Chambers, Providence Day upset nationally ranked opponents, force changes to Sweet 16
Two Charlotte-area high school basketball teams upset nationally ranked opponents Saturday, and one of them makes a big jump in this week’s Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 boys’ basketball poll.
The Observer started the boys’ and girls’ regional rankings in the 1984-85 school year. Unlike many polls at the time, the Sweet 16 ranked all teams in one poll, regardless of classification, and also included private schools. At the end of the season, the winning schools receive a large Sweet 16 banner to hang in their gymnasiums.
The rankings are produced by longtime N.C. high school basketball experts Rick Lewis and Alex Bass, co-hosts of the media company’s “Talking Preps” streaming show.
This week, there were some change on the girls’ side, mainly with Charlotte Catholic (10-8) joining the rankings.
The Cougars, a N.C. 4A state championship finalist last March, got off to 1-6 start, but have gone 9-2 since then, including 5-1 in Southwestern 4A conference play under first-year coach Kristal Mainsah.
No new teams joined the boys’ poll, but two ranked teams got huge wins Saturday.
No. 2 Providence Day beat St. John’s (DC) 63-53. St. John’s is ranked No. 25 nationally by MaxPreps. And No. 11 Chambers beat Arden’s Christ School, 73-66, ending the Greenies’ 25-game win streak. Christ School, the reigning N.C. Independent Schools’ 4A state champions, are ranked No. 11 nationally by MaxPreps.
This week, Providence Day held at No. 2 behind Lake Norman, and Chambers moved up six spots to No. 5.
Quick links
Chambers upsets No. 11 national Christ School Saturday at home
Indian Land (SC) rallies past Queen’s Grant
Friday’s boys’ rewind: Stars, scores from a busy night
Friday’s girls’ rewind: Stars, scores from a busy night
South Meck finally beats Myers Park, sparks big celebration
Girls’ Sweet 16 rankings
| Rk | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Cannon School | 17-5 | 1 |
| 2 | Lake Norman | 14-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Mallard Creek | 15-2 | 3 |
| 4 | North Mecklenburg | 14-2 | 4 |
| 5 | South Mecklenburg | 13-2 | 6 |
| 6 | Concord Academy | 15-6 | 7 |
| 7 | Butler | 13-1 | 8 |
| 8 | North Lincoln | 13-1 | 9 |
| 9 | Hough | 10-4 | 11 |
| 10 | Providence Day | 18-7 | 16 |
| 11 | Hickory Ridge | 11-5 | 12 |
| 12 | East Lincoln | 13-3 | 13 |
| 13 | Charlotte Catholic | 10-8 | NR |
| 14 | Marvin Ridge | 11-5 | 5 |
| 15 | Porter Ridge | 14-3 | 14 |
| 16 | J.M. Robinson | 12-4 | 15 |
Boys’ Sweet 16 rankings
| Rk | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Lake Norman | 16-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Providence Day | 19-4 | 2 |
| 3 | North Mecklenburg | 14-2 | 3 |
| 4 | Concord Academy | 22-3 | 4 |
| 5 | J.L. Chambers | 11-6 | 11 |
| 6 | Mooresville | 15-2 | 8 |
| 7 | Carmel Christian | 14-5 | 12 |
| 8 | Davidson Day | 16-12 | 7 |
| 9 | Victory Christian | 14-6 | 14 |
| 10 | Independence | 14-3 | 9 |
| 11 | Gaston Christian | 17-7 | 6 |
| 12 | Ardrey Kell | 12-3 | 5 |
| 13 | Hopewell | 12-3 | 13 |
| 14 | Charlotte Catholic | 14-4 | 10 |
| 15 | Queens Grant | 13-7 | 15 |
| 16 | Weddington | 11-5 | 16 |
