The Observer’s Sweet 16 polls: new No. 1 in the boys poll, plus heavy shuffling in both
Preseason polls are just guesses, right?
Well, the first regular-season Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 polls feature lots of changes.
Three new teams are in the boys poll -- unbeaten Olympic, unbeaten Hickory and a hot-starting 7-1 Charlotte Country Day. The boys poll also has a new No. 1 team. Carmel Christian (7-1) lost a close game to national top 15 team Southern California Academy and beat a then top 15 nationally ranked Calvary (Fla.) Christian last week at the Holiday Hoopsgiving tournament in Atlanta.
The Cougars are scheduled to play perennial N.C. power Greensboro Dudley at the Phenom Hoops’ Tyler Lewis Hoopfest at Forsyth Country Day Friday.
In the girls poll, Charlotte Catholic holds on to the top spot, and Shelby jumped four spots to No. 11. One new team joined the poll: Union County’s Parkwood High is in. Parkwood is 3-0 and outscoring opponents by more than 35 points per game.
Boys Sweet 16
| Rk. | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Carmel Christian | 7-1 | 2 |
| 2 | Central Cabarrus | 3-0 | 3 |
| 3 | Concord Academy | 8-1 | 4 |
| 4 | North Mecklenburg | 4-0 | 6 |
| 5 | United Faith | 8-0 | 7 |
| 6 | Myers Park | 1-1 | 1 |
| 7 | West Charlotte | 3-1 | 8 |
| 8 | Providence Day | 5-1 | 5 |
| 9 | Olympic | 3-0 | NR |
| 10 | J.L. Chambers | 2-2 | 10 |
| 11 | Cannon | 6-2 | 14 |
| 12 | Hickory | 2-0 | 12 |
| 13 | Salisbury | 2-0 | 13 |
| 14 | Charlotte Country Day | 7-1 | NR |
| 15 | Gaston Day | 4-1 | 15 |
| 16 | Charlotte Catholic | 3-0 | NR |
Dropped Out: Robinson (2A, 2-2); Lake Norman (4A, 2-3); Charlotte Latin (IND, 3-2). Others receiving consideration: Hopewell (4A, 3-1); East Mecklenburg (4A, 3-1); Westminster Catawba (IND, 5-3); Rocky River (4A, 3-0)
Girls Sweet 16
| Rk. | Team | Class | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Charlotte Catholic | 4A | 2-1 | 1 |
| 2. | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 4-0 | 2 |
| 3. | Cannon School | IND | 5-1 | 3 |
| 4. | Mallard Creek | 4A | 4-0 | 4 |
| 5. | Lake Norman | 4A | 4-0 | 6 |
| 6. | Providence Day | IND | 5-0 | 9 |
| 7. | Shelby | 2A | 1-0 | 11 |
| 8. | Salisbury | 2A | 2-0 | 8 |
| 9. | Watauga | 4A | 2-1 | 10 |
| 10. | Myers Park | 4A | 3-1 | 5 |
| 11. | South Mecklenburg | 4A | 3-1 | 7 |
| 12. | Ashbrook | 3A | 2-0 | 12 |
| 13. | East Lincoln | 3A | 2-0 | 14 |
| 14. | Newton-Conover | 2A | 3-0 | 15 |
| 15. | Independence | 4A | 3-1 | 16 |
| 16. | Parkwood | 3A | 3-0 | NR |
Dropped Out: Concord Academy (IND, 2-2). Others receiving consideration: Bessemer City (1A, 2-0); North Stanly (2A, 3-0); Hibriten (3A, 3-0); West Rowan (3A, 3-0); South Point (3A, 3-0); AL Brown (4A, 2-0)
This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 5:30 AM.