One new team joins The Sweet 16 poll, but the game of the week could shake things up
Just one new team joins The Observer’s Sweet 16 poll this week, and a major girls’ showdown Friday could shake things up next week.
The one new team is Ardrey Kell. The Knights join the girls’ rankings at No. 14. Ardrey Kell has won five games in a row and the Knights will play at Ballantyne Ridge Tuesday.
The next set of rankings could see a change after the game of the week on Friday, when No. 3 Mallard Creek hosts No. 4 North Mecklenburg in a game that could decide the Queen City conference championship. Mallard Creek beat the Vikings, 54-52, in Huntersville on Jan. 3.
There are no new boys’ teams this week. Lake Norman remained in the top spot and the top five teams all remained in place.
The Observer began The Sweet 16 in the 1984-85 school year and unlike many rankings at the time, teams from all classifications and private school teams were eligible for one poll. The winners get large banners to hang in their gymnasium.
The polls are compiled by longtime N.C. basketball experts Alex Bass and Rick Lewis, co-hosts of The Observer’s “Talking Preps” streaming show.
Girls’ 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 | Concord Academy | 20-6 | 6 |
| 6 | Butler | 13-1 | 7 |
| 7 | North Lincoln | 16-1 | 8 |
| 8 | Providence Day | 20-7 | 10 |
| 9 | Hickory Ridge | 12-5 | 11 |
| 10 | Charlotte Catholic | 11-8 | 13 |
| 11 | Marvin Ridge | 13-5 | 14 |
| 12 | Porter Ridge | 14-3 | 15 |
| 13 | J.M. Robinson | 14-4 | 16 |
| 14 | Ardrey Kell | 11-7 | NR |
| 15 | Hough | 13-5 | 9 |
| 16 | East Lincoln | 14-4 | 12 |
Boys’ rankings
| Rk | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Lake Norman | 17-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Providence Day | 21-4 | 2 |
| 3 | North Mecklenburg | 15-2 | 3 |
| 4 | Concord Academy | 25-3 | 4 |
| 5 | J.L. Chambers | 12-6 | 5 |
| 6 | Carmel Christian | 15-5 | 7 |
| 7 | Davidson Day | 18-12 | 8 |
| 8 | Mooresville | 16-3 | 6 |
| 9 | Victory Christian | 15-7 | 9 |
| 10 | Independence | 14-4 | 10 |
| 11 | Gaston Christian | 18-7 | 11 |
| 12 | Ardrey Kell | 15-3 | 12 |
| 13 | Hopewell | 13-4 | 13 |
| 14 | Charlotte Catholic | 15-4 | 14 |
| 15 | Queens Grant | 13-7 | 15 |
| 16 | Weddington | 12-5 | 16 |
