By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It will be a day to battle Cougars on Feb. 21 for both the Watauga men’s and women’s basketball teams in the first round of the North Carolina state playoffs.
It was no surprise when the North Carolina Athletic Association announced on Feb. 18 that the Watauga women’s team earned the No. 2 seed in the West bracket of the 4A state basketball tournament. There was uncertainty, though, in whether the Pioneer men’s team would make it as the second-place 4A team in Northwestern Conference play with a 12-13 overall record and sub-500 results in 3A/4A NWC league play.
The NCHSAA goes by the numbers and there are at least 106 schools with a 4A classification. Using the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), NCHSAA determined that Watauga earned a No. 28 ranking in RPI and deserved a No. 28 seed in the state playoffs among the 32 teams comprising the West bracket.
First round games will be played on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the higher seed’s venue. The Watauga women will be hosting the Chambers High School Cougars. The men’s Pioneers will face Charlotte Catholic on the same night in the Queen City.
If the Watauga women win in the first round, as the higher seed they will host the winner of the Northwest Guilford (No. 15)/R J Reynolds (No. 18) first round matchup, in the second round.
If the Watauga men upset the No. 5 seeded Charlotte Catholic Cougars, they will advance to the second round at either No. 12 Olympic or No. 21 Southeast Guilford, whichever team wins their first round matchup.
Other State Tournament Notes and Observations
- All three Northwestern Conference 4A men’s teams are in the upper half of the West bracket. South Caldwell just made it as the No. 32 seed and will face the No. 1 seed, Myers Park (Charlotte). Alexander Central, the top team in the NWC, was awarded the No. 8 seed and will host No. 25 Sun Valley (Monroe, N.C.).
- Alexander Central is the only other NWC 4A women’s team in the West bracket, with a No. 13 seed and will face No. 20 Cox Mill in the first round.
- Other regional teams of interest in the 4A women’s West bracket include No. 1 seeded Lake Norman, No. 5 A.C. Reynolds, No. 12 Myers Park, No. 21 T.C. Roberson, and No. 10 Asheville.
- Other regional teams of interest in the 4A men’s West bracket include No. 9 A.C. Reynolds.
- In the 3A West men’s bracket, former NWC member St. Stephens is the No. 32 seed, while current NWC member and Watauga rival, Hibriten, is the No. 25 seed. Top-ranked in the NWC, Freedom is the No. 3 seed and former NWC rival, Hickory, is the No. 2 seed.
- In the 3A West women’s bracket, High Country contender Ashe County earned the No. 7 seed and will host No. 24 Crest. Another NWC contender, Freedom, is the No. 14 seed and will host No. 19 Franklin.
