One new team joins the Observer’s Sweet 16 and the depth of the girls field is showing
One new team joins the Sweet 16 this week: Watauga’s girls are back in.
Watauga (20-3) has won three straight since losing to 60-51 to No. 13 Alexander Central on Feb. 1, and the two teams could be headed for a third meeting in the Northwestern 3A/4A league championship game Friday.
The depth in the girls poll is among the best its been in some time. Consider that three teams with long winning streaks are still outside of it: East Lincoln (2A, 23-1) has won 12 straight since losing to 4A Cox Mill; Richmond Senior (4A, 18-4) has won 11 in a row; and Newton-Conover (2A, 20-2) has won 11 straight games.
▪ No huge changes on the boys side, though Gaston Day moved up four spots to No. 10 after winning the MAC championship over Northside Christian Friday. Northside fell one spot to No. 13.
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School | Cl. | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Weddington | 4A | 23-0 | 1 |
| 2 | J.L. Chambers | 4A | 19-5 | 2 |
| 3 | Carmel Christian | 4A | 23-3 | 3 |
| 4 | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 20-4 | 4 |
| 5 | Central Cabarrus | 3A | 24-0 | 5 |
| 6 | Providence Day | 4A | 22-5 | 6 |
| 7 | Richmond County | 4A | 21-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Charlotte Latin | 4A | 22-3 | 8 |
| 9 | Ardrey Kell | 4A | 16-4 | 9 |
| 10 | Gaston Day | 2A | 24-3 | 14 |
| 11 | Myers Park | 4A | 14-7 | 10 |
| 12 | West Charlotte | 3A | 15-8 | 11 |
| 13 | Northside Christian | 2A | 21-8 | 12 |
| 14 | Mooresville | 4A | 19-2 | 13 |
| 15 | Robinson | 2A | 20-3 | 15 |
| 16 | United Faith | 1A | 16-7 | 16 |
Dropped Out: none. Also Receiving Consideration: Cox Mill (4A, 18-6); Hickory (3A, 22-1); Lincoln Charter (2A, 19-4); South Mecklenburg (4A, 14-7)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | School | Cl. | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Myers Park | 4A | 19-5 | 1 |
| 2. | Cannon School | IND | 20-6 | 2 |
| 3. | Providence Day | IND | 21-3 | 3 |
| 4. | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 22-2 | 4 |
| 5. | Chambers | 4A | 16-6 | 5 |
| 6. | Salisbury | 2A | 19-1 | 6 |
| 7. | Shelby | 2A | 16-2 | 7 |
| 8. | Providence | 4A | 16-5 | 9 |
| 9. | South Mecklenburg | 4A | 19-3 | 8 |
| 10. | Charlotte Catholic | 4A | 22-2 | 10 |
| 11. | Lake Norman | 4A | 19-3 | 11 |
| 12. | East Rutherford | 2A | 23-0 | 12 |
| 13. | Alexander Central | 4A | 20-3 | 14 |
| 14. | Carson | 3A | 20-3 | 15 |
| 15. | Marvin Ridge | 4A | 20-4 | 15 |
| 16. | Watauga | 4A | 20-3 | NR |
Dropped Out: Northwest Cabarrus (3A, 14-4). Also Receiving Consideration: Newton-Conover (2A, 20-2); East Lincoln (2A, 23-1); Richmond Senior (4A 18-4)
