Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the state playoff awaiting Piedmont! Let the bells ring out and the banners fly for The Great One’s first round playoff picks are about to be released. That’s right, States are here and The Ol’ Cubic Zirconia Ball (can’t afford crystal) is warmed up and has chosen who will keep dancing and who will make an early playoff exit. The Sadster is always festive this time of season as the postseason is always bringing excitement, upstart teams, and major upsets. We will look at each class from 4A down to 1A from the first round on this season as The Amazing One thinks that the more, the merrier. Questions abound as everyone is wondering who will be the Cinderellas and what teams will turn into wrecking machines. Can Myers Park repeat in the 4A or will North Meck and Isaiah Evans get to the promised land' Will New Hanover live up to their billing in the East or will Richmond County make it back to the finals' Can Westover return to greatness in the 3A and can Hickory continue their dream season and prevent Central Cabarrus from pulling a double play' Will Reidsville and Salisbury survive to collide in the 2A West regionals' In the 1A, can Bishop McGuiness return to the trophy round and can Wilson Prep go back-to-back' These and other questions are about to be answered as March Madness, Hoopstate style, is upon us. Now, we will see what dye is cast and view Tuesday’s winners. To the picks!
4A WEST: MYERS PARK, ARDREY KELL, WATAUGA, INDEPENDENCE, NORTH MECK, SOUTH MECK, TABOR, WEDDINGTON, HICKORY RIDGE, MCDOWELL, GRIMSLEY, DAVIE COUNTY, EAST FORSYTH, LAKE NORMAN and upset special winners MOORESVILLE AND HOPEWELL.
EAST: NEW HANOVER, HILLSIDE, LUMBERTON, NEW BERN, CHAPEL HILL, PANTHER CREEK, CLAYTON, MILLBROOK, GREEN LEVEL, WAKEFIELD, GARNER, LANEY, CARD. GIBBONS, OVERHILLS, RIVERSIDE, RICH-WHAT' RICHMOND COUNTY
3A WEST: HICKORY, NORTH LINCOLN, FREEDOM, CREST, ASHBROOK, WEST HENDERSON, SO. GUILFORD, CENTRAL DAVIDSON, SMITH, EAST HENDERSON, KINGS MOUNTAIN, A.C. REYNOLDS, ASHEBORO, NORTH HENDERSON, CENTRAL CABARRUS and upset special winner EAST LINCOLN.
EAST: SWANSBORO, TRITON, NORTH BRUNSWICK, FIRST FLIGHT, SOUTH CENTRAL, WHITE OAK, JACKSONVILLE, 71ST, SO. DURHAM, CROATAN, SO. LEE, EAST WAKE, NO. NASH, ORANGE COUNTY, HUNT, WESTOVER
2A WEST: REIDSVILLE, LINCOLNTON, SHELBY, MONROE, PATTON, WEST STOKES, WALKERTOWN, PINE LAKE PREP, NEWTON CONOVER, HENDERSONVILLE, RANDLEMAN, WEST CALDWELL, NORTH SURRY, NORTH STANLY, LINCOLN CHARTER, SALISBURY.
EAST: FARMVILLE CENTRAL, KINSTON, EAST CARTERET, SW ONSLOW, SOUTH GRANVILLE, ROANOKE RAPIDS, NORTH JOHNSTON, NORTHWOOD, WEST BLADEN, FAIRMONT, HEIDE TRASK, MARTIN COUNTY, HERTFORD COUNTY, FRANKLIN ACADEMY, WASHINGTON, GOLDSBORO
1A WEST: SOUTH STOKES, ROBBINSVILLE, E. RANDOLPH, MITCHELL, THOMASVILLE, CAROLINA INTL, ANDREWS, PIEDMONT COMMUNITY, BISHOP MCGUINESS, MT AIRY, CHEROKEE, MURPHY, SOUTH STANLY, SWAIN COUNTY, CORVIAN COMMUNITY and upset special winner MTN ISLAND CHARTER
EAST: WILSON PREP, OXFORD PREP, OKRACOKE, NORTH DUPLIN, CHATHAM CENTRAL, NORTH EDGECOMB, NORTHAMPTON, SO. WAKE ACADEMY, VOYAGER, SE COLLEGIATE PREP, WEST COLUMBUS, BERTIE, PAMLICO COUNTY, EAST WAKE ACADEMY, VANCE CHARTER, WASHINGTON COUNTY…….
There you have it folks! Check back Friday as we’ll review the first round and the second round winners will be revealed. Get to your nearest playoff game and most of all, STAY TUNED!!!
SAD SAM – HS HOOPS GENIUS