After winning first NCHSAA state championship, Lake Norman’s girls win Sweet 16 title
Lake Norman, for the first time, is The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 girls basketball champion.
The Sweet 16, which started in the 1983-84 season, ranks the top teams in The Observer’s coverage area. Over the years, that area has changed, but now includes teams in the following counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union. The poll champion gets a banner to hang in the school’s gymnasium.
The rankings are compiled by N.C. basketball experts Rick Lewis and Alex Bass, co-hosts of The Observer’s streaming “Talking Preps” show.
This season, Lake Norman’s girls got a last-second bucket from Riyana Minard to beat Wakefield High of Raleigh, 43-41, in the 4A state championship game.
“I knew a lot was at stake,” Minard said. “It was now or never.”
Lake Norman finished 30-1 and didn’t lose to a team from Noeth Carolina all season. The Wildcats ended their season on a 22-game win streak. For their efforts, Lake Norman won its first girls Sweet 16 banner, matching one the boys team got after the 2009-10 season, when Lake Norman beat previously unbeaten Sanford High School of Fayetteville to win the school’s first boys state title.
▪ Elsewhere four new teams joined the final 2024-25 rankings: NCISAA state champ Victory Christian, NCHSAA 3A state runner up Stuart Cramer, 4A regional power South Mecklenburg and Marshville’s Forest Hills High, which finished 26-4.
Final Sweet 16 rankings
| Rk | School | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1 | Lake Norman | 30-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Cannon School | 26-7 | 4 |
| 3 | Victory Christian | 14-9 | NR |
| 4 | North Mecklenburg | 25-4 | 2 |
| 5 | Stuart Cramer | 29-3 | NR |
| 6 | Marvin Ridge | 24-6 | 10 |
| 7 | South Mecklenburg | 25-5 | NR |
| 8 | Providence Day | 25-8 | 3 |
| 9 | Concord Academy | 26-7 | 5 |
| 10 | North Lincoln | 29-2 | 7 |
| 11 | J.M. Robinson | 26-5 | 12 |
| 12 | Hickory Ridge | 21-9 | 11 |
| 13 | Mallard Creek | 25-4 | 8 |
| 14 | Butler | 24-3 | 6 |
| 15 | Hough | 20-8 | 15 |
| 16 | Forest Hills | 26-4 | NR |
Previous champions
2023-24: Cannon School
2022-23: Salisbury
2021-22: Chambers
2019-20: Chambers
2018-19: Davidson Day
2017-18: Mallard Creek
2016-17: Providence Day
2015-16: Providence Day
2014-15: Myers Park
2013-14: Myers Park
2012-13: Harding
2011-12: Providence Day
2010-11: Salisbury
2009-10: Butler
2008-09: West Charlotte
2007-08: Concord
2006-07: Providence Day
2005-06: Providence Day
2004-05: Providence Day
2003-04: Victory Christian
2002-03: Charlotte Christian
2001-02: Victory Christian
2000-01: Providence Day
1999-00: Charlotte Christian
1998-99: Hickory
1997-98: Hickory
1996-97: Charlotte Latin
1995-96: York (SC)
1994-95: Freedom
1993-94: Bandys
1992-93: Chester (SC)
1991-92: Hartsville (SC)
1990-91: McDowell
1989-90: Providence Day
1988-89: Union (SC)
1987-88: Bandys
1986-87: Bandys
1985-86: West Caldwell
1984-95: McBee (SC)
1983-84: North Iredell
