A longtime Cabarrus County power joins The Observer’s Sweet 16 high school basketball poll
Just one new team joins The Observer’s Sweet 16 high school basketball poll this week.
The rankings, which the media company started in the 1984-85 school year, ranks the top teams in its coverage area, which currently consists of NCHSAA and NCISAA schools inside the following counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union.
The rankings are compiled by longtime NC basketball experts Alex Bass and Rick Lewis, who are co-hosts of The Observer’s streaming “Talking Preps” show.
The new team this week is on the boys’ side, where Concord’s JM Robinson High, a longtime N.C. power, joins at No. 15. The Bulldogs are 19-3 and have won two straight, including Friday’s 68-66 win over Northwest Cabarrus in overtime that delivered a South Piedmont 3A conference title.
Boys’ rankings
| Rk | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Lake Norman | 21-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Providence Day | 26-4 | 2 |
| 3 | North Mecklenburg | 20-2 | 3 |
| 4 | Concord Academy | 29-3 | 4 |
| 5 | Davidson Day | 21-12 | 5 |
| 6 | Mooresville | 19-3 | 6 |
| 7 | Gaston Christian | 22-7 | 8 |
| 8 | Independence | 17-5 | 7 |
| 9 | Hopewell | 16-5 | 10 |
| 10 | Queens Grant | 19-7 | 11 |
| 11 | Charlotte Catholic | 18-5 | 12 |
| 12 | Weddington | 17-5 | 13 |
| 13 | Ardrey Kell | 17-5 | 9 |
| 14 | Victory Christian | 18-10 | 14 |
| 15 | JM Robinson | 19-3 | NR |
| 16 | J.L. Chambers | 14-8 | 15 |
Girls’ rankings
| Rk | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Lake Norman | 19-1 | 1 |
| 2 | North Mecklenburg | 19-2 | 2 |
| 3 | Providence Day | 24-7 | 3 |
| 4 | Cannon School | 23-7 | 4 |
| 5 | Concord Academy | 24-6 | 5 |
| 6 | Butler | 20-1 | 6 |
| 7 | North Lincoln | 20-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Mallard Creek | 19-3 | 8 |
| 9 | Charlotte Catholic | 14-9 | 10 |
| 10 | Marvin Ridge | 17-5 | 11 |
| 11 | Hickory Ridge | 15-7 | 9 |
| 12 | J.M. Robinson | 18-4 | 12 |
| 13 | South Mecklenburg | 19-3 | 16 |
| 14 | Ardrey Kell | 14-8 | 13 |
| 15 | East Lincoln | 18-4 | 15 |
| 16 | Hough | 16-6 | 14 |
