NCHSAA 4A: Round 2 Bracket Busters/Sweet 16 Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest bracket buster in the second round of NCHSAA 4A State Playoffs is No. 24 Sanderson over No. 8 Lumberton. The Spartans have already pulled off an opening round shocker and haven't looked back as they'll move on to the Sweet 16 and face top seed New Hanover on Tuesday night. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2367529' first='Kendrick' last='Pulley']'s status continues to grow as their season rolls along.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 12 Panther Creek went into hostile territory against No. 5 Chapel Hill and secured a 67-61 victory to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16. They'll look to keep their season going when they visit No. 4 Millbrook on Tuesday in what should be an exciting battle for the 919 area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another bracket buster in the second round was Independence High's defeating over Watauga High on the road, 76-51. The Patriots have made noise all season in the Southwestern Conference in finished 11-1 during the regular season. Now, they'll look to keep things going against Myers Park on Tuesday night. Their senior trio of Yancy Thomason, [player_tooltip player_id='2280601' first='Tosh' last='Alberga'] and Kameron Jasper have led the way for them while sophomore Jaxson Neeley has held down the frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 Green Level High and No. 6 Garner High will be another battle of 919 squads and a rematch of their MLK Day Game, which saw the Gators win 61-51 at Garner back on Jan. 15. The stakes are much higher with a spot in the Elite 8 on the line!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">NCHSAA 4A Sweet 16 Overview</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 1 Myers Park vs. No. 9 Independence</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myers Park made quick work of Ardrey Kell in the second round while Independence's victory over Watauga showed they're laser-focused coming into this one. [player_tooltip player_id='1225669' first='Sadiq' last='White Jr']. is playing some of his best basketball at the right time for the Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 1 New Hanover vs. No. 24 Sanderson</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanderson will look to play spoiler to top-seeded New Hanover's season as [player_tooltip player_id='1220122' first='Rodmik' last='Allen'] looks to continue his hot junior season with a slew of young talent alongside him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 2 Richmond vs. No 7 Cardinal Gibbons</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Gibbons will have its hands full looking to slow down a strong Richmond attack led by sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='1076334' first='Paul' last='McNeil']. It will be a good test for the Crusaders though with their junior cast of Cash Mcsweeney, [player_tooltip player_id='2171867' first='Damon' last='Phillips'] and 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1907230' first='Aiden' last='Smalls'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 2 Lake Norman vs. No. 7 Grimsley</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1490564' first='Richard' last='Goods'] and Grimsley High will look to boast their strong frontcourt attack as [player_tooltip player_id='1409597' first='Trent' last='Steinour'] and the Wildcats look to slow them down. Steinour had a triple-double in Round 2 with 27 points, 16 rebounds and 13 blocks against East Forsyth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 3 Weddington vs. No. 11 JL Chambers</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unsigned senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1076352' first='Maurio' last='Hanson'] isn't going away quietly for JL Chambers while Weddington looks to keep their 16-game winning streak alive led by [player_tooltip player_id='1890476' first='Grant' last='Hamilton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2292116' first='KJ' last='Younger']. This should be a good one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 3 Green Level vs. No. 6 Garner</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A rematch of their MLK Day game. Green Level looks to remain unbeaten in arguably their best season in school history led by 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1667677' first='Isaac' last='Ericksen']. Garner High has a strong backcourt led by [player_tooltip player_id='1596874' first='Tayshaun' last='Whitner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2299464' first='Cam' last='Reyes'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 4 Millbrook vs. No. 12 Panther Creek</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1272558' first='Colt' last='Langdon'] continues to show his dominance as the Wildcats look to make another appearance in the state final, but Panther Creek knows when to peak at the right time as well as they enter into familiar territory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 4 Mount Tabor vs. No. 5 North Mecklenburg</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1786681' first='Shamarius' last='Peterkin'] and company will look to play spoiler for Duke commit [player_tooltip player_id='1154560' first='Isaiah' last='Evans'] and his North Mecklenburg squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday should be an exciting slate of games as teams in the 4A look to keep their season's alive!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->