Sweet 16 polls: New No. 1 in girls poll and a major shuffle of teams
There’s a new No. 1 in the girls Sweet 16 and both polls received a bit shakeup this week.
On Friday night, Vance’s girls beat former No. 1 Mallard Creek 47-36. Vance jumped up two spots to No. 2 and Mallard Creek fell to two spots. That opened the door for unbeaten No. 2 Freedom to rise to the top spot.
Coach Amber Reddick’s Patriots are 18-0 after Friday’s 66-17 win over St. Stephens. Led by seniors Josie Hise (13.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.3 rpg) and Blaikley Crooks (13.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.7 apg), Freedom is looking to post its 12th consecutive season with at least 20 wins.
The Patriots have won four N.C. High School Athletic Association state championships, in 1989, ‘94, ‘95 and 2002.
▪ Providence Day’s girls, a perennial Sweet 16 team, rejoined this week’s poll. The Chargers (17-6) have won nine games in a row.
▪ North Mecklenburg remains No. 1 in the boys poll, but there was a lot of shakeup in the top 10 as several ranked teams lost. No new teams entered this week.
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 17-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Davidson Day (IND) | 22-1 | 2 |
| 3. | First Assembly (IND) | 27-3 | 3 |
| 4. | Cannon School (IND) | 20-6 | 4 |
| 5. | Carmel Christian (IND) | 20-6 | 8 |
| 6. | Freedom (3A) | 17-1 | 9 |
| 7. | Forest Hills (2A) | 17-0 | 7 |
| 8 | Vance (4A) | 15-3 | 6 |
| 9. | Cox Mill (3A) | 16-2 | 10 |
| 10. | Ardrey Kell (4A) | 14-4 | 5 |
| 11. | West Caldwell (2A) | 17-0 | 11 |
| 12 | Hunter Huss (2A) | 15-2 | 12 |
| 13. | Olympic (4A) | 13-5 | 13 |
| 14. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 14-3 | 14 |
| 15. | Lincoln Charter (1A) | 16-2 | 15 |
| 16. | Northside Christian (IND) | 19-6 | 16 |
Dropped Out: None. Also receiving votes: Hickory Ridge (4A, 13-4); Myers Park (4A, 13-5); Harding (4A, 13-6); Hickory (3A, 15-3); Weddington (3A, 14-5); Shelby (2A, 13-3)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Freedom (3A) | 18-0 | 2 |
| 2. | Vance (4A) | 14-4 | 4 |
| 3. | Mallard Creek (4A) | 15-2 | 1 |
| 4. | East Burke (2A) | 15-3 | 5 |
| 5. | Salisbury (2A) | 16-1 | 6 |
| 6. | Providence (4A) | 16-2 | 8 |
| 7. | Cuthbertson (3A) | 17-2 | 3 |
| 8 | Shelby (2A) | 12-1 | 10 |
| 9. | West Rowan (3A) | 15-2 | 9 |
| 10. | Carson (3A) | 15-3 | 7 |
| 11. | South Mecklenburg (4A) | 13-3 | 11 |
| 12 | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 13-4 | 13 |
| 13. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 13-4 | 14 |
| 14. | Newton-Conover (2A) | 15-2 | 15 |
| 15. | East Rowan (3A) | 15-3 | 16 |
| 16. | Providence Day (IND) | 17-6 | NR |
Dropped Out: Victory Christian (IND, 17-6). Also receiving consideration: Lake Norman (4A, 13-4); Olympic (4A, 12-4); Hopewell (4A, 13-5); Myers Park (4A, 12-6); Weddington (3A, 14-4); Hickory (3A, 14-4); Central Cabarrus (3A, 13-5); Bandys (2A, 13-4); R-S Central (2A, 14-5); Gray Stone Day (1A, 13-0); Community School of Davidson (1A, 15-2); Langtree Charter (1A, 17-3); First Assembly (IND, 20-6)
