In the next-to-last Sweet 16 basketball poll of the season, we have a major change
The N.C. high school basketball championships begin Wednesday in Winston-Salem, which means we are at the next-to-last Observer Sweet 16 polls of the season.
The 2025-26 champions will be crowned next week and will receive a banner to hang in their school gym.
The Sweet 16 was started by the media company in the 1984-85 school year and ranks the best teams in its coverage area. Currently that includes Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties.
The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. high school basketball experts Randall Clark and Rick Lewis, co-hosts of The Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show.
This week, North Meck takes over the top spot in the girls’ poll. The Vikings qualified for their first state final in 40 years by beating the reigning NCHSAA 4A state champion Lake Norman in the regional championship game last week.
North Mecklenburg will play Southern Durham in the 8A state championship game.
In the boys’ poll, Mooresville jumped from No. 8 to a school-best No. 3 after upsetting reigning NCHSAA 4A champion North Mecklenburg Friday.
The Blue Devils will play Wilmington’s Hoggard High School in the 8A state final.
Girls’ Sweet 16 rankings
1. North Mecklenburg (28-2), 2
2. Lake Norman (24-2), 1
3. Mallard Creek (23-6), 8
4. Cannon School (24-6), 5
5. Queens Grant (26-4), 3
6. Stuart Cramer (28-2), 4
7. Ardrey Kell (26-4), 6
8. Marvin Ridge (23-5), 7
9. Porter Ridge (24-5), 9
10. Concord Academy (25-8), 10
11. South Meck (23-7), 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
Boys’ Sweet 16 rankings
1. Queens Grant (34-3), 1
2. Hunter Huss (25-2), 2
3. Mooresville (27-2), 8
4. West Charlotte (22-6), 6
5. Concord Academy (29-3), 4
6. North Mecklenburg (24-5), 3
7. Providence Day (23-7), 5
8. Gaston Christian (27-7), 7
9. Charlotte Catholic (25-5), 9
10. Davidson Day (23-12), 10
11. Jay M. Robinson (25-4), 11
12. Marvin Ridge (21-6), 12
13. East Lincoln (22-5), 13
14. Hickory Ridge (23-6), 14
15. Ardrey Kell (20-8), 15
16. West Mecklenburg (18-10), 16
