By David Rogers. RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released the state playoff brackets Saturday afternoon and there is a lot of local interest in the High Country.
The Pioneers’ women’s team sported a stellar 21-5 overall record and 9-2 Northwestern Conference record, including a dominant showing in the past week’s NWC conference tourney to win the championship, and were rewarded with the No. 1 seed in the NCHSAA Women’s 4A West Bracket. In the first round, Watauga will stay at home and host the No. 32 seed, South Iredell (Statesville) on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m., the men to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Watauga’s other NWC tournament championship team, the Pioneer men, drew a No. 8 seed and will face No. 25 Reagan High School of Pfafftown, a suburb of Winston-Salem. That game will also be at Lentz Eggers Gym on Feb. 27, following the women’s contest.
In Reagan, the Pioneers’ men will face a team that put together a 14-11 overall record, 6-8 in the highly competitive 4A Central Piedmont Conference where they earned a fourth place finish. In the 4A West, Reagan is ranked No. 26, its position strengthened by a 10.8 strength of schedule. Watauga is ranked just three spots ahead of the Raiders, at No. 23, its gaudy record somewhat discounted in the rankings because a strength of schedule rating of only 2.8.
The winner between Reagan and Watauga will advance to face the winner of No. 9 Independence (Charlotte) and No. 24 Cox Mill (Concord).
When it comes to the North Carolina State Playoffs, the final seedings are only a suggestion of strongest teams and their positionings. Lower seeds coming out of strong conferences, especially those coming out of more urban leagues that may be stronger, top to bottom, frequently upset higher seeds. So, Watauga will have to come out firing on all cylinders.
The Watauga women’s team faces a similar situation as the No. 1 seed. Their No. 32 seeded opponent was the fifth place finisher in a strong 4A Greater Metro Conference with a losing overall record (9-17) and a losing conference record (5-8), but at least one of their conference wins was against a team ranked higher in the final conference standings (West Cabarrus).
The winner of the first round pairing of Watauga and South Iredell advances to a second round matchup with either No. 16 North Mecklenburg (Charlotte) or No. 17 Asheville.
Other 4A men’s teams of interest include:
- No. 18 South Caldwell @ No. 15 East Forsyth
- No. 1 Myers Park vs. No. 32 Mallard Creek
- No. 2 Lake Norman vs. No. 31 Parkland
- No. 3 Weddington vs. No. 30 East Mecklenburg
- No. 28 T C Roberson @ No. 5 North Mecklenburg
Other 4A women’s teams of interest include:
- No. 30 South Caldwell @ No. 3 Charlotte Catholic
- No. 10 Alexander Central vs. No. 23 Southwest Guilford
- No. 2 Lake Norman vs. No. 31 Cuthbertson
Other Regional Men’s Teams in State Playoffs:
- 3A – No. 1 Hickory vs. No. 32 West Charlotte
- 3A – No. 9 Freedom vs. No. 24 South Point
- 3A – No. 7 A C Reynolds vs. No. 26 North Davidson
Other Regional Women’s Teams in State Playoffs:
- 3A – No. 19 Freedom @ No. 14 North Davidson
- 3A – No. 11 Hibriten vs. No. 22 Hickory
- 3A – No. 7 Ashe County vs. No. 26 Franklin
- 1A – No. 17 Avery County @ No. 16 Rosman
