams in the state. … That’s what we live on.”
Entering the fourth quarter up 52-28, North Meck held onto its lead despite a low-scoring final eight minutes, keeping Southern Durham to 10 points.
The win marks Baker’s first state title after coaching at North Meck for more than 18 seasons.
“One word that describes Coach Baker is sacrifice,” Mobley said. “Nobody understands the hours upon hours she stays awake. It’s scouting reports, making sure we’re all set on which uniforms, it’s snacks to keep us fueled, practice plans. It’s sacrifice. And she’s never complaining. She’s never in a bad mood. She meets us where we are.”
Game summary
Southern Durham 7 16 5 10 — 38
North Mecklenburg 21 13 18 13 — 65
SOUTHERN DURHAM 38 — Snipes-Drain 2, Hawkins 2, Palmer 7, Hudson 12, Williams 1, Herndon 9, Trice 5
NORTH MECK 65 — Mobley 8, Trotter 4, Newton 6, Johnson 3, Knox 19, Joseph 21, Mack 4
Records: North Mecklenburg 29-2, Southern Durham 27-4.
This story was originally published March 14, 2026 at 7:03 PM with the headline "North Mecklenburg girls dominate Southern Durham, win first NC state title since ‘86."