As NCHSAA heads to regional week, 1 new team, one new No. 1 in Observer Sweet 16
There are two weeks left in the North Carolina high school basketball season, and there are several Charlotte-area teams left chasing state championships.
The NCHSAA will crown 16 state champions — eight boys and eight girls — next week in Winston-Salem.
As teams begin fourth-round and regional championship play this week, there are 25 teams still alive in the playoffs, and there’s not much change in The Sweet 16 rankings this week.
Queen’s Grant takes the top spot in the boys’ ranking after Concord Academy lost in the N.C. Independent Schools’ 3A state championship game to nationally ranked Greensboro Day.
Concord Academy fell to No. 4.
Back in the boys’ poll this week is Ardrey Kell. The Knights reached the regional semifinal round of the NCHSAA 8A playoffs Friday before losing to unbeaten West Forsyth (26-0).
The girls’ rankings stayed the same as last week.
The rankings — which began in the 1984-85 season — are compiled by longtime N.C. high school basketball experts Randall Clark and Rick Lewis, regulars on The Observer’s streaming Talking Preps show.
Boys’ Sweet 16 rankings
(Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.)
1. Queens Grant 31-3, 2
2. Hunter Huss 22-2, 3
3. North Mecklenburg 24-4, 4
4. Concord Academy 29-3, 1
5. Providence Day 23-7, 7
6. West Charlotte 21-6, 8
7. Gaston Christian 27-7, 6
8. Mooresville 24-2, 9
9. Charlotte Catholic 23-4, 10
10. Davidson Day 23-12, 5
11. Jay M. Robinson 23-3, 11
12. Marvin Ridge 21-5, 12
13. East Lincoln 22-4, 13
14. Hickory Ridge 23-5, 14
15. Ardrey Kell 20-8, NR
16. West Mecklenburg 18-10, 16
Girls’ Sweet 16
(Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.)
1. Lake Norman 23-1, 1
2. North Mecklenburg 26-2, 2
3. Queens Grant 26-3, 3
4. Stuart Cramer 28-1, 4
5. Cannon School 23-6, 5
6. Ardrey Kell 26-3, 6
7. Marvin Ridge 23-4, 7
8. Mallard Creek 22-6, 8
9. Porter Ridge 24-4, 9
10. Concord Academy 25-8, 10
11. South Meck 23-6, 11
12. Providence day 24-6, 12
13. Lincoln Charter 23-3, 13
14. Gaston Christian 20-6, 14
15. Hickory Ridge 24-5, 15
16. Myers Park 20-9, 16
