News & Observer Sweet 16 poll: Cleveland High remains unbeaten as playoffs begin
The playoffs are here, and there are no longer any “easy” games behind which the top teams can hide and pad any records. A loss means a ticket home, and none of the top teams are ready for that.
Some early playoff matchups will undoubtedly shape the rankings in the next week, perhaps none more than No. 9 Apex hosting No. 10 Panther Creek. The winner of that contest will, in all likelihood, then visit Hillside, the top seed in N.C. 4A East and the No. 3 team in our Sweet 16.
Our No. 2 team, Cardinal Gibbons, hosts No. 15 Knightdale in another early-round Sweet 16 matchup, while No. 1 Cleveland opens its NCHSAA playoff run against Topsail.
Interesting potential second-round playoff matchups could include No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons vs. No. 4 Millbrook. Hold on to your seats!
Here’s how the Triangle Sweet 16 shakes out this week:
Triangle Sweet 16
| Rk. | School | Class | Record |
| 1. | Cleveland | NCHSAA 4A | 10-0 |
| 2. | Cardinal Gibbons | NCHSAA 4A | 8-2 |
| 3. | Hillside | NCHSAA 4A | 10-0 |
| 4. | Millbrook | NCHSAA 4A | 9-1 |
| 5. | Wake Forest | NCHSAA 4A | 8-2 |
| 6. | Rolesville | NCHSAA 4A | 8-2 |
| 7. | Ravenscroft | NCISAA | 10-1 |
| 8. | Leesville Rd. | NCHSAA 4A | 8-2 |
| 9. | Apex | NCHSAA 4A | 9-1 |
| 10. | Panther Creek | NCHSAA 4A | 7-3 |
| 11. | Heritage | NCHSAA 4A | 7-3 |
| 12. | Holly Springs | NCHSAA 4A | 8-2 |
| 13. | Smithfield-Selma | NCHSAA 3A | 9-1 |
| 14. | Fuquay-Varina | NCHSAA 4A | 6-4 |
| 15. | Knightdale | NCHSAA 4A | 6-4 |
| 16. | Clayton | NCHSAA 4A | 6-4 |