Three new teams join The Observer’s Sweet 16 high school basketball polls
This week, the N.C public school basketball playoffs begin and the private schools hit the semifinal rounds.
With that backdrop, three new teams join The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll this week.
The Observer has sponsored the rankings since the 1984-85 school year and gives a banner to the boys’ and girls’ winners each year to hang in their gyms.
Only teams from the media company’s coverage area can be ranked. Currently, that area includes NCHSAA and NCISAA schools from the following counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union.
The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. high school basketball experts Randall Clark and Rick Lewis, regulars on The Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show.
This week, two new boys’ teams are in the poll — Hickory Ridge and Hough — and one new girls’ team: Lincoln Charter. All three teams won conference championships last week.
Girls’ Sweet 16 rankings
(Rank, School, Rec, Prvs.)
1. Lake Norman 21-1, 1
2. North Mecklenburg 24-2, 2
3. Queens Grant 24-3, 3
4. Stuart Cramer 26-1, 8
5. Cannon School 23-6, 7
6. Ardrey Kell 23-3, 10
7. Marvin Ridge 21-4, 5
8. Mallard Creek 20-6, 4
9. Porter Ridge 22-4, 6
10. Concord Academy 24-7, 11
11. South Meck 22-4, 12
12. Providence day 23-5, 14
13. Lincoln Charter 23-2, NR
14. Gaston Christian 20-5, 13
15. Hickory Ridge 23-4, 16
16. Myers Park 18-8, 16
Boys’ Sweet 16 rankings
(Rank, School, Rec, Prvs.)
1. Concord Academy 28-2, 1
2. Queens Grant 26-1, 2
3. Hunter Huss 20-2, 3
4. North Mecklenburg 22-4, 4
5. Davidson Day 22-11, 5
6. Gaston Christian 27-6, 6
7. Providence Day 22-6, 8
8. West Charlotte 19-6, 7
9. Mooresville 23-2, 9
10. Charlotte Catholic 22-4, 11
11. Jay M. Robinson 22-3, 12
12. Marvin Ridge 20-5, 10
13. East Lincoln 20-4, 15
14. Hickory Ridge 22-5, NR
15. Hough 20-6, NR
16. West Mecklenburg 16-9, 14
