Playoff preview: Title favorites, upset watch, and predictions for boys tennis dual-team playoffs
The N.C. High School Athletic Association boys tennis dual-team playoffs begin Wednesday. It's the first time we've had expanded playoffs on the boys' side (the girls got to test this out in the fall).
There are 64 playoff teams in 4A and 3A, 48 in 2A, and 32 in 1A.
It's going to take some getting used to by teams — we've already seen a few forfeits and we saw some with the girls in the fall too. Maybe coaches didn't know they'd be in the playoffs. Maybe there's not a lot of administrative interest in traveling for a sport that doesn't take tickets.
But I think it, plus using RPI, are two things that have to continue for the sport to grow.
In this preview we hand out bracket superlatives, give four favorites and one dark horse for each, and even make championship predictions (that we're sure nobody will have any problem with and will be shocked if any of them don't pan out, right?).
Full brackets are at this link here: Playoff brackets released for dual-team boys tennis championships
Quick links
- Preseason Watch List (Insider)
- Class of 2024 recruits
- Last year's 4A title (Green Hope over Providence)
- Last year's 3A title (Hickory over Carrboro)
- Last year's 2A title (Pine Lake Prep over Raleigh Charter)
- Last year's 1A title (Elkin over Riverside of Williamston)
- Last year's all-state team
Enjoy the rest of this column below:
Bracket superlatives
4A
Best first-round matchup — (20) Apex going to (13) Chapel Hill presents two teams who have beaten ranked opponents and share conferences with title favorites. I also like (19) Cox Mill at (14) Page in the West.
Best chance at an upset — Some of these matchups aren't really upsets, so let me go with (22) East Chapel Hill's chances at (11) Hoggard to spice it up a bit.
The hardest road — Green Hope will have to make it past Panther Creek and possibly Cardinal Gibbons to get to the third round.
The easiest road — In the West, I'm looking at (10) Grimsley. The Whirlies have smooth sailing until the third round.
3A
Best first-round matchup — (19) Durham School of the Arts is battle-tested and facing a pretty good (14) Cedar Ridge team.
Best chance at an upset — (20) Orange at (13) C.B. Aycock features two teams whose only losses have come to some of the best in 3A. Don't be surprised if Orange wins it.
The hardest road — (4) West Henderson could tangle with (5) Lake Norman Charter in the third round, and a win would possibly set up a showdown at (1) Hickory.
The easiest road — (2) South Point could avoid anyone ranked all the way until the regional final, but watch out for (11) North Iredell.
2A
Best first-round (or second-round) matchup — If (5) Owen hosts (12) R-S Central, it should be a pretty good second-rounder that could go either way.
Best chance at an upset — (15) Community School of Davidson has to win its first-round match, and then would play (2) Salisbury waiting after a bye. I think the Spartans are capable of upsetting the Hornets.
The hardest road — (3) Greene Central would have to get past (14) Research Triangle in the second round and (6) Seaforth in the third.
The easiest road — (13) Lincoln Charter doesn't have as many obstacles as others before getting to the West regional final.
1A
Best first-round matchup — (9) Polk County going to (8) Gray Stone Day is about as good as 1A tennis gets in an opening round (note: the 1A bracket is smaller, so these matches are not Wednesday).
Best chance at an upset — (11) Southern Wake could take down (6) Bear Grass Charter and I don't know if it'd truly be an upset, but we'll list it here.
The hardest road — It's hard not to like the draw that (3) Eno River got, especially with its first-round bye.
The easiest road — The side of the bracket that (2) Thomas Jefferson is on also features (10) Mount Airy, (6) Bishop McGuinness, and (3) NCSSM-Morganton. Yikes.
Four favorites and a dark horse
HSOT's end-of-regular season boys tennis rankings
4A
Favorite — Providence: Last year's runner-up is undefeated. An obvious choice.
Favorite — Green Hope: The defending champs have only one loss this year, and it's to an NCISAA power.
Favorite — Jordan: The Falcons sent an early-season message when they defeated Cardinal Gibbons and haven't done anything but win this year.
Favorite — Ardrey Kell: The Knights have just one loss, coming to Providence. Could they win the rematch?
Dark Horse — Leesville Road: The Pride is ranked 14th in the state and could make a run if anyone is to break through Green Hope and Jordan.
3A
Favorite — Terry Sanford: The Bulldogs have arguably the best No. 1 singles player in the state regardless of year, and that has to count for something in 3A.
Favorite — Carrboro: Can last year's runner-up get back to the final? They've lost four matches this year, but none to 3A teams.
Favorite — Lake Norman Charter: Ranked 18th entering the playoffs, the Knights have only lost to No. 10 Hough, a 4A team.
Favorite — South Point: The Red Raiders have done well in doubles and might have enough in the tank to sneak by LNC on the right day.
Dark Horse — Western Alamance: It may seem odd to go with a relative newcomer on the statewide stage, but any team that wins the conference with Cedar Ridge and Orange in it has to be pretty good.
2A
Favorite — Franklin Academy: The Patriots made it through the Super Six unscathed and have just one loss — to a 3A team.
Favorite — Pine Lake Prep: The Pride lost to an NCISAA team but swept the competitive Catawba Shores Conference.
Favorite — Raleigh Charter: The Phoenix got swept by Franklin Academy and would likely need to win a playoff rematch.
Favorite — Lincoln Charter: The Eagles were swept by Pine Lake Prep but are still one of the best teams in the class.
Dark Horse — Seaforth: The Hawks lost to Raleigh Charter but have a nice win over Carrboro.
1A
Favorite — Elkin: The defending champs are 14-1 with a lone loss to 4A Page. They also have wins over 4A teams.
Favorite — Bishop McGuinness: The Villains have a win over Mount Airy, which lost twice to Elkin.
Favorite — Uwharrie Charter: The Eagles are undefeated but only seeded fifth.
Favorite — Triangle Math & Science: There's a lot of parity and not a lot of power in the East, especially with Riverside of Williamston now merged into a 2A program, Martin County.
Dark Horse — NCSSM-Morganton: The Dragons are undefeated but are still a little of an unknown as a relatively new school.
Championship predictions
Locations, dates named for NCHSAA spring sports state championships
NCHSAA
4A East: (2) Green Hope over (1) Jordan
4A West: (1) Providence over (11) Myers Park
4A championship: Providence over Green Hope
3A East: (2) Terry Sanford over (8) Carrboro
3A West: (5) Lake Norman Charter over (2) South Point
3A championship: Lake Norman Charter over Terry Sanford
2A East: (1) Franklin Academy over (13) Raleigh Charter
2A West: (3) Pine Lake Prep over (13) Lincoln Charter
2A championship: Franklin Academy over Pine Lake Prep
1A East: (1) Triangle Math & Science over (7) Chatham Charter
1A West: (1) Elkin over (6) Bishop McGuinness
1A championship: Elkin over Triangle Math & Science
NCISAA (brackets not released yet)
D1: Providence Day
D2: Cape Fear Academy
D3: Trinity School of Durham-Chapel Hill
