Detailing major changes to the Observer’s Sweet 16 and prep coverage area
The Charlotte Observer is making a big change to its Sweet 16 polls this week and is adjusting its coverage area as well.
In the past, the Observer and the Rock Hill Herald were competing entities. Now the two are sister papers both owned by McClatchy.
The Herald will now handle primary coverage of the S.C. schools formerly in the Observer’s coverage area and is introducing its own poll, the Herald’s Big 5. The Sweet 16 and All-Observer teams will now be comprised solely of N.C. teams, though the Observer will continue to write about S.C. teams and players.
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (CL) | Rec | Prvs. |
| 1. | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 16-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Davidson Day (IND) | 17-1 | 2 |
| 3. | First Assembly (IND) | 23-3 | 3 |
| 4. | Cannon School (IND) | 18-5 | 5 |
| 5. | Ardrey Kell (4A) | 14-3 | 8 |
| 6. | Vance (4A) | 14-2 | 4 |
| 7. | Forest Hills | 16-0 | 7 |
| 8. | Carmel Christian (IND) | 18-5 | 5 |
| 9. | Freedom (3A) | 15-1 | 9 |
| 10. | Cox Mill (3A) | 14-2 | 10 |
| 11. | West Caldwell (2A) | 15-0 | 11 |
| 12. | Hunter Huss (3A) | 13-2 | 12 |
| 13. | Olympic (4A) | 11-5 | 13 |
| 14. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 12-3 | 16 |
| 15. | Lincoln Charter (1A) | 14-2 | NR |
| 16. | Northside Christian (IND) | 16-6 | NR |
Dropped out: Westminster Catawba (IND, 16-3); Independence (4A, 11-6). Also receiving consideration: Hickory Ridge (4A, 12-4); Harding (4A, 13-5); Hickory (3A, 12-3); AL Brown (3A, 12-3); West Caldwell (2A, 15-0); Hibriten (2A, 14-1); East Lincoln (2A, 11-4)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (CL) | Rec | Prvs. |
| 1. | Mallard Creek (4A) | 14-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Freedom (4A) | 16-0 | 2 |
| 3. | Cuthbertson (3A) | 16-1 | 3 |
| 4. | Vance (4A) | 13-4 | 4 |
| 5. | East Burke (2A) | 13-3 | 7 |
| 6. | Salisbury (2A) | 14-1 | 8 |
| 7. | Carson (3A) | 14-2 | 9 |
| 8. | Providence (4A) | 15-2 | 10 |
| 9. | West Rowan (3A) | 13-1 | 5 |
| 10. | Shelby (2A) | 10-0 | 13 |
| 11. | South Mecklenburg (4A) | 12-3 | 15 |
| 12. | Victory Christian (IND) | 17-4 | 16 |
| 13. | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 12-4 | 11 |
| 14. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 11-3 | NR |
| 15. | Newton-Conover (2A) | 13-2 | NR |
| 16. | East Rowan (3A) | 12-3 | 14 |
Dropped Out: South Pointe (4A, 14-1); Independence (4A, 13-4); Independence (4A, 13-4). Also receiving consideration: Bandys (2A, 11-4); Gray Stone Day (1A, 10-0); Community School of Davidson (1A, 12-2); Langtree Charter (1A, 14-3); Charlotte Country Day (IND, 15-5); Providence Day (IND, 14-6); First Assembly (IND, 17-5)
Note: Records are through games played Friday, Jan. 18
Tuesday’s Observer-area prep basketball schedule
FEATURED GAME
Charlotte Latin (16-5, 3-1 CISAA) at Providence Day (10-9, 2-2), 7:30: Latin has won three straight games and trails league-leading Cannon School (18-6, 4-0) by one game. Cannon, which beat Latin at home, must go to Charlotte Latin Jan. 28. Providence Day, which lost to Charlotte Christian Friday, needs a win against a big rival to stay in the title race.
CISAA
Charlotte Christian at Cannon School
Charlotte Latin at Providence Day
Charlotte Country Day at Covenant Day
Northwestern 3A-4A
Freedom at McDowell
Hickory at St. Stephens
South Caldwell at Alexander Central
Big South 3A
Ashbrook at Hunter Huss
Kings Mountain at Crest
Stuart Cramer at Forestview
North Piedmont 3A
North Iredell at West Rowan
South Iredell at East Rowan
Statesville at Jesse Carson
Southern Carolina 3A
Marvin Ridge at Monroe
Sun Valley at Cuthbertson
Weddington at Parkwood
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Hickory Grove Christian at Concord First Assembly
Northside Christian at Metrolina Christian
Southlake Christian at Gaston Christian
Central Carolina 2A
Lexington at Oak Grove
North Davidson at East Davidson
South Rowan at Ledford
Thomasville at Central Davidson
West Davidson at Salisbury
Foothills 2A
Draughn at Patton
Fred T. Foard at Bunker Hill
Hibriten at West Caldwell
West Iredell at East Burke
South Fork 2A
East Lincoln at Newton-Conover
Lake Norman Charter at West Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
North Lincoln at Bandys
Southwestern 2A
East Gaston at East Rutherford
R-S Central at Chase
Shelby at South Point
Foothills Athletic Conference
Statesville Christian at Davidson Day
Southern Piedmont Athletic Association
Woodlawn School at North Hills Christian
Mountain Valley 1A-2A
Ashe County at Alleghany
East Wilkes at West Wilkes
Elkin at Starmount
North Wilkes at Wilkes Central
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Avery County at Mitchell County
C.D. Owen at Madison County
Mountain Heritage at Polk County
PAC 1A
Bradford Prep at Queens Grant Charter
Community School of Davidson at Carolina International
Pine Lake Prep at Mountain Island Charter
Union Academy at Langtree Charter
Southern Piedmont 1A
Cherryville at Thomas Jefferson Academy
Highland Tech at Christ the King
Lincoln Charter at Piedmont Community Charter
Yadkin Valley 1A
Gray Stone Day at Chatham Central
North Stanly at South Stanly
South Davidson at North Moore
Uwharrie Charter at Albemarle
S.C. Region 3 5A
S.C. Region 3 4A
Richland Northeast at Lancaster
South Pointe at Westwood (girls)
York at Ridge View
S.C. Region 6 3A
Cheraw at Dillon
S.C. Region 4 2A
Andrew Jackson at Lee Central
Buford at North Central
Lewisville at Chesterfield
S.C. Region 2 1A
Governor’s School at Timmonsville
Lamar at McBee
Mecklenburg nonconference
Grace Academy at Covenant Classical (boys)
Matthews Christian at Community Christian
N.C. nonconference
Asheville School at Hickory Christian
Westminster Catawba at Arborbrook Christian
Charlotte Observer-area schools
The following schools are eligible for inclusion in the Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll and its postseason All-Star teams. Schools like Combine Academy and Moravian Prep, which do not belong to recognized high school associations, are in the coverage area but are not eligible for inclusion in polls or postseason teams.
Mecklenburg County
Ardrey Kell
Berry
Butler
Carmel Christian
Charlotte Catholic
Charlotte Christian
Charlotte Country Day
Charlotte Latin
Christ the King
Comm. School of Davidson
Covenant Day
Davidson Day
East Mecklenburg
Garinger
Grace Academy
Harding
Hickory Grove
Hopewell
Hough
Independence
Lake Norman Charter
Mallard Creek
Myers Park
North Mecklenburg
Northside Christian
Olympic
Providence
Providence Day
Queens Grant
Rocky River
South Mecklenburg
SouthLake Christian
United Faith
Vance
Victory Christian
West Charlotte
West Mecklenburg
.Matthews Christian Academy
Bradford Prep
Alexander County
Alexander Central
Anson County
Anson County
Burke County
Draughn
East Burke
Freedom
Patton
Cabarrus County
Cannon School
Carolina International
Central Cabarrus
Concord
Concord First Assembly
Cox Mill
Covenant Classical
Hickory Ridge
Jay M. Robinson
Mount Pleasant
Northwest Cabarrus
Cabarrus Charter
Caldwell County
Hibriten
South Caldwell
West Caldwell
Catawba County
Bandys
Bunker Hill
Fred T. Foard
Hickory
Hickory Christian
Maiden
Newton Conover
St. Stephens
Challenger
Cleveland County
Burns
Crest
Kings Mountain
Shelby
Gaston County
Ashbrook
Bessemer City
Cherryville
East Gaston
Forestview
Gaston Christian
Gaston Day
Highland Tech
Hunter Huss
Mountain Island Charter
North Gaston
South Point
Stuart Cramer
Piedmont Comm. Charter
Iredell County
Lake Norman
Langtree Charter
Mooresville
North Iredell
Pine Lake Prep
South Iredell
Statesville
Statesville Christian
West Iredell
Woodlawn School
Kannapolis City
A.L. Brown
Lincoln County
East Lincoln
Lincoln Charter
Lincolnton
North Lincoln
West Lincoln
Richmond County
Richmond Senior
Rowan County
Carson
East Rowan
North Rowan
Salisbury
South Rowan
West Rowan
Rutherford County
Chase
East Rutherford
R.S. Central
Thomas Jefferson Academy
Stanly County
Albemarle
Carolina Christian
Gray Stone Day
North Stanly
South Stanly
West Stanly
Union County
Arborbrook Christian
Central Academy
Cuthbertson
Forest Hills
Marvin Ridge
Metrolina Christian
Monroe
Parkwood
Piedmont
Porter Ridge
Sun Valley
Union Academy
Weddington
Watauga County
Watauga
This story was originally published January 18, 2020 at 5:52 PM.
