North Mecklenburg boys, Freedom girls maintain grip on top spot in the Sweet 16 polls
North Mecklenburg’s boys and Freedom’s girls basketball teams remain No. 1 in the Observer’s Sweet 16 as the public school playoffs begin this week.
North Mecklenburg moved up one spot, to No. 23, in ESPN’s national ranking.
Two new girls teams joined the poll this week. Central Cabarrus is No. 15 after winning 14 straight games. Ashbrook is one spot higher, at No. 14. The Green Wave has won eight straight.
▪ Complete coverage of Tuesday’s first round games will be at charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | North Mecklenburg (4A) | 26-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Concord First Assembly (IND) | 35-3 | 3 |
| 3. | Davidson Day (IND) | 30-1 | 2 |
| 4. | Cannon School (IND) | 27-6 | 4 |
| 5. | Freedom (3A) | 24-1 | 6 |
| 6. | Forest Hills (2A) | 25-0 | 7 |
| 7. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 22-3 | 9 |
| 8. | Cox Mill (3A) | 23-3 | 10 |
| 9. | Carmel Christian (IND) | 22-6 | 5 |
| 10. | Olympic (4A) | 19-6 | 8 |
| 11. | Shelby (2A) | 21-3 | 11 |
| 12. | Independence (4A) | 20-7 | 13 |
| 13. | Ardrey Kell (4A) | 21-6 | 15 |
| 14. | Vance (4A) | 21-6 | 14 |
| 15. | Hickory Ridge (4A) | 21-5 | 12 |
| 16. | Lincoln Charter (1A) | 24-2 | 16 |
Dropped Out: none. Also receiving consideration: Northside Christian (IND, 24-9); Charlotte Latin (IND, 22-8); Myers Park (4A, 18-8); Richmond Senior (4A, 19-8); Hough (4A, 17-9); Hunter Huss (3A, 22-4); Patton (2A, 19-7); Mountain Island Charter (1A, 20-5); North Rowan (1A, 19-7)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | School (Cl) | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Freedom (3A) | 25-0 | 1 |
| 2. | Mallard Creek (4A) | 24-2 | 2 |
| 3. | Vance (4A) | 22-5 | 2 |
| 4. | East Burke (2A) | 24-3 | 4 |
| 5. | Salisbury (2A) | 25-1 | 5 |
| 6. | Providence (4A) | 23-2 | 6 |
| 7. | Cuthbertson (3A) | 25-2 | 7 |
| 8. | Shelby (2A) | 21-1 | 8 |
| 9. | Carson (3A) | 23-3 | 9 |
| 10. | Providence Day (IND) | 24-6 | 12 |
| 11. | South Mecklenburg (4A) | 18-5 | 10 |
| 12. | Charlotte Catholic (3A) | 20-5 | 11 |
| 13. | Newton-Conover (2A) | 24-2 | 13 |
| 14. | Ashbrook (3A) | 20-4 | NR |
| 15. | Central Cabarrus (3A) | 21-5 | NR |
| 16. | Myers Park (4A) | 19-8 | 16 |
Dropped Out: North Mecklenburg (4A, 18-9); Butler (4A, 18-9). Also receiving consideration: Hickory Ridge (4A, 16-11); Independence (4A, 20-7); Gray Stone Day (1A, 23-1); Community School of Davidson (1A, 23-4); Lincoln Charter (1A, 20-5)
