There are seven — 7! — new teams in The Observer’s Sweet 16; a Union County power jumps
Seven new teams are in The Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 this week.
One of them, East Gaston High, has not been ranked in many years. The Warriors (8-4) last had a winning season in 2015, and they haven’t had a season like this since 2006, when Greg Lloyd led East Gaston to an 11-3 record and a third-round playoff berth. East Gaston lost to West Charlotte that year as the Lions, then coached by Pete Gilchrist, advanced to the N.C 4A state championship game.
East Gaston, No. 16 in this week’s poll, will play at No. 5 Shelby in a third-round game Friday.
Also in this week’s rankings are No. 9 Porter Ridge (8-2); No. 10 Kings Mountain (10-2); No. 12 Providence Day (7-3); No. 13 Mallard Creek (6-4); No. 14 South Point (9-3); and No. 15 Forestview (7-5).
Big movers include No. 4 Salisbury, up three spots; Maiden up five spots to No. 6; Statesville up five spots No. 7; and Weddington moved into the top three this week after beating Union County rival Marvin Ridge.
| Rank | School | Record | Prev. |
| 1 | Hough | (12-0) | 1 |
| 2 | Chambers | (11-1) | 2 |
| 3 | Weddington | (11-1) | 5 |
| 4 | Salisbury | (11-0) | 7 |
| 5 | Shelby | (11-1) | 4 |
| 6 | Maiden | (12-0) | 11 |
| 7 | Statesville | (11-0) | 12 |
| 8 | Monroe | (9-1) | 16 |
| 9 | Porter Ridge | (8-2) | NR |
| 10 | Kings Mountain | (10-2) | NR |
| 11 | Crest | (9-2) | 13 |
| 12 | Providence Day | (7-3) | NR |
| 13 | Mallard Creek | (6-4) | NR |
| 14 | South Point | (9-3) | NR |
| 15 | Forestview | (7-5) | NR |
| 16 | East Gaston | (8-4) | NR |
Poll compiled by Chris Hughes