North Meck, Freedom maintain grips on top spots in Observer Sweet 16 polls.
North Mecklenburg’s boys and Freedom’s girls maintain their grips on the top spots in the Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 prep basketball polls this week.
N.C. High School School Athletic Association teams will play their final week of the regular-season schedule this week, with conference tournaments beginning Monday, Feb. 17.
N.C. Independent Schools’ playoff pairings will be announced Sunday and the tournament begins Feb. 10. The state finals will be in Charlotte on Feb. 22.
New to the poll is this week is Harrisburg’s Hickory Ridge High, a 4A school that has won seven consecutive games. One new girls team is in. Butler (14-7) has overcome injuries early in the season, including one that cost the Bulldogs one of their best players for the season. Butler has won nine games in a row.
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec | Prvs. |
| 1. | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 20-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Davidson Day (IND) | 26-1 | 2 |
| 3. | First Assembly (IND) | 31-3 | 3 |
| 4. | Cannon School (IND) | 24-6 | 4 |
| 5. | Carmel Christian (IND) | 21-5 | 5 |
| 6. | Freedom (3A) | 20-1 | 6 |
| 7. | Forest Hills (2A) | 21-0 | 7 |
| 8. | Olympic (4A) | 16-5 | 9 |
| 9. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 17-3 | 10 |
| 10. | Cox Mill (3A) | 18-3 | 11 |
| 11. | Shelby (2A) | 17-3 | 14 |
| 12. | Vance (4A) | 17-4 | 8 |
| 13. | Hickory Ridge (4A) | 17-4 | NR |
| 14. | Ardrey Kell (4A) | 16-6 | 12 |
| 15. | Lincoln Charter (1A) | 20-2 | 15 |
| 16. | Myers Park (4A) | 15-6 | 13 |
Dropped Out: Hunter Huss (3A, 18-4). Also receiving consideration: Harding (4A, 15-6); Richmond Senior (4A, 15-6); Independence (4A, 14-7); Hickory (3A, 16-4); West Caldwell (2A, 21-1); Hibriten (2A, 19-2); East Lincoln (2A, 18-4); Charlotte Latin (IND, 20-7); Westminster Catawba (IND, 19-4); Northside Christian (IND, 22-7)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec | Prvs. |
| 1. | Freedom (3A) | 21-0 | 1 |
| 2. | Vance (4A) | 17-4 | 2 |
| 3. | Mallard Creek (4A) | 18-2 | 3 |
| 4. | East Burke (2A) | 19-3 | 4 |
| 5. | Salisbury (2A) | 20-1 | 5 |
| 6. | Providence (4A) | 18-2 | 6 |
| 7. | Cuthbertson (3A) | 20-2 | 7 |
| 8. | Shelby (2A) | 17-1 | 8 |
| 9. | Carson (3A) | 18-3 | 10 |
| 10. | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 16-4 | 11 |
| 11. | South Mecklenburg (4A) | 15-4 | 12 |
| 12. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 16-4 | 13 |
| 13. | Newton-Conover (2A) | 19-2 | 14 |
| 14. | Providence Day (IND) | 21-6 | 15 |
| 15. | West Rowan (3A) | 18-3 | 9 |
| 16. | Butler (4A) | 14-7 | NR |
Dropped Out: East Rowan (3A, 17-5). Also receiving consideration: Lake Norman (4A, 15-5); Myers Park (4A, 14-7); Ashbrook (3A, 16-4); Central Cabarrus (3A, 16-5); Watauga (3A, 15-5); Bandys (2A, 16-5); Gray Stone Day (1A, 17-1); Langtree Charter (1A, 20-3); Community School of Davidson (1A, 19-3)
NCISAA Playoff Pairings
N.C. INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Boys
CLASS 4A
Tuesday’s first round
North Raleigh Christian (8-17) at Covenant Day (15-12)
Cary Academy (9-16) at Charlotte Country Day (7-18)
Wake Christian (3-12) at Raleigh Ravenscroft (10-18)
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (14-12) at Metrolina Christian (14-17)
Thursday’s second round
North Raleigh Christian-Covenant Day winner at Forsyth Country Day (12-13)
Cary Academy-Charlotte Country Day winner at Christ School (12-12)
Wake Christian-Raleigh Ravenscroft winner at High Point Wesleyan (15-10)
Rabun Gap Nacoochee-Metrolina Christian winner at Charlotte Christian (15-12)
Note: top four seeds have byes through first two rounds and play their first games Saturday – Durham Academy (27-4), Greensboro Day (30-4), Cannon School (23-6), Charlotte Latin (20-7)
CLASS 3A
Tuesday’s first round
Asheville School (6-14) at Southlake Christian (7-20)
St. David’s (5-16) at Calvary Day (19-4)
Fayetteville Christian (20-11) at Forsyth Country Day (11-8)
Caldwell Academy (5-20) at Hickory Grove Christian (16-9)
Cary Christian (14-9) at High Point Christian (14-14)
Carolina Day (8-9) at Gaston Christian (10-14)
Coastal Christian (10-14) at Raleigh Grace Christian (20-11)
Arendell Parrott Academy (12-15) at Cape Fear Academy (19-7)
Note: top four seeds have byes through first two rounds and play their first games Saturday – Concord First Assembly (31-3), Carmel Christian (21-5), Village Christian (19-6), Asheville Christian (17-7)
CLASS 2A
Tuesday’s first round
Rocky Mount Academy (8-13) at Apex Thales Academy (6-10)
Oakwood School (1-16) at Friendship Christian (2-17)
Halifax Academy (6-18) at Wayne Christian (9-13)
St. Thomas More (9-16) at Carolina Friendship (5-18)
Thursday’s second round
Rocky Mount Academy-Apex Thales Academy winner at Burlington Christian (8-13)
O’Neal School (10-12) at Salem Baptist (23-4)
Statesville Christian (6-15) at Hickory Christian (7-16)
Epiphany School of Global Studies (17-9) at Harrells Christian (7-17)
Oakwood School-Friendship Christian winner at Westchester Country Day (10-12)
Halifax Academy-Wayne Christian winner at Rolesville Thales Academy (10-8)
Faith Christian (19-7) at Trinity School of Durham-Chapel Hill (8-14)
St. Thomas More-Carolina Friendship winner at University Christian (9-11)
Note: top eight seeds have byes through first two rounds and play their first games Saturday – Davidson Day (26-1), Northside Christian (22-8), Wayne Country Day (26-5), Freedom Christian (20-10), Westminster Catawba (19-4), Gaston Day (9-15), Fayetteville Academy (7-15), Trinity Academy (22-4)
CLASS 1A
Tuesday’s first round
Albemarle School (13-8) at John Paul II Catholic (14-12)
Hobgood Academy (15-7) at Sanford Grace Christian (18-16)
Cresset Christian (1-15) at North Hills Christian (1-18)
Ridgecroft School (5-17) at Neuse Christian (19-9)
Pungo Christian (19-6) at Community Christian (12-13)
Christ Covenant (2-19) at Lee Christian (3-21)
Terra Ceia Christian (25-3) at Kerr-Vance Academy (11-9)
Lawrence Academy (4-19) at Crossroads Christian (14-11)
Thursday’s second round
Albemarle School-John Paul II Catholic winner at Trinity Christian (24-2)
Hobgood Academy-Sanford Grace Christian winner at Woodlawn School (14-11)
Cresset Christian-North Hills Christian winner at Victory Christian (19-9)
Ridgecroft School-Neuse Christian winner at Northwood Temple (19-14)
Pungo Christian-Community Christian winner at Burlington School (22-10)
Christ Covenant-Lee Christian winner at United Faith Christian (14-12)
Terra Ceia Christian-Kerr Vance Academy winner at Greenfield School (27-6)
Lawrence Academy-Crossroads Christian winner at Cape Fear Academy (14-12)
Girls
CLASS 4A
Tuesday’s first round
Wake Christian (6-19) at Charlotte Latin (10-13)
Covenant Day (7-18) at Metrolina Christian (13-14)
Cary Academy (11-14) at Durham Academy (13-11)
St. Mary’s School (6-13) at High Point Wesleyan (5-15)
Thursday’s second round
Wake Christian-Charlotte Latin winner at Charlotte Christian (11-17)
Covenant Day-Metrolina Christian winner at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (15-10)
Cary Academy-Durham Academy winner at Raleigh Ravenscroft (21-5)
St. Mary’s School-High Point Wesleyan winner at Charlotte Country Day (21-6)
Note: top four seeds have byes through first two rounds and play their first games Saturday – Greensboro Day (26-2), Providence Day (21-6), Cannon School (16-8), North Raleigh Christian (21-7)
CLASS 3A
Tuesday’s first round
Hickory Grove Christian (6-12) at Asheville School (6-10)
Caldwell Academy (6-15) at Village Christian (12-10)
Coastal Christian (11-10) at Arendell Parrott Academy (17-8)
Raleigh Grace Christian (4-20) at Forsyth Country Day (10-8)
Thursday’s second round
Hickory Grove Christian-Asheville School winner at Carmel Christian (7-10)
Caldwell Academy-Village Christian winner at High Point Christian (15-7)
Coastal Christian-Arendell Parrott Academy winner at Fayetteville Christian (17-4)
Raleigh Grace Christian-Forsyth Country Day winner at St. David’s School (12-9)
Note: top four seeds have byes through first two rounds and play their first games Saturday – Asheville Christian (18-5), Concord First Assembly (25-6), Cary Christian (17-5), Cape Fear Academy (18-5)
CLASS 2A
Tuesday’s first round
Epiphany School of Global Studies (1-22) at St. Thomas More (15-8)
Rolesville Thales Academy (5-12) at Halifax Academy (16-8)
Harrells Christian (3-17) at Rocky Mount Academy (19-5)
Freedom Christian (2-18) at Faith Christian (15-8)
Trinity School of Durham-Chapel Hill (13-8) at Statesville Christian (8-12)
Wayne Christian (9-9) at Carolina Friends (4-14)
Westchester Country Day (1-17) at Hickory Christian (5-15)
Burlington Christian (7-10) at University Christian (11-4)
Thursday’s second round
Epiphany School of Global Studies-St. Thomas More winner at O’Neal School (23-2)
Rolesville Thales Academy-Halifax Academy winner at Friendship Christian (13-8)
Harrells Christian-Rocky Mount Academy winner at Trinity Christian (13-8)
Freedom Christian-Faith Christian winner at Wayne Country Day (22-4)
Trinity School of Durham-Chapel Hill-Statesville Christian winner at Gaston Day (17-7)
Wayne Christian-Carolina Friends winner at Salem Baptist (12-8)
Westchester Country Day-Hickory Christian winner at Davidson Day (15-13)
Burlington Christian-University Christian winner at Northside Christian (7-13)
CLASS 1A
Tuesday’s first round
North Hills Christian (5-10) at United Faith Christian (4-15)
Lawrence Academy (6-19) at Hobgood Academy (8-11)
Community Christian (5-16) at Terra Ceia Christian (10-11)
Albemarle School (4-17) at Pungo Christian (18-7)
Crossroads Christian (2-18) at Northeast Academy (14-4)
Christ Covenant (7-14) at Ridgecroft School (16-12)
Thursday’s second round
North Hills Christian-United Faith Christian winner at Victory Christian (20-6)
Kerr-Vance Academy (9-10) at Northwood Temple (14-9)
Cape Fear Academy (9-18) at Lee Christian (16-9)
Lawrence Academy-Hobgood Academy winner at Sanford Grace Christian (19-8)
Community Christian-Terra Ceia Christian winner at Trinity Christian (20-2)
Albemarle School-Pungo Christian winner at Neuse Christian (10-12)
Crossroads Christian-Northeast Academy winner at Bulrlington School (16-8)
Christ Covenant-Ridgecroft School winner at Greenfield School (14-11)
MONDAY’S KEY GAMES
Butler (10-11, 6-5 Southwestern 4A) at Hickory Ridge (17-4, 9-2), 7:30 p.m.: With games against East Meck (3-18, 2-9) and Porter Ridge (11-10, 5-6) later this week, Hickory Ridge can win at least a share of the league title by winning out. It’s tied with Independence (14-7, 9-2) for first place. Butler, fighting a two-game losing streak, will try to play spoiler.
No. 11 North Mecklenburg girls (16-4, 9-2 I-MECK) at No. 3 Mallard Creek (18-2, 9-2), 6 p.m.: the teams are tied with Vance (17-4, 9-2) for first place in the league with three games left. And both come in hot. Mallard Creek has won three straight games. North Meck has won five straight.
Monday’s Schedule
I-Meck 4A
Hopewell at Mooresville
Lake Norman at Vance
North Mecklenburg at Mallard Creek
West Charlotte at Hough
SoMeck 7 4A
Berry Academy at Ardrey Kell
Harding at Providence
Olympic at West Mecklenburg
Southwestern 4A
Butler at Hickory Ridge
East Mecklenburg at Myers Park
Independence at Garinger
Porter Ridge at Rocky River
South Piedmont 3A
Northwest Cabarrus at Jay M. Robinson
Rocky River 2A-3A
Mount Pleasant at Montgomery Central
PAC 1A
Carolina International at Langtree Charter
Queens Grant Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Polk County at Mountain Heritage
Region 2 1A
Timmonsville at Great Falls
Nonconference
Elevation Prep at North Rowan
This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 1:29 PM.
