Four new teams and one new No. 1 in Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 HS basketball polls
Four new teams join the Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 this week, and there’s one new No. 1.
▪ In the girls poll, Charlotte Catholic is still unbeaten and still ranked No. 1. Myers Park jumped up two spots to No. 2. There are two new teams in this week: No. 12 Newton-Conover and No. 15 Independence.
Newton-Conover, the 2019-20 N.C. 2A state champs, has won five straight games. Independence’s Patriots have won three straight.
▪ Weddington takes over No. 1 in the boys poll from Carmel Christian, which lost two close games to nationally ranked teams at the Chick-Fil-A Classic in Columbia. Joining the poll this week are 12-5 Independent School Covenant Day, from Matthews, and N.C. 4A public school Mooresville.
Covenant Day has won three straight and is the third school from the Charlotte Independent Schools conference to be ranked, joining No. 6 Charlotte Latin and No. 9 Providence Day.
Mooresville has won three straight games, including Thursday’s 72-69 win over Rocky River in the championship game of the North Iredell Christmas Tournament.
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School | Cl. | Rec. | Prvs |
| 1 | Weddington | 4A | 11-0 | 2 |
| 2 | Carmel Christian | 4A | 15-2 | 1 |
| 3 | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 12-1 | 3 |
| 4 | J.L. Chambers | 4A | 7-5 | 4 |
| 5 | Central Cabarrus | 3A | 12-0 | 5 |
| 6 | Charlotte Latin | 4A | 14-1 | 6 |
| 7 | Ardrey Kell | 4A | 9-2 | 7 |
| 8 | Northside Christian | 2A | 11-5 | 8 |
| 9 | Providence Day | 4A | 12-4 | 9 |
| 10 | Gaston Day | 2A | 14-1 | 10 |
| 11 | United Faith | 1A | 10-3 | 11 |
| 12 | West Charlotte | 3A | 9-4 | 12 |
| 13 | Myers Park | 4A | 5-5 | 13 |
| 14 | Covenant Day | 4A | 12-5 | NR |
| 15 | Lake Norman | 4A | 10-2 | 15 |
| 16 | Mooresville | 4A | 8-1 | NR |
Dropped out: Cox Mill (4A, 7-5); East Lincoln (3A, 9-2). Also receiving consideration: Harding (4A, 9-5); Hickory (3A, 10-1); Stuart Cramer (3A, 10-0); Robinson (2A, 9-2)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | School | Cl. | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Charlotte Catholic | 4A | 13-0 | 1 |
| 2. | Myers Park | 4A | 6-3 | 4 |
| 3. | Chambers | 4A | 7-4 | 2 |
| 4. | South Mecklenburg | 4A | 9-1 | 3 |
| 5. | Cannon School | IND | 10-6 | 6 |
| 6. | Salisbury | 2A | 8-1 | 7 |
| 7. | Providence Day | IND | 12-1 | 9 |
| 8. | Shelby | 2A | 4-2 | 8 |
| 9. | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 10-1 | 5 |
| 10. | Freedom | 3A | 10-1 | 11 |
| 11. | Watauga | 4A | 10-1 | 13 |
| 12. | Newton-Conover | 2A | 9-1 | NR |
| 13. | Lake Norman | 4A | 8-3 | 10 |
| 14. | Carson | 3A | 8-2 | 12 |
| 15. | Independence | 4A | 8-2 | NR |
| 16. | Alexander Central | 4A | 11-1 | 14 |
Dropped out: Northwest Cabarrus (3A, 6-1); South Caldwell (4A, 8-1). Also receiving consideration: Hickory Ridge (4A, 7-2); East Rutherford (2A, 9-0); Hopewell (4A, 10-2)
This story was originally published January 2, 2022 at 6:15 AM.