Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the chilly and rainy Piedmont! The Great One is here to recap the 1st round and release his 2nd round picks. In the 1st round, there were some stunners as usual in all classes. South Meck took out Chambers, Green Level downed Willow Springs, and Berry, S. Alamance, Central Cabarrus, NW Cabarrus, Clinton, S. Columbus, Bradford Prep etc. were upset winners. After the 2nd round, we will be dubbing some teams as Cinderellas and other teams as Juggernauts. Those titles must be earned with results and as always we will find out tonight. The Sadster swept the 7A East, 5A West, and 4A West but still had a routine 1st round going 98-22, or 82%, due to an upset filled bloodbath in the 2A class. The Sadster only posted an unenviable 9-7 mark in that bracket, good enough to dominate the NFC South, however, well below The Amazing One’s standards. Most would jump for joy to have an 82% winning percentage, but not The Great One. He has higher standards so the Ol’ Cubic Zirconia Ball (can’t afford crystal) has been spit-shined and is ready to crank out your 2nd round winners. Tonight’s card has some intriguing 7-10 and 5-12 games so watch those closely and beware of those pesky directional schools. All of the higher seeds who had 1st round byes swing into action tonight so let’s get……TO THE PICKS!!!
8A WEST: W. FORSYTH, HOUGH, WEST CHARLOTTE, and Upset Special winner MYERS PARK
EAST: HOGGARD, PANTHER CREEK, LEESVILLE RD, APEX FRIENDSHIP
7A WEST: NORTH MECK, SW GUILFORD, HICKORY RIDGE, MARVIN RIDGE, CHAPEL HILL, BUTLER, MOORESVILLE and Upset Special winner RICH-WHAT? RICHMOND
EAST: S. DURHAM, NEW BERN, NEW HANOVER, KNIGHTDALE, LUMBERTON, SANDERSON, HILLSIDE, GIBBONS
6A WEST: BEN SMITH, N. GUILFORD, FREEDOM, T.C ROBERSON, TABOR, WATAUGA, CATHOLIC and Upset Special winner DUDLEY
EAST: N. NASH, W. JOHNSTON, WILLIAMS, 71ST, E.E. SMITH, WHITE OAK, TERRY SANFORD, ROSE
5A WEST: HUNTER HUSS, OAK GROVE, N. LINCOLN, HICKORY, E. LINCOLN, CARSON, ROBINSON and Upset Special winner CREST
EAST: SE ALAMANCE, BYRD, CURRITUCK, HUNT, E. ALAMANCE, CROATAN, HP CENTRAL, FIKE
4A WEST: E. HENDERSON, LINCOLN CHARTER, N. SURRY, CENT. DAVIDSON, SALISBURY, BANDYS, PISGAH, LEXINGTON
EAST: REIDSVILLE, BUNN, E. WAYNE, ROANOKE RAPIDS, ANDREWS, SW EDGECOMB, LEDFORD, WASHINGTON
3A WEST: E. RUTHERFORD, LINCOLNTON, HENDERSONVILLE, E. SURRY, N. STANLY, PIED. COMM., WALKERTOWN, SHELBY
EAST: FARMVILLE, KENAN, GOLDSBORO, MARTIN, NORTHEASTERN, NORTHWOOD, KINSTON and Upset Special winner GREENE CENTRAL
2A WEST: QUEENS GRANT, CSD, CHEROKEE, BISHOP MAC, S. STOKES, N. ROWAN, ENO RIVER, MURPHY
EAST: NW HALIFAX, WARREN, BERTIE, PERQUIMANS, FRANKLIN AC, HOLMES, TARBORO, VOYAGER
1A WEST: ROBBINSVILLE, THOM. JEFFERSON, CHATHAM CHRTR., ANDREWS, NC LEAD, CHATHAM CENTRAL, JACKSON and Upset Special winner PHOENIX ACADEMY
EAST: VANCE CHARTER, EXCELSIOR, DISCOVER, N. EDGECOMB, NORTHSIDE, WILSON PREP, NEUSE CHARTER, S. WAKE………
There you have it folks! We will reconvene Saturday to recap the 2nd round and give out your Sectional Champion winners. Get to your nearest game and support these hard working students athletes! Stay tuned!!!!
SAD SAM – HS HOOPS GENIUS